CNN: ‘Time to pull the trigger’ with ABC or CBS?

By Chris Ariens 

The Chicago Tribune’s Phil Rosenthal weighs in on CNN’s woes resurrecting a theme that is as old as cable news itself — merging the Time Warner news channel with either CBS News or ABC News.

…the rescue of CNN, which in the just-completed first quarter of 2010 saw overall viewership for star hosts Larry King and Anderson Cooper each drop more than 40 percent compared to 2009, is going to require far more than a makeover of its schedule, although that’s an important and necessary first step.

For years, the potential of a partnership or merger with a broadcast network news division has been discussed. Between CNN’s troubles and economic-driven cuts and concerns elsewhere, this might be the time to pull the trigger with either ABC or CBS.

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Whichever broadcaster CNN married, the two would share resources and spread out costs the way NBC News does with MSNBC. Cable would provide a place to rerun broadcast reports and reuse network reporters over the course of the day. But it’s more than just a time and money play.

More here…

> Related: Vanity Fair‘s Andrew Cohen has an update to his “To Save Itself, CNN Must Get Smarter” piece from Monday:

Two days later, the verdict is in: turns out folks either agree with me, in whole or in part, or continue to labor under the delusion that CNN’s woes are tied to its legendary (and legendarily inaccurate) status as a liberal rag. You latter folks, hear me now: CNN isn’t biased. It’s just a little too boring.

(VF Photo illustration by Hamish Robertson)

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