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CNN morale 'really grim' as network faces uncertain future with corporate split, staffers warn
Fox News ^ | June 18, 2025 | Joseph A. Wulfsohn

Posted on 06/18/2025 5:50:06 AM PDT by george76

The struggling news network is expected to face massive spending cuts by company chief Gunnar Wiedenfels

...

CNN staffers are bracing for impact as the network faces yet another corporate restructuring by its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), fueling an unsettling morale in the newsroom.

"I'd say the mood remains really grim,"

...

WBD announced that it was splitting into two companies, separating the studios and streaming business from its cable networks

...

"We knew this was happening," the CNN staffer said. "And it was required to be able to sell the company. People are hoping CNN will be sold - and as Gunnar said, there is no limit, any sale can be made at any time - to a buyer who will invest in it. That's the bottom line."

...

While Global Networks will retain a 20% stake in the studio and streaming business, CNN's new parent company will have a heavy burden taking on most of Warner Bros. Discovery's massive debt. And Wiedenfels is expected to tighten the purse strings.

"I think they’ve telegraphed clearly that more cuts are coming. Gunnar 'efficiency,'" the CNN staffer said. "And we don’t have streaming yet so - it’s hard to imagine it doesn’t get worse [CNN is set to launch a new streaming service this fall]."

"His remit is not to grow stuff. This company is a cash-flow giant with shrinking revenue. Like that’s the deal. It’s merely a matter of how fast it shrinks. That’s why the assets were split,"

...

CNN has repeatedly been orphaned by corporate parents for years, from Time Warner in the 90s, to AOL in the early 2000s, to AT&T in 2018, leading to its 2022 spinoff of Warner Bros. Discovery led by CEO David Zaslav.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: att; certainlynotnews; clintonnonnews; cnn; davidzaslav; elonmusk; globalnetworks; gunnarwiedenfels; jeffbezos; josephawulfsohn; lorenmichaels; ohnoanyway; timewarner; trumpmedia; warnerbrosdiscovery
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1 posted on 06/18/2025 5:50:06 AM PDT by george76
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To: george76
"I think they’ve telegraphed clearly that more cuts are coming.

More free time to do what they have already been doing. Locking arms with rioters.

2 posted on 06/18/2025 5:52:42 AM PDT by Kudsman (I am Coal baby! Burning for you. )
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To: george76

Look at the bright side. Scott Jennings can now run for the turtle’s seat.


3 posted on 06/18/2025 5:53:27 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: george76

Sad because They might actually have to work for a living...................


4 posted on 06/18/2025 5:53:30 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: All

Nice to see. And they are still blind as to the reasons why.


5 posted on 06/18/2025 5:54:20 AM PDT by mmichaels1970 ( )
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To: george76

CNN is a CABLE company

CABLE is obsolete

CNN is obsolete and need not exist

QED


6 posted on 06/18/2025 5:56:30 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: george76

CNN korporate will use Indian programmers pretending to be “AI” to write propaganda stories, and can then fire the current staff.


7 posted on 06/18/2025 5:57:10 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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bump


8 posted on 06/18/2025 5:58:01 AM PDT by foreverfree
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To: george76

I’m sure those folks from CNN aka Constipated News Nerds will be able to find jobs commensurate with their skills ... as I hear there are a lot of openings for folks driving garbage trucks.


9 posted on 06/18/2025 5:59:13 AM PDT by antidemoncrat (In a way ge is right as)
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To: george76

No matter what happens, they’ll have their insufferable self righteousness to keep them warm.

I take comfort in that


10 posted on 06/18/2025 6:00:09 AM PDT by j.havenfarm (24 years on Free Republic, 12/10/24! More than 10,500 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: foreverfree

IF they were smart...

They could easily go to a 24/7 straight news format with no name newsreader/anchors. and quickly rebuild their reputation and brand.


11 posted on 06/18/2025 6:00:38 AM PDT by uranium penguin
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To: george76

12 posted on 06/18/2025 6:01:13 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: george76

Hopefully there’s a Jim Jones over there who will host a Koolaid party.


13 posted on 06/18/2025 6:02:34 AM PDT by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative)
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To: george76

Does anyone know when the airport licenses run out for CNN? I seriously doubt those will be renewed and, if not, I think that’s the death knell for CNN. To me, their demise is a karma thing...


14 posted on 06/18/2025 6:03:15 AM PDT by econjack
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To: george76

It must be discouraging ro CNN anchors to know that more people watch CNN on Fox than on CNN. Not to mention the companies that pay to advertise on CNN.


15 posted on 06/18/2025 6:04:20 AM PDT by Texas Eagle ("Throw me to the wolves and I'll return leading the pack"- Donald J. Trump)
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To: george76

Perhaps they could call Trump Hitler some more?


16 posted on 06/18/2025 6:04:48 AM PDT by bray (It's not racist to be racist against races the DNC hates.)
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To: bert

I agree. I had some work done with DISH Cable the other day, and we chatted a bit. The conclusion we both reached was that everything will be streaming within 5 years. Dish is already changing for that and I assume the others are also.


17 posted on 06/18/2025 6:08:20 AM PDT by Eli Kopter (ביחד ננצח הלב שלנו שבוי בעזה Together we will win, our heart is captive in Gaza.)
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To: Texas Eagle

: )

The ironic truth of your statement is truly telling.

18 posted on 06/18/2025 6:09:07 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: george76

I had one job where we all knew we were getting axed. We just didn’t know when. It’s an awful feeling. HEY CNN! ENJOY!!😁


19 posted on 06/18/2025 6:14:03 AM PDT by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: george76

Maybe CNN might consider airing news again, instead of Leftist activist propaganda?


20 posted on 06/18/2025 6:17:48 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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