CNN PLANS SHAKEUP AT HEADLINE (response to dumpster ratings)

NY POST ^ | 2/20/05 | TIM ARANGO

[Liz]

For the first time in its history, CNN's Headline News is tinkering with its all-news format.

The network will launch a new primetime lineup tomorrow — the first time in the network's 20-plus years on the air that it's making a break from airing straight newscasts.

"We're doing it because it's a chance to use both of our networks in a complementary way," said Ken Jautz, executive vice president of CNN Newsgroup.

"In this day and age there is so much competition in news. By the time you get to prime time people know the headlines of the day."

The switch is one of the early changes under new CNN President Jonathan Klein, who took over the network late last year.

While Fox News surpassed CNN in the ratings in recent years and is the No. 1 cable news network, CNN's sister network Headline News has held its own. Last year, for example, Headline News averaged 213,000 viewers during daytime hours, compared with 201,000 for MSNBC and 207,000 for CNBC, according to Nielsen.

In primetime last year, Headline News' ratings were largely flat from the year before.

Beginning tomorrow evening, Headline News will begin airing "Showbiz Tonight" from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. — a live, talk-oriented show on the entertainment business. In the next hour, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., the network will air the legal talk show "Nancy Grace," hosted by the CourtTV anchor of the same name.

Grace, who became a prosecutor after her fiancee was murdered, will continue to host her CourtTV show "Closing Arguments."

"There's a very high interest among viewers in legal news and entertainment," Jautz said.

"It's the first time we've had a major marketing campaign for Headline News," Jautz said.

[My Favorite Headache]

Headline News is going to get even worse now because they are trying for some reason to take ratings away from E!. This fact they simply leave out of the article. If anything, people are sick of the hollywood and courtroom drama crap. 2 HORRIBLE ideas if you ask me.

[Liz]

E! actually has ratings? Who woulda guessed.

Nothing but drivel....I cringe everytime I hafta surf past it.

[Cold Heat]

Best thing they could do is dump it.

[My Favorite Headache]

E! stands for Embarassing.

[Drango]

Hey CNN...try NOT pandering to the left wing wackadoos that make up the bulk of your audience.

[Liz]

Good idea. Who'd even miss it?

[Liz]

....... the lowlifes that produce it need intense therapy.......

[Libertarian444]

This.......is CNN....

[Liz]

LOL....beautiful.

[international american]

Yeah, that would do for starters : )

[international american]

Why don't we have a show called "LIAR LIAR"

Ted Turner can ask questions about news of the day, and 3the 3 permanent panelists will be

1) Paul Begala
2) Robert Reich
3)James Carville

A " LIEOMETER" will judge the daily winner.

[maggief]

[Liz]

LOL.......what a lineup.....the two of them lie and the other swears to it.

[dirtboy]

A " LIEOMETER" will judge the daily winner.

Yeah, but how could you possibly load test it before using it with those three?

[Liz]

We can use this.

[Liz]

ROTFLOL........good one.

[international american]

ROTF....those were the 3 biggest liars I could think of.....aside from Botoxman : )

[international american]

Kerry??

[international american]

Junk News Junk News
What ya gonna do??

[international american]

Hey, Liz ! You built your own!