CNN’s chief executive Mark Thompson has reportedly suggested a major shift for anchor Jim Acosta, proposing he move from his current morning show to a midnight-to-2 a.m. time slot.
The unexpected call left Acosta blindsided, according to former CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy, who shared the story in his Status newsletter.
Darcy reported that Acosta received the proposal during a late-night phone call from Thompson. Despite the abrupt nature of the request, Acosta was reportedly assured the change was unrelated to the ratings or editorial direction of his show, which consistently performed well. Instead, Thompson framed the shift as a logistical move to facilitate a new morning schedule.
Sources claim Thompson even attempted to present the overnight slot as a potential career boost for Acosta. However, Darcy described the late-night proposal as “effectively exiling Acosta to the Siberia of television news,” given the time slot’s lack of competition and visibility in the cable news world.
The reason behind this move
The sudden suggestion sparked speculation about its true motive. One unnamed source alleged the decision might be aimed at appeasing President-elect Donald Trump after his 2024 election victory. “They want to get rid of Acosta to throw a bone to Trump,” the source claimed. “Midnight is not a serious offer when his ratings are among the best on the network.”
This development comes as part of Thompson’s broader plan to overhaul CNN’s programming lineup. According to Darcy, anchor Wolf Blitzer is also set to transition from his long-standing 6 p.m. time slot to a new morning show. These reported changes indicate a significant restructuring of CNN’s broadcast schedule in response to the shifting media landscape.
CNN has yet to comment on these claims, leaving questions about Acosta’s future with the network and the implications of the reported changes unanswered.
