In yet another questionable move, CNN, supported by Warner Bros. Discovery, plans to venture into an area where success is often elusive. The network announced on Thursday its poorly conceived decision to introduce a brand-new two-hour newscast at the unexpected hour of midnight, with the newscast notionally spearheaded by long-serving Los Angeles anchor Elex Michaelson.
It’s well known that major networks such as CNN itself, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel typically refrain from live broadcasts past the stroke of midnight. Instead, they sensibly use reruns of their prime time shows to keep their programming schedules full. Historically, CNN has stuffed its own wee hours with programming borrowed from its international news outlets.
Despite years contemplating this unusual concept, CNN still appears to be struggling to grasp practical logistics. The proposed newscast, with a rather narrow focus on Californian affairs, aims to target predominantly west coast viewers, but the timings would slot it between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. in their timezone. Essentially, this seems to disregard viewers from other parts of the nation.
Interestingly, this is not the first time a seemingly myopic strategy was put into effect. Disney’s ESPN, for instance, ran a late-night edition of ‘Sports Center’ from its studios in Los Angeles for many years. Although demonstrating limited forethought, they finally reintegrated the late-night program back to its primary Bristol, CT studios just this year.
Elex Michaelson figures prominently in this ill-advised plan. His fame in Los Angeles, while considerable, in no way guarantees the success of this nationwide venture. During his stint at KTTV, he did manage to create, host, and executive produce California’s premier weekly state political talk show, ‘The Issue Is with Elex Michaelson’. He often interviewed a mix of national and regional figures.
Bouncing off this original idea, Michaelson expressed his misplaced excitement to join a network like CNN. He quipped, ‘I am so excited to join CNN and learn firsthand from some of the most talented journalists on the planet.’ One may have to question if his definition of ‘talent’ aligns with the general public consensus.
Michaelson appeared especially pleased with CNN’s dubious decision to further invest in his hometown. He mentioned appreciating the West Coast for its collection of global leaders from numerous fields such as politics, entertainment, technology, sports, etc.
However, the stark, glaring reality remains that this precipitous move by CNN opens it to a potential avalanche of challenges. One has to question whether Michaelson’s established credibility in Los Angeles can carry a risky endeavor like this one. Will a Los Angeles-focused program resonate with the larger, diverse United States viewership or diminish CNN’s credibility even further?
Indeed, there’s no denying that Michaelson is accomplished in his regional sphere. Exemplifying this was his previous role at KTTV where he managed to successfully create and host California’s first weekly state political talk show. However, repeating that success on the national stage, especially under CNN’s umbrella, is a far cry from guaranteed.
As an observer, it’s easy to see how this represents an unwise gamble for CNN. Expanding its midnight slot with live programming that caters primarily to west coast viewers seems to ignore a large portion of its audience. Additionally, banking everything on a regional personality like Michaelson carries inherent risks.
Moreover, this move by CNN raises concerns about programming quality in the midnight slot. Michaelson, despite his excitement and dedication to his new role, could likely find himself occasionally churning out banal political interviews while the nation slumbers. How will this affect the perception and ratings of the network?
In trying to remain a competitive news outlet, CNN seems to have taken a panicked leap into the unknown. But the network risks turning off more viewers than it pulls in, particularly those from other parts of the country who might feel disregarded by this west coast-centered programming. This could potentially further accelerate CNN’s plummet in the ratings.
Finally, one can’t help but question the thought process behind CNN’s decision. Is it desperation? A rejection of wisdom? It will be interesting to see if and how this broadcast, notably led by popular west coast news figure Elex Michaelson, will impact the national audience’s perception of CNN. Let’s face it, they have a steep uphill climb to regain American’s trust.
In conclusion, while there’s no denying that Elex Michaelson is well-revered in his regional circle, CNN’s bold move to gamble on his appeal to a national audience at such late hours speaks volumes of their current state. Perhaps CNN has underestimated the intelligence and discernment of the American viewers. Only time will reveal the consequences of this precarious strategy.
The post CNN’s Misguided Midnight Scheme: Another Nail in the Coffin? appeared first on Real News Now.
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