Campbell Brown Leaving CNN After Network Grants Release From Contract (UPDATE)

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by Steve Krakauer | 4:31 pm, May 18th, 2010

» 38 comments

Mediaite has learned CNN has granted anchor Campbell Brown‘s request to be let out early from her contract.

She has agreed to stay on and anchor the 8pmET hour until a replacement is found. Updated with statements.

A source with knowledge of the situation tells Mediaite Brown made the request months ago – and before all the ‘how to fix CNN’ articles began rolling out. We hear she originally lobbied for the 7pmET opening, with the thinking the show would work better at an earlier hour (and without the Bill O’Reilly/Keith Olbermann competition). The plan was denied by CNN, she later asked for her release. (Separate rumors circulated around this time about what Brown’s status with CNN might be if her husband, Dan Senor, ran for Senate in New York – he didn’t.)

Brown’s ratings have been consistently better than the previous program in the timeslot, anchored by Paula Zahn, but have struggled when compared to the cable news competition. Since John King took over the timeslot before, Brown’s ratings have fallen even further, although the program’s lowest total viewer and demo averages came just before King took over.

The question becomes – what would CNN put at 8pmET? One possibility is a return to a Crossfire-like program, a possibility thrown out in the last few months. And what would Brown do next? Well she has two young children, 2 and 1, both of whom were born since she came over to be a prime time host after her time at NBC. Hosting at 8pmET eliminated the possibility of being around at night.

A CNN spokesperson tells Mediaite: “A lot has been written and said about CNN lately. But we don’t comment on speculation.”

> Update: No official word yet from CNN, but we can confirm Brown is anchoring her program tonight.

> Statements: Here is Campbell Brown’s full statement, as well as CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein’s statement below. There is a lot in Brown’s statement, which we will dissect more tomorrow. For now, here they are:

I knew on the day that I accepted my job at CNN that a ratings victory at 8pm was going to be a formidable challenge. As I have been told over and over, this is the toughest timeslot in cable news. That is obviously due to the incredible talents of my 8pm competitors. I have also always marveled whenever a television anchor says that he or she pays no attention to ratings. I’m pretty sure the last time any anchor could honestly ignore ratings was well before I was born. Of course I pay attention to ratings. And simply put, the ratings for my program are not where I would like them to be. It is largely for this reason that I am stepping down as anchor of CNN’s “Campbell Brown”.

To be clear: this is my decision, and one that I have been thinking about for some time. As for why, I could have said, that I am stepping down to spend more time with my children (which I truly want to do). Or that I am leaving to pursue other opportunities (which I also truly want to do). But I have never had much tolerance for others’ spin, so I can’t imagine trying to stomach my own. The simple fact is that not enough people want to watch my program, and I owe it to myself and to CNN to get out of the way so that CNN can try something else.

CNN will have to figure out what that is. The 8pm hour in cable news world is currently driven by the indomitable Bill O’Reilly, Nancy Grace and Keith Olbermann. Shedding my own journalistic skin to try to inhabit the kind of persona that might co-exist in that line up is simply impossible for me. It is not who I am or who I want to be; nor is it who CNN asked me to be at any point. This is the right decision for me and I hope it will be a great opportunity for CNN.

Since its launch three decades ago CNN has strived to be an independent, credible and enduring source of news. While the rest of the cable news world moved to opinion, CNN allowed me to stay true to my hard-news roots and supported me with a true commitment to old-school journalism. There is plenty of debate now about whether real journalism even has a place in primetime. I may be taking myself out of that debate on a nightly basis, but I am truly proud of the work we have done on this program and I do still believe that journalism has an essential place in primetime and at all times. I am also especially proud of the people who put this show on the air every night. They are an amazing, dedicated, loyal and caring team. To them, I will be forever grateful.

My plan right now is to help CNN through any transition, and then to enjoy, for the very first time, the nightly ritual of “Good Night Moon” and good night kisses with my two little boys. I wish my CNN colleagues all the best. And as long as bedtime doesn’t conflict with primetime, I will be watching and pulling for them.

Campbell Brown

From Klein:

“Today is about Campbell. We want to wish her well as she begins the next phase of her life. We respect her decision to leave. We will announce our programming plans in the coming weeks.”

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Campbell Brown, CNN

BillSays

I remember CNN during the 1st. Gulf War.

Man, has it crashed and burned.
badr

Good I can’t stand her.
TROLLING4LIBS

CNN = Dumpster Fire
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

God is sending CNN a message.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Angela-Bibby/1243222393 Angela Bibby

Sorry to hear about Cambell Brown, I always liked her. What is going on with CNN?????
ChuckfromTacoma

I gotta go to the bistro and read CBB’s whining. She is going to be in pain.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alicia-Addams/100000215944179 Alicia Addams

Gee, I didn’t know CNN was still on.
Where is this no talent going to go? She , Cooper, Blitzer and the rest sank CNN into the toilet with their all bull no trurh reporting.
You just don’t seem informed when the entire station plays up liberal idealogies and plays down anything or anybody that doesn’t adhere to it.
Campbell sucks and whereever she goes, she will make it suck.
timzank

Sounds like she’ll be wipin’ asses and makin’ sammiches.
ImRubberYoureGlue

Did she get sick of her sexist coworkers, like Cafferty, ogling her? Last time I watched her she thanked him for telling her that she’s better looking than Geraldine Ferraro.

On behalf of all women, good riddance Campbell Brown.
Rogue-Comic

I liked Campbell Brown, but it was a mistake for CNN to put her up against both rival networks’ biggest draws. CNN needs a more forceful personality if they even want to think about competing for that time slot.

Could it be David Shuster’s lucky day?
badr

Oh I have an even better one how about Bill Maher /sarc
Rogue-Comic

badr says:
May 18, 2010 at 6:20 pm

“Oh I have an even better one how about Bill Maher /sarc”

Isn’t Greta’s contract up soon?/just a little sarc
http://lauriebethsgrotto.wordpress.com Laurie Beth

Classy comments from her. Congrats on the scoop, Mediaite.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Vik-Sidhu/122608564 Vik Sidhu

Like her or not, that is one HELL of a raw and honest statement Campbell put out.
shootfromthehip

Classy statement from Brown.

I always liked her, but I was too busy watching Keith and flipping to catch me some Bill O during commercials to watch her show.

There were hundreds of thousands like me, which is why her ratings were low.

It’s a tough time slot, without a doubt.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Gary-Stewart/1032630109 Gary Stewart

Shuster v. Olbermann? If so, CNN, here I come.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Lindhartsen/704548889 Chris Lindhartsen

@Gary I completely forgot about Shuster. That would be interesting if he admits that the discussions w/ CNN were true and CNN wanted to experiment with something.

I still feel like CNN could focus the hour on news, but should make it something Fox Report-ish, with a bit of an edge and focus, speed being a major part of it. CNN makes quality product, but slow-as-a-crawl programming doesn’t really work at 5 PM especially. Best of luck to Campbell, wherever she ends up.
badr

Greta gets more ratings then MSNBC+CNN combined.
TfT

Campbell says:

Since its launch three decades ago CNN has strived to be an independent, credible and enduring source of news. While the rest of the cable news world moved to opinion, CNN allowed me to stay true to my hard-news roots and supported me with a true commitment to old-school journalism.

What a laugh riot. Campbell Brown trashed Palin as a bad mother, her personal and vitriolic attack on the Governor was the start of her downfall. Brown was just more bull and more bias from CNN.

That she makes this statement and claims she did “old-school journalism” is just another indication of the complete ineptitude of CNN, it’s anchors, and it’s organization. Campbell and CNN are in complete denial. Good thing the viewers are a whole lot smarter than Campbell or any management at CNN.

CNN lies.
libra blue

“I knew on the day that I accepted my job at CNN that a ratings victory at 8pm was going to be a formidable challenge.”

I thought CNN didn’t care about ratings.

@TfT, “That she makes this statement and claims she did “old-school journalism” is just another indication of the complete ineptitude of CNN, it’s anchors, and it’s organization. ”

You are right, the viewers are smarter than CNN. As long as CNN remains in denial about the shotty journalism it is shoveling out and they continues to treat their viewers like crap they will remain at the bottom.
dunt

I can’t believe Mediate deletes comments for pointing out grammatical or spelling errors. Pathetic.
shoestrade11

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http://www.facebook.com/people/Allan-Hoving/112748 Allan Hoving

Can they keep the name of the show “Campbell Brown” and just get a different anchor?
michaledell

From John King took time before the break, the chances of Brown dropped further, albeit at lower rates of demonstration of the total and the average viewer arrived just before King took over.
memory stick
felixw

Brown was a failure, and the next host will be the same. Unless CNN surprises us and puts out a fair and honest show that represents a wide range of views. You would think that would be easy enough to pull off. But CNN’s seems determined to keep frank, open dialogue off their airwaves. So, instead of Brown, we will get another Democrat pretending to be a moderate and coverage that never says anything that might upset the party in power. That won’t help ratings, but CNN has made clear that, in their opinion, ideology is more important than ratings.
Sunnyr

Campbell has shown a lot of class with her “swan song.” I never watched her because I can’t stand CNN, but she sounds like an honest woman. I wish her luck
TROLLING4LIBS

@ Allan

Of Course! Why not. They can even have it in 3D and nobody would watch.

Lol
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StewartIII

ChickaBOOMer: CNN Gives Campbell Brown Get Out Of Jail Free Card
http://chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2010/05/cnn-gives-campbell-brown-get-out-of.html
proudpatriotusa

Good riddance to bad rubbish, she was the worst of the all style and no substance talking heads.

A pure sensationalist and phony, nothing about Brown was sincere or genuine.
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marymoffet

I’ve always hated Campbell Brown. In fact, I got RID of all my TVs because of Campbell Brown.
Good riddance 8*tch!
http://thedailybarb.com Burnnotice

HA HA. The rats are abandoning a sinking ship.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Fred-May/100000468185164 Fred May

Campbell’s whiney nasally-stuffed-nose-voice made me reach for the remote before I damaged my hearing. Otherwise, she seemed nice.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Barbara-Eliaas/1841427830 Barbara Eliaas

Campbell is a very classy lady. And that is enough to say. She never sold herself trying to be a crowd-pleaser. That goes a long way. Even if some may not think that now. Beginning with the example she’s setting for her sons. As far as CNN, that’s the ONLY NEWS I’m willing to watch. All that cable bill I pay is for my favorite news station and pre-school on demand for my kids. The reason is exactly because the information they broadcast is not filled with hatred. Hatred, dishonesty and you name it is plenty out there in the big competition for ratings. We all can form our own opinions without anchors mixing their political views with information sharing on prime time TV just because they have the opportunity. It’s sad that viewers fall for that as the ratings may reflect. To me that’s like a shelf full of gossip magazines at the register in the supermarket. Garbage and waste of energy. But that’s only trend and only last so long. Anyone busy selling garbage is short term success, sooner or later it will be the viewers who realize how much they are being manipulated to watch negative trends.
Disfuncion

Sorry. I liked her.
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