There's a fraction too much friction between two of CNN's top dogs, according to The New York Post (via Inside Cable News).

According to the Post, some within CNN are blaming the network's woes directly on frosty relations between Ken Jautz, executive vice president of CNN, and Mark Whitaker, executive vice president and managing editor for CNN Worldwide.

"Sources were quick to cite “misaligned management” within the top ranks as a major reason for the dysfunction. Jautz, who previously ran HLN, replaced former CNN US head Jon Klein two years ago — but some of Klein’s duties were given to Whitaker.


“When Jon was there, the structure was more linear,” said an insider, adding that Jautz and Whitaker, “have competing ideas for what we should do.”


The insider further told us: “Ken is not an editorial guy. He really is an operations guy. Mark’s strong suit is editorial, but he doesn’t know as much about television.”


Sources pointed to O’Brien’s show, which Whitaker oversees, as an example of competing, confusing philosophies. One insider said: “Ken does not like all of the ‘conversation on camera’ on the morning show. Mark does, because his vision is to make it that go-to conversation piece that ‘Morning Joe’ has become. It’s a constant battle.”


Making matters more unclear, both execs report to CNN honcho Jim Walton, and chatter’s swirling on how long he’ll remain."

More from The New York Post here.

CNN announced yesterday that Ashleigh Banfield is moving to the 11 AM ET airing of CNN Newsroom, while Kyra Phillips is moving to host her own show on HLN later this summer.

As previously reported, John Berman will be getting an Early Start, taking the place of Ashleigh Banfield as co-anchor with Zoraida Sambolin.

TVNewser has the internal memos from HLN Executive Vice-President Scott Safon and CNN Domestic Executive Vice-President Ken Jautz.

CNN Press Release - Berman to Also Contribute Reports to CNN Programs Across the Day 

John Berman, who served as a correspondent for ABC News and regular contributor to Good Morning America, joins CNN as an anchor of the morning program Early Start and will contribute reports to various CNN programs including The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, it was announced by Ken Jautz, executive vice president of CNN.

CNN's Early Start, which premiered on January 2, 2012 with hosts Ashleigh Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin, airs weekdays at 5 am to 7 am, ET/PT.

"We are so fortunate to have this talented and seasoned journalist join our morning show and become a regular presence on our air throughout the day. John is a skilled reporter with a passion and personality that shine through, whether he's covering the political season or his beloved Red Sox," said Jautz.

"John is an exceptional journalist who brings with him the perspective of having covered many of the last two decades most significant stories. His coverage of the past four Presidential elections, experience as an embedded journalist in Iraq, on-site reporting during the 2006 war in Lebanon, plus his pop culture interest and acumen, make him a strong asset to our team," said Mark Whitaker, CNN Worldwide executive vice president and managing editor.

"It is a pleasure to join the prestigious global news leader CNN. I am looking forward to being a part of the morning team and to contributing across CNN's lineup," said Berman. Berman joined ABC News in 1995 and was head writer for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings from 1997 to 1999. During that time he traveled with Jennings to cover the Columbine school shooting in Colorado and to Cuba for Pope John Paul II's historic visit. Berman was part of the World News Tonight team recognized with a 2004 Edward R. Murrow award for best broadcast.

In addition to his coverage of the presidential election seasons from 2000 through 2012, Berman reported on the Indian Ocean tsunami from Banda Aceh, Indonesia, and the steroids scandal in American sports. He has also served as regular contributor to World News with Diane Sawyer, 20/20, Nightline, and ABCNews.com. A native of Carlisle, Mass., Berman graduated from Harvard University, where he was president of Hasty Pudding Theatricals. 

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world's most extensively-syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

TV Newser has the details on CNN's promotion of Janelle Rodriguez. Formerly Director of Coverage at CNN in Atlanta - a position she has held since 2010 - Rodriguez has been upped to Vice President of Programming for CNN/U.S.

Read the memo from CNN Executive Vice President Ken Jautz here.

CNN Press Release - CNN has unveiled a new evening lineup with anchors Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper and Piers Morgan to launch this fall, it was announced today by Ken Jautz, executive vice president, CNN/U.S.

Beginning Aug. 8, CNN will broadcast its flagship nightly news program AC360, anchored by Anderson Cooper, live at 8pm and re-air it in its current timeslot of 10pm.

In the fall, CNN will premiere a new general news program with Erin Burnett, which will air at 7pm ET and re-air at 11pm ET. Piers Morgan Tonight will continue to air at 9pm and 12am ET.

John King USA will kick off the evening at 6pm. The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer will continue as a two-hour daily program, airing in a new timeslot of 4-6pm. CNN Newsroom will now air from 9am-4pm. The full programming schedule is provided below.

“The new line-up showcases anchors who are experienced reporters in covering stories that span the globe,” said Jautz. “We created a nightly schedule that brings together the best of CNN’s journalism on a wide range of topics from politics and the economy to global and world events, as well the best newsmaker and celebrity interviews. This line-up ensures viewers access to the best of what CNN has to offer whenever they tune in at night.”

“I’m looking forward to the new time slot and am excited to share AC360 with a new audience at 8pm, while still connecting with my regular viewers at 10pm,” said Cooper.

CNN Fall Schedule (All times Eastern):
6a-9am: American Morning

9a-4pm: CNN Newsroom
4pm: Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
6pm: John King, USA
7pm: Erin Burnett
8pm: Anderson Cooper 360°
9pm: Piers Morgan Tonight
10pm: AC360 re-air
11pm: Erin Burnett re-air
12am: Piers Morgan Tonight re-air

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively-syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

The New York Times' Brian Stelter writes today that In The Arena is cancelled beginning August 8. Anderson Cooper's AC360° moves into that 8 PM ET timeslot and coming in late September, John King USA moves to 6 PM ET and Erin Burnett's show will start at 7 PM ET.

An internal memo from Ken Jautz obtained by Stelter:

Beginning August 8, we will broadcast AC360, our flagship news program, at 8p and 10p. Then in late September, we will add Erin Burnett’s new show at 7p and 11p. Piers Morgan will continue at 9p and midnight, while JKUSA and the Situation Room will both be broadcast one hour earlier, at 6p and 4p, respectively.

This line-up emphasizes our focus on quality journalism and on hosts who are proven reporters, as well as on shows that successfully combine original reporting with news analysis, civil debate and a wide range of inclusive and differing opinions.

The CNN brand and business model thrive on high-quality journalism that resonates across multiple platforms. Over the last six months, we have broadened the range and depth of our reporting and added more analysis and opinion to our coverage to complement our reporting. The tone, quality and credibility of our journalism is what continues to set CNN apart and contributes to the growth and success of CNN Worldwide.

We are in discussions with Eliot Spitzer about an alternative role. We thank him and the entire In the Arena team for creating a program that moved many political and economic issues into the national spotlight.

CNN Press Release - CNN executive vice president Ken Jautz announces “In the Arena” ensemble program at 8:00 pm. Below are statements from Jautz, Kathleen Parker and Eliot Spitzer.

NOTE FROM KEN TO STAFF:

I want to share with you some news today regarding our 8pm show. Kathleen Parker has decided to leave the program to focus on her writing, and we have decided to take the show in a new direction. We will be adopting an ensemble format with several newsmakers, guests and contributors joining Eliot Spitzer each night. The new program will be called, "In the Arena," beginning Monday. E.D. Hill and Will Cain will join the program as well others within and outside the CNN family.

We have been pleased with how the 8pm hour has become a centerpiece of substantive, policy-oriented conversation, and we are looking forward to building on that with this new format. Simply put, the new program will look beyond the headlines to analyze and discuss the most important stories of the day. The program will provide context and analysis through balanced and thoughtful discussions and interviews with a wide range of guests and newsmakers who cumulatively represent various points of view.

Kathleen will continue to appear on CNN occasionally to provide her insights and commentary. We thank Kathleen for her hard work and all that she has done to help us launch our new 8pm program. We respect her as a colleague and appreciate her perspective and contributions.

Statement from Kathleen Parker:

After bringing viewers a new 8pm show on CNN, I have decided to return to a schedule that will allow me to focus more on my syndicated newspaper column and other writings. While I am extremely proud of the show we created, and the subject matter and level of discourse Parker Spitzer promoted every night, it was a difficult decision to scale back my column a few months ago and, with the show going in a new direction, it is a good time to move on. I want to thank the viewers who have been so kind with their comments and support. I will continue to appear to contribute and analyze occasionally on CNN and look forward to continuing my relationship with CNN and the many talented individuals I have worked with here.

Statement from Eliot Spitzer:

I wish Kathleen all the best in continuing on with her spectacular career. It has been a joy working with her as a teammate, and I continue to be a huge fan of the wisdom that jumps from her written work and the wit, charm and insight she brings to all that she does.

###

CNN Press Release - New Network Daytime Lineup: Phillips, Malveaux, Velshi and Baldwin

Suzanne Malveaux has been named anchor of CNN Newsroom, it was announced today by Ken Jautz, executive vice president of CNN/U.S. Malveaux will relocate to Atlanta and will anchor CNN Newsroom live from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. She joins CNN’s Kyra Phillips, Ali Velshi and Brooke Baldwin, who will continue to anchor CNN Newsroom from 9-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. respectively. (All times Eastern Standard Time.) Malveaux begins her CNN Newsroom anchor duties on January 31.

Malveaux, who has worked in CNN’s White House unit for nearly a decade, has played a key role as a member of the network’s Best Political Team on Television and as the primary substitute anchor for The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. During her career, Malveaux has covered three presidents, presidential campaigns, and key stories including the War in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and the economic crisis.

Since joining the network in 2002, Malveaux has interviewed President Obama and the First Lady; former presidents George W. Bush, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton; and former first ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush among numerous other newsmakers. During the 2008 election, Malveaux reported and hosted an in-depth documentary on then presidential-nominee Barack Obama.

“Suzanne is a welcome addition to the CNN Newsroom lineup, adding a depth of experience as well as fresh perspective to our daytime coverage,” said Jautz. “We are very pleased to expand Suzanne’s role so that we can showcase her political expertise as well as her broader strengths as a journalist.”

“I’m looking forward to this new chapter, bringing news and stories that impact viewers in and outside the Beltway,” said Malveaux.

CNN Newsroom is the destination for breaking news and international reporting from its state-of-the-art interactive studio. Kyra Phillips has anchored the program since 1999. Ali Velshi and Brooke Baldwin joined CNN Newsroom in 2010.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively-syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

TVNewser has details of changes at American Morning which include anchor John Roberts moving to Atlanta to be closer to fianceé, CNN Newsroom anchor Kyra Phillips.

TJ Holmes will be the first of the rotating anchors to test with Kiran Chetry, as outlined in a memo from CNN president Ken Jautz.

CNN Press Release - Jonathan Wald, former executive producer of NBC's Today and Nightly News, and former senior vice president of CNBC, has been named executive producer of CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight debuting in January 2011, it was announced today by CNN executive vice president Ken Jautz. Wald's appointment is effective immediately.

“Jonathan has spent more than 20 years as a top producer in broadcast and cable television news and has the unique ability to produce television that is smart and provocative,” said Jautz. “We are thrilled that he’ll be joining the CNN family.”

Most recently Wald has been an advisor to AOL on cross-platform programming initiatives. From 2006-2009, Wald served as senior vice president of CNBC, responsible for all business news programming. During a period of unprecedented financial and economic crisis, CNBC expanded business coverage into primetime and weekends, resulting in the highest ratings and revenue in the network’s history. Wald was also responsible for multimedia development and the use of business news on cnbc.com as well as marketing and promotion of that content on all platforms.

Said Wald, “CNN is an important news organization and a powerful worldwide brand. I am so excited to join this team. I can’t wait to get started and to collaborate with Piers on redefining the long-form interview program in primetime.”

Wald, a three-time Emmy Award winner, was the executive producer ofToday where he led the program’s distinguished coverage during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the contested 2000 presidential election, and the first live morning show performance by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Prior to Today, he was the executive producer of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw where he was responsible for all aspects of the top-rated flagship broadcast.

“Jonathan is tough, funny, smart as hell, incredibly experienced, and wants to win,” said Morgan.

He began his career as a desk assistant at NBC News in 1983 while a freshman at Columbia University, then moved to WBZ-TV (Boston) where he produced every major broadcast including the 11 o'clock news. He returned to New York as a field producer for NBC's Brian Williams in 1993. Wald received a B.A. from Columbia and since 2001, serves on the adjunct faculty at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. He is married, and lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

CNN Press Release - Scot Safon assumes the role of executive vice president overseeing the HLN network, effective immediately, it was announced today by Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. Safon replaces Ken Jautz, who has moved into the position of executive vice president of CNN/U.S. Safon, who most recently served as CNN Worldwide’s Chief Marketing Officer, continues to report to Walton and is based in Atlanta.

Safon, a long-time Turner executive, has served as CNN Worldwide’s Chief Marketing Officer, where he supervised the development of all consumer and trade communication on behalf of CNN/U.S., HLN, CNN International, CNN.com, CNN Mobile and all CNN branded services. Safon has elevated the CNN brand worldwide and spearheaded some of the most high-profile, award-winning campaigns in CNN history.

“Scot is one of the most creative and passionate executives at Turner Broadcasting,” said Walton. “As HLN continues to distinguish its brand in the marketplace, we are thrilled to have someone with his leadership skills, consumer insights and commitment to innovation running HLN.”

Safon joined CNN Worldwide in August 2002 as its Senior Vice President of Marketing and Promotion and was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer in 2007. Safon has overseen the marketing and promotion of programs including Anderson Cooper 360, Nancy Grace, Joy Behar, Larry King Live, The Situation Room and Fareed Zakaria GPS. His team has been responsible for handling marketing and sales communications during CNN’s award-winning coverage of the 2008 and 2004 Presidential Elections, Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, the war in Iraq and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. He has also overseen the Emmy-winning campaign for the top-rated God’s Warriors and campaigns for award-winning primetime documentary series such as Black in America and Planet in Peril.

His campaigns for CNN.com, the world’s #1 news website, have included the multi-award winning “Power of CNN Under Your Command” campaign, and the “Where Information Meets Opportunity” campaign for CNN’s mobile and podcast services. His work with CNN International includes overseeing promotion development supporting the current “Go Beyond Borders” branding campaign.

Safon was named a 2006 “Brand Builder” by Television Week magazine, and his campaigns for Anderson Cooper 360 and CNN=Politics have been named “Campaigns of Distinction” by the magazine. Safon’s team led the charge on CNN’s groundbreaking Inauguration Day partnership with Facebook, which resulted in CNN.com/Live hosting the largest online video event in internet history.

Prior to joining CNN, Safon was senior vice president of marketing for Turner Network Television (TNT). In this capacity, he was responsible for all marketing efforts on behalf of TNT, including network branding, consumer and trade advertising, as well as the marketing and promotion of individual programming events, series and franchises. He supervised the marketing campaign that launched the network’s successful “We Know Drama” branding initiative in June 2001. He has also overseen campaigns for TNT’s specials, sports programming and original series, including the network’s coverage of PGA, NASCAR and the NBA.

Before joining TNT, Safon was in the ad agency world, handling campaigns for the CBS
Television Network, working on campaigns for CBS Sports, CBS News and CBS International. He began his career in account management with D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, Inc.

Safon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and history from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Business Administration from Cornell University.
CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

CNN Press Release - Ken Jautz, a long time CNN executive who most recently oversaw the HLN network, has assumed the role of executive vice president of CNN/U.S. reporting to Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. Jautz replaces Jon Klein who will be departing the company after 6 years in the role.

Jautz has managed several networks for CNN and Turner Broadcasting in both Europe and the United States including HLN, CNNfn, and n-tv, a German national news channel.
At HLN, Jautz revamped and re-branded the network, formally known as CNN Headline News, and created an entirely original line-up of evening talk shows that more than doubled the network’s prime time ratings. Under Jautz’s leadership, HLN launched such signature programs as Nancy Grace, Joy Behar, ShowBiz Tonight, Issues with Jane Velez Mitchell and Morning Express with Robin Meade.

“Ken has a rich history with CNN – as a reporter, bureau chief, programmer and news executive – and comes to this position with a proven track record,” said Walton. “He is a respected, strategic and decisive leader and is the right person to lead CNN into the future.”

Previously, Jautz served as executive vice president of CNN’s business news operations and the CNNfn network, as well as CNN Money. He also served as managing director of n-tv, a German news and television company partly owned by Time Warner. Jautz, who is fluent in German, had previously worked as a London-based business development executive at Turner Broadcasting Europe, helping launch channels in several European markets.

Jautz joined CNN in 1989 as CNN’s bureau chief in Germany. Prior to that he had been an international correspondent for The Associated Press. Among the stories Jautz covered as a journalist were the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent revolutions in East European countries, the 1991 Gulf War and the dissolution of both the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.
Jautz is a graduate of Cornell University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

CNN Press Release - The Joy Behar Show Launches on “News and Views” Network This Fall

Veteran talk show host and comedian Joy Behar will join HLN (formerly Headline News) this fall as host of The Joy Behar Show, it was announced today by Ken Jautz, EVP of CNN Worldwide. The one-hour talk show will air on HLN at 9 p.m. ET, seven days a week, as part of the network’s primetime slate of opinion-based programming. Behar will continue to serve as a co-host of the Emmy Award-winning talk show The View on ABC.

The Joy Behar Show will showcase Behar’s personal take on the day’s news, offering primetime viewers a full hour of Joy’s passionate point of view, sharp wit, and no-nonsense approach. The program will examine those provocative watercooler issues that Americans are talking about every day, with topics ranging from pop culture to politics and everything in between.

“Joy’s sense of humor and her bold interview style make her one of the best talk-show hosts in the business,” said Jautz. “She is a terrific fit for HLN’s personality-driven primetime lineup.”

“I just can’t seem to keep my mouth shut, so another hour of conversations with interesting, outspoken people about the stories making news is right up my alley,” commented Behar. “I’m an opinion freak – I love to offer my own and I love to hear other people’s take on things – so this show is a great opportunity for me. I’m thrilled to join the HLN lineup.”

Joy Behar is among today’s leading talk show talents and an acclaimed star of the stage, small screen, and silver screen. Along with her co-hosts of ABC’s The View (Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Sheri Shepard and Elizabeth Hasselbeck), she has received 11 consecutive Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Talk Show Host. Her previous television credits have included roles and guest appearances on networks including CNN, HLN, HBO, ABC, NBC, Comedy Central, and Bravo. Behar has hosted her own radio show, written three best-selling books, and remains a frequent comedy headliner. She has been honored with the Real Beauty Award from AWRT and Dove (2007), the Safe Horizon Champion Award (2001), the Gracie Allen Tribute Award from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (2000), and the New York City Public Advocate’s Special Advocate Award for her outstanding friendship to the Gay community (2000).

HLN, formerly Headline News, features news headlines throughout the day and a personality-based lineup every evening, featuring Nancy Grace¸ Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell, and Showbiz Tonight. In May, the “News and Views” network scored the highest primetime growth of any cable news network. The Joy Behar Show will air at 9 p.m., with Nancy Grace – the network’s highest-rated program – as its lead-in.

Conway Cliff will serve as Executive Producer of The Joy Behar Show. Cliff has been a mainstay of CNN Worldwide for over 10 years in capacities ranging from program development to executive-producing. Most recently, he served as Executive Producer of Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell on HLN; under his leadership, the show has posted the highest 7 p.m. ratings in network history.

HLN, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, informs and engages viewers constantly, 24 hours each day, with complete and concise national newscasts throughout the day and a compelling slate of legal, entertainment and talk programs during HLN Prime at night. The network delivers fast-paced, lively and compelling programming using the best resources of CNN Worldwide.

CNN Pressroom - New Weekend Show Mines CNN Archives for Lighthearted Look Back at Footage that Made Headlines

Coming off a year of continued ratings growth for its “news and views” programming strategy, Headline News will add Not Just Another Cable News Show to its weekend lineup, it was announced today by Ken Jautz, executive vice president of CNN Worldwide. The series will take a lighthearted look back at famous – and infamous – stories that made news. The series will premiere on Saturday, April 5, at 7 p.m. and will feature some of the most unforgettable political blunders of our time. Future episodes will highlight bad celebrity behavior, stupid criminals and unusual pop culture fads.

Not Just Another Cable News Show will air each Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m., with re-airs at 9 p.m. and midnight.

“Our CNN news group is in the fortunate position of having nearly 28 years’ worth of archived news footage, and this new series is a unique way of showcasing some of those clips,” Jautz said. “It’s an entertaining way to recall some of the more memorable news moments captured on video.”

The half-hour program will feature comedians, pundits and other “talking heads” offering their take on memorable video clips. The premiere episode includes Time.com editor Ana Marie Cox, Los Angeles Times columnist Joel Stein, Republican strategist Amy Holmes, Huffington Post media editor Rachel Sklar and comedian Hugh Fink. Not Just Another Cable News Show will be executive-produced by Conway Cliff.

News to Me, the first user-generated program on cable news, will follow Not Just Another Cable News Show at 7:30 p.m, 9:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. News to Me premiered on Headline News in May 2007 and is hosted by Eric Lanford and features the Web’s hottest videos and the news as seen through the eyes – and cameras – of viewers.

Not Just Another Cable News Show is the newest addition to the Headline News lineup of news updates during the day, with personality-based programming every evening. On the third anniversary of the re-launch of the Headline Prime (7 p. m. to midnight) lineup, the network is posting remarkable growth in every demo, up a whopping 83 percent in total viewers and 76 percent in the P25-54 demographic. Since the format change, Headline News has had the fastest-growing shows among cable news networks each year and the most growth and highest audience deliveries in its history.

Headline News, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, updates viewers constantly, 24 hours each day, with complete and concise national newscasts throughout the day and a compelling slate of legal, entertainment and talk programs during Headline Prime at night. The network delivers fast-paced, lively and engaging news, using the best resources of CNN Worldwide. Headline News is designed especially for viewers who want relevant and comprehensive news in a way that suits the urgency of their schedules.

All times Eastern

CNN Pressroom - Morning Express Continues to Grow P25-54 Audience Since November Rebrand

Rafer Weigel will be joining Headline News’ flagship morning program, Morning Express with Robin Meade, as a sports anchor, it was announced today by Ken Jautz, executive vice president of CNN Worldwide. Weigel’s first day on the air will be Monday, Feb. 4, when he provides insights about Sunday’s Super Bowl.

“The addition of Rafer to our Morning Express team gives our audience yet another reason to tune in every morning for all the news they need to kick off the day,” Jautz said. “Rafer’s breadth of experience and enthusiasm for the arena of sports news make him an ideal fit for the high-energy morning lineup. We’re happy to welcome him aboard.”

Since its rebrand in November, Morning Express has seen the largest P25-54 increase among all cable news morning shows, up 12 percent. Over that same time period, Morning Express from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ET) has out-delivered MSNBC’s Morning Joe from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. by 29 percent (111k vs. 86k) in P25-54.

Weigel joins Headline News after working as the lead general assignment reporter at KOVR-TV, a CBS affiliate in Sacramento, Calif. Previously, he served as a general assignment and feature reporter at KUSI in San Diego. Weigel has also held sports reporting jobs at the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Sun-Times.

He graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana with a bachelor of arts in speech communications.

Morning Express with Robin Meade features an ensemble that includes lead anchor Robin Meade; news correspondent Richard Lui; meteorologist Bob Van Dillen and “Your Money” correspondent Jennifer Westhoven. Morning Express gives viewers their daily dose of news, weather, sports, entertainment, finance and travel. The show airs on Headline News from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ET).

Headline News, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, updates viewers constantly, 24 hours each day, with a complete and concise national newscast every half-hour through the day and a compelling slate of legal, entertainment and news programs during Headline Prime at night. The network delivers fast-paced, lively and engaging news, using the best resources of CNN Worldwide. Headline News is designed especially for viewers who want relevant and comprehensive news in a way that suits the urgency of their schedules.

CNN Press Release - Fast-Paced Headline News Program Led by Robin Meade Goes Live with New Name on Monday, Nov. 5

Headline News’ flagship morning program Robin & Company becomes Morning Express with Robin Meade, effective Monday, Nov. 5, it was announced today by Ken Jautz, EVP of CNN Worldwide.

In an effort to give its viewers the news they need in the morning, in the manner that today’s busy lifestyle requires, Morning Express will continue to deliver news reports every 30 minutes, along with breaking news as warranted.

“We aim to provide a quickly paced and comprehensive summary of the news, which matches people’s needs in the morning as they're preparing for their day,” Jautz commented. “The show’s energy and style stand out in the morning broadcast landscape, and the new name better captures that.”

The program’s lineup includes lead anchor Robin Meade; news correspondent Richard Lui; meteorologist Bob Van Dillen and “Your Money” correspondent Jennifer Westhoven. Morning Express airs from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ET) every weekday.

Among the newest additions to the program are Meade’s “Morning Sunshine” e-mail newsletter for viewers and fans; the program’s hourly “Salute to Troops” segment designed to pay homage to military personnel and their families, a feature that also has evolved into an online photo gallery and blog; a segment with Van Dillen featuring weather-related i-Reports submitted from viewers; “V-Mails,” video messages sent from viewers who weigh in on topical issues; and “America’s Favorite Cities,” an on-air extension of Travel + Leisure magazine’s popular survey of the top travel spots in the country.

With the re-launch of the program, Morning Express extends to other platforms with Meade answering viewer e-mails in a Web-exclusive segment for the program’s page at www.CNN/Morning.Express. A weekly podcast with Meade will debut on Friday, Nov. 9, and will be available at http://www.CNN.com/podcasting/ and at CNN’s dedicated space on iTunes.

“Mornings are such an intimate, and frequently hectic, part of the day for our viewers, so I feel privileged that they invite us into their homes each day for their first dose of news and information,” Meade said.

Headline News, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, updates viewers constantly, 24 hours each day, with complete and concise national newscasts throughout the day and a compelling slate of legal, entertainment and talk programs during Headline Prime at night. The “Need to Know” network delivers fast-paced, lively and engaging news, using the best resources of CNN Worldwide. Headline News is designed especially for viewers who want relevant and comprehensive news in a way that suits the urgency of their schedules.

Jim Acosta

Ken Jautz

Also, they removed the photo of correspondent Jennifer Eccleston.