Anchor's Not Outfoxing Foe: CNN Seeking Help For Paula (Zahn a Financial and Ratings Disaster!)

New York Daily News ^ | March 20, 2002 | Phyllis Furman

[Timesink]

Anchor's Not Outfoxing Foe
CNN seeking help for Paula

By PHYLLIS FURMAN
Daily News Business Writer

NN isn't getting its money's worth from Paula Zahn.

The cable network's $2 million-a-year investment in its new anchor has yet to pay dividends — and CNN is looking to make a change to beef up her expensive new morning show.

In spite of big bucks and megapromotion for Zahn, Fox News Channel's edgy, zoolike "Fox & Friends" is beating her more serious show, "American Morning," by up to 200,000 viewers a day.

	Paula Zahn: Provocative, supersmart and, oh yeah, just a little bit overpaid.

That has CNN trying hard to lure the "Today" show's former No. 2 producer, Michael Bass, to fix up Zahn's program, insiders said. If he joins, he'll take the top executive producer's post, reporting to senior executive producer Katherine O'Hearn, who has been trying to lure him for some time, the sources said.

The stakes couldn't be higher for CNN, which is making an ambitious effort to become a contender in morning TV.

The network set off a nasty legal battle in September when it lured Zahn from the Fox News Channel as part of an attempt to pump up ratings by hiring marquee talent. It was CNN's most expensive hire to date, and it tripled Zahn's salary.

But it's been far from smooth sailing since then. In January, CNN blundered when it aired a commercial touting Zahn as "sexy" — with the sound of a zipper in the background. Zahn was furious, and CNN quickly pulled the promo.

CNN isn't just paying Zahn big bucks, it's also building an expensive streetfront studio at the Time & Life Building where Zahn's show, as well as several other CNN programs, will move in the spring.

'Fox' Still Leads

Zahn's show has made strides, boosting CNN's ratings for the period between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. by 188% compared with last year, and she has narrowed the gap somewhat with "Fox & Friends." But that show, which is produced on a shoestring budget, is still beating "American Morning" by a hefty 30% margin.

"With all that money they are laying out, there have to be holes in the walls over there," said Bill Shine, Fox News network executive producer. "CNN can steal our talent, but they can't steal our brains and our attitude."

CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson called Zahn's show a "tremendous success," adding that "American Morning" isn't in the same category as "Fox & Friends."

"We're providing news and substantive exclusives," Robinson said. "Fox's loss," she maintained, "is CNN's gain."

Original Publication Date: 03/20/2002

[Savage Beast]

Dancing for Dollars on the Desktop

Okay, now that might make me watch CNN again, once anyway. After all's said and done, I hafta admit that Paula is sexy.

[Howlin]

CNN should trade her.

[KellyAdmirer]

CNN's problem isn't just Paula, who is no great shakes to start with, but with their evening lineup. Not much to watch before going to bed at night - and then have the tv turned to CNN upon awakening the next morning. Fox is simply a stronger channel all around, buying Paula Zahn had no chance of changing that. The problem is deeper than a fancy skirt and an expensive set.

[StickyWings]

She annoyed me too, in a subtle way she would aways stick it to the conservatives. A SNAKE!

[gg188]

E.D. is a q.t.!

[esmith]

The last I heard Greta VanSuckup has about the same amount of people watching as Paula Zahn had. She is also beating Aaron Brown in that time slot, but then Aaron Brown is more liberal than Zahn. I have not seen any results yet for Alan Keyes as his show is still new but PMSNBC usually trails far behind Fox. Fox News has recently been bragging on all their shows that they are Number One in Cable News.

[PGalt]

I don't watch it therefore I don't buy their advertisers products and I hope they all go bankrupt. I like to believe I had a small part in Kmart's bankruptcy since my multi-year-lifetime boycott from their Guns & Rosie crap.

[CaptRon]

Is that so.

Fox and Friends snuck up on me but I've become a regular viewer. The hosts are so engaging that it's like having coffee with friends. And as far as F&F not being "in the same catgory", I find that all 3 of the F&F gang are as aware of the issues as anyone at CNN. They have impressive guests (Henry Kissinger, Bibi Netanyahu)and do great and informative interviews and they seem to have a lot of fun doing it.

PLUS...their obvious conservative bent is refreshing.

[CaptRon]

CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson called Zahn's show a "tremendous success," adding that "American Morning" isn't in the same category as "Fox & Friends." "We're providing news and substantive exclusives," Robinson said. "Fox's loss," she maintained, "is CNN's gain."

Somehow this got cut off of my earlier post.

[CharacterCounts]

CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson called Zahn's show a "tremendous success," adding that "American Morning" isn't in the same category as "Fox & Friends."

Yea, they're about 30 % below the Fox and Friends category.

[Green Knight]

Pffft. Some loss. I doubt Roger Ailes is crying over Paula going over to CNN. And if the opportunity were to come up, I seriously doubt that Fox would ever take Paula back. I know I wouldn't. I got no use for a two-timing whore and I'm sure neither does Ailes.

[freekitty]

It's so easy to cure. Just get rid of Paula. I guess they don't get it. No one likes Paula. Just cut your losses and quit trying to jam one more down our throats. We know you make a lot of money from these cheap shows and as usual you forgot a couple of important fullproof ingredients. Like credibility and quality? Why don't your tv folks try it sometime. You might be surprised that the audience you think is so blind, deaf and dumb might even respond favorably.

[onedoug]

I'd wear a jacket on TV. Respect for the audience?

[Judith Anne]

I agree. There is something so snotty about Paula...she always looks like she smells something nasty in the vicinity. Maybe it's her...;-D

[oust the louse]

Job security? If I make 2 million in one year screw worrying about job security! She's a twit but she probably doesn't have a financial problem.She may have an EGO problem though when she's poop canned.

[glorygirl]

What happened to Rita Cosby? Guess she isn't a "fox."

Edye (sorry, that's how she spelled her name when she was an anchor in Pittsburgh with the last name Tarbox) is very relaxed now compared to her former network job. For a short time she did business news on the CBS morning show, around 10 years ago. She looked, and behaved like a mannequin, when they dressed her up in a suit and tried to turn her into a Paula Zahn.

The one person I really like on CNN is Aaron Brown. I thought Paula did pretty well with him right after September 11, when they first came to CNN. They sort of balanced each other off.

[freekitty]

Good for you.