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CNN Cancels Prime-Time Show, Overhauls Lineup

Jul 7, 2011  •  Post A Comment

CNN has canceled a prime-time show and will overhaul its lineup as it continues to try to bolster its sagging ratings, reports The New York Times’ Media Decoder blog.

Eliot Spitzer’s political talk show "In the Arena" has been canceled after just nine months on the air, the story says. Spitzer’s 8 p.m. time slot will be taken over by Anderson Cooper, whose 10 p.m. newscast will be shifted two hours earlier.

“We think it creates better flow from show to show, and we think that will improve the overall performance across the evening,” said Ken Jautz, the head of CNN U.S.

Spitzer’s final broadcast was Wednesday night, although the show will remain on the air with other hosts until it ends its run in early August, the story says.

The only CNN prime-time show that won’t be affected by the scheduling changes is "Piers Morgan Tonight," which airs at 9 p.m. and debuted about six months ago. Erin Burnett, who recently was hired from CNBNC, will take over the 7 p.m. hour on weekdays, replacing John King, whose show will move to 6 p.m.

"Anderson Cooper 360" will rebroadcast its 8 p.m. show at 10 p.m., making the show an even more important part of CNN’s lineup, the article adds.

The cancellation is a setback for Spitzer, the former governor of New York who resigned in a prostitution scandal. The show suffered poor ratings and Spitzer’s early co-host, Kathleen Parker, left the show in February.

While CNN said it’s talking with Spitzer about an "alternative role," a representative for Spitzer said he is finished working for CNN, the article says. Spitzer didn’t respond to an interview request.

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