CNN: The Continuing Soap Opera

[YourWorldToday 29]

So some interesting changes happening from this Monday (May 4th).

 

It looks like Early Start is being axed, and replaced with Headline Express (this was first flagged by @EastCoaston another forum). 

Interestingly it also looks like the 4am ET hour of CNNI Newsroom is returning. I wonder if Headline Express moving to 5am is to accommodate that? Presumably HE is produced by a different team, so it’s no extra workload for the CNNI overnight team. 
 

Wonder who will anchor this extra hour? I’d love it if they gave Christina Macfarlane that hour back, but I suspect (at least for now) it’ll be Becky Anderson and/or whoever anchored the previous hours of Newsroom (so probably Rosemary Church). 

 

 

Edited April 30 by YourWorldToday

[FirstonFox 0]

Good spot and big promotion for Brad Smith. HE is already live at 7am so it makes sense to bring it up to 5am (without the cost of a new show), presumably he will still anchor that hour and at 11am. 

[EastCoast 29]

A bit strange that CNN haven't published a release for this yet. Adding live news back at 4am is a positive change, and bringing Headline Express to the main network (hopefully from Studio H) is an upgrade to the 5am flash set we've see for a year. My hope is that 2-5am becomes a double-headed CNN Newsroom, strengthening the EMEA morning block. Curious what the impact is to the FAST Channel, if they scrap the 7am broadcast, and what that means for the CNN Stream. 

[YourWorldToday 29]

So today Lynda Kinkade did 12-2am, Rosemary Church did an hour and since 3am ET we've had Polo Sandoval. Very much doubt that will be the case everyday. I was expecting someone in London to do the 4am hour, but today is a public holiday in the UK. Probably we'll find out the proper arrangements tomorrow. 

[EastCoast 29]

Brad Smith anchored the 5am edition of CNN Headlines Express live from Studio H. No tweaks to the format, which is a plus. The fast pace and quantity of stories feels like CNN of a bygone era.
 

The show maintained the simpler graphics package, even saying “CNN Headlines” in the bug, despite not airing on the FAST channel. Switching back to CNN’s normal graphics at 6am is a reminder of how clunky they are. 

 

CHE still aired live on the FAST channel at 7am. Wonder if they’ll announce a new permanent anchor for the afternoon editions soon or if it will continue as a revolving door.

[Geoffrey 958]

I like the format of CNN Headlines Express. Nice to get more than just a handful of stories that are talked about for an hour. Obviously similar to CNN Headline News.

 

Interesting how this is the only CNN news show that uses different graphics.

[EastCoast 29]

Kasie Hunt is back in Studio D, and it looks like 2 months of work was to...repaint the floor black. Will see if there's more to it with Inside Politics and CNN This Morning later in the week. 

 

Switching to CNN International, they really seem to have made a mess out of the overnight hours. Monday to Thursday Rosemary now only does 2-3am, with Polo from 3-5am. But Friday its a 2-4am shift with Kim handling 4-5am. That leaves 10 hours between Ben Hunte and someone else that I have no idea how they're going to split. And significantly more flash cams than actual studios. 

Edited May 19 by EastCoast

[YourWorldToday 29]

4 hours ago, EastCoast said:

Switching to CNN International, they really seem to have made a mess out of the overnight hours. Monday to Thursday Rosemary now only does 2-3am, with Polo from 3-5am. But Friday its a 2-4am shift with Kim handling 4-5am. That leaves 10 hours between Ben Hunte and someone else that I have no idea how they're going to split. And significantly more flash cams than actual studios. 

 

It all feels very temporary, doesn't it? (It probably is!) I read on Status.news (Oliver Darcy's website) that Brad Smith is only filling in at 5am, presumably until CNN decide what they want to do with that slot in the long term. 

 

I think there's work being done to the studio at CNN London, because there's been no output from there for about two weeks now. (Everything has been done from flash sets, or in Amanpour's case, from her home!) I'm wondering if they'll return that 4am hour to London once the revamped studio is ready.

[EastCoast 29]

Interesting that it’s a temporary arrangement. Hopefully the permanent setup flows better!
 

Back to Studio D, it looks like circular column has been replaced with a square one:

 

It also looks like they rebuilt the area usually behind the magic wall:

Previous setup:

 

Based on the lighting, I’d guess the white glossy panels are temporary while they wait for new LED panels.