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Report: CNN Talked With Glenn Beck About HLN Venture

Aug 25, 2014  •  Post A Comment

CNN executives recently talked with executives at Glenn Beck’s The Blaze about creating a joint venture to spruce up struggling network HLN, reports The Wall Street Journal. [The Journal is behind a pay wall and may charge readers for access to the story.]

The story reports that the talks followed similar discussions between CNN and Vice Media about a possible arrangement to revamp HLN, which became public in June. WSJ cites sources who are familiar with the situation saying that CNN and reps for The Blaze were unable to come to terms.

“Among the possible deals considered was an arrangement similar to the one being discussed with Vice Media, according to a person familiar with the deal: forming a new venture between CNN parent Time Warner and The Blaze that would replace HLN’s current programming with Blaze programming,” the story reports.

The Journal adds: “The talks illustrate Time Warner’s eagerness to find a solution for the problems at HLN, which has seen its total viewership decline 22% for the season to date, and a 19% decrease in viewers 18 to 49 years old, the demographic that advertisers pay a premium to reach, according to Nielsen,” The Journal adds.

For The Blaze, a 24-hour news and entertainment network, the talks illustrate its ambitions to gain national exposure on cable, the story notes. Beck, who started the company after leaving Fox News, has attracted hundreds of thousands of subscribers to the digital channel, while the network has also been picked up by pay-TV operators.

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Glenn Beck

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