Thompson, who used to lead the BBC and New York Times and was brought in by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to improve CNN, might move pre-dawn anchor Kasie Hunt to the afternoons, according to a newsletter written by former CNN media analyst Oliver Darcy.
CNN did not comment when The Post reached out.
Blitzer has recently signed a new multi-year deal with CNN, and Brown currently leads CNN’s 11 a.m. programming during weekdays.
It’s unclear if the new Blitzer-Brown pairing in the morning will use Blitzer’s well-known “Situation Room” brand or have a different name. However, the reported change would mean Blitzer gets an extra hour on screen each day.
This change is part of Thompson’s plan to bring in a new generation of on-air talent, according to Darcy.
The decision to move Blitzer, who was recently mocked on social media for his outdated television setup, to mornings allows CNN to keep one of its top anchors while slowly moving him out of the evening lineup.
But this move means CNN will have to adjust the rest of its programming, possibly cutting an hour of air time.
One possibility being discussed is moving Hunt, the former MSNBC anchor and Associated Press writer, from early mornings to 4 p.m. This change would raise her profile a lot. Hunt, who currently makes over $1 million a year, hosts “CNN This Morning,” which airs every day from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Giving Hunt a prime afternoon time slot fits with the network’s goals, but it might create internal competition with other anchors hoping for a similar spot.
If Hunt takes the 4 p.m. slot, CNN might move Jake Tapper’s show, “The Lead,” to 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., which would bring him closer to prime time. CNN would then have to decide who replaces Hunt in the mornings.
One possible solution, according to Status, is a split-hour plan, with business correspondent Rahel Solomon anchoring the 5 a.m. hour and former NPR host Audie Cornish taking over at 6 a.m.
Jim Acosta in an eventTo make room for Blitzer and Brown’s two-hour morning program, CNN will need to find an additional hour in its schedule. One option is canceling Acosta’s show.
Another idea is reducing CNN News Central from three hours to two hours, but because of the low cost of producing that show, Acosta’s program is more likely to be canceled, Status reported.
It’s unclear what Acosta’s role would be if his show gets canceled. The network is also considering other changes, like expanding Erin Burnett’s nightly show, according to Status.
CNN’s ratings have dropped significantly after Trump’s election victory.
In 2024, the network averaged 92,000 viewers in the key 25-to-54-year-old demographic, which was a 1% drop from the previous year’s low, and 77,000 during primetime, which was a 52% decline from the year before.
Primetime viewership fell by 45%, down to 405,000 viewers. Meanwhile, Fox News captured 72% of primetime cable news viewership, showing a 7% increase since the election.