[Editor's Note: TVWW contributor Donna J. Plesh died April 2, 2015, from ovarian cancer. She was 71. Donna covered television since the early 1980s, initially for the Orange County Register and its TV magazine. She also was a member of the Television Critics Association. Donna was always a cheerful spirit within the TVWW network and often gave readers a kind, up-close viewpoint in her interviews with a wide variety of television stars. She will be missed.]
PASADENA -- CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker fielded a variety of questions Friday from assembled TV critics and writers at the second day of the Television Critics Association winter press tour.
Zucker said CNN is not interested, at this time, in joining the late night talk show wars. In recent weeks, reports have circulated that the cable network was interested in bringing Jay Leno on board to host a late night show. (Leno is leaving NBC’s Tonight Show, again, and will be replaced by Jimmy Fallon on Feb. 17.)
“I know there’s been a lot of talk about CNN looking for late night programming, a late night comedy show," Zucker said. "That’s really not a priority for us at this time. We have some other things that I’d like to concentrate on first. So that’s really not in the cards any time soon. I have a long relationship with Jay. I think he’s a terrific talent. But that’s just not where our priorities are, where we’re going, certainly anytime soon.”
The network president continually stressed that news is, and will remain, the network’s top priority.
“CNN is not and never will abandon our first and fundamental brand equity, which is news and breaking news and covering today’s news and putting today’s news in context," Zucker insisted. "That will continue. That’s the most important thing we do. We want to remain essential in news.
"At the same time, you know, when we look at the cable news landscape, we also recognize that that’s not a growing niche and that there are many places to get that kind of news and information..."
“One of the ways that we want to continue to remain relevant is to also, in addition to the news that we will continue to cover on a daily basis, supplement that with the series and films that we’ve added to the lineup. It’s one of the things that we’re proud of, and think that we had a very good year with last year.
"This year we’ll have eight series. We’re going to premiere Chicagoland in March. We announced today Death Row Stories from Robert Redford’s company, to be narrated by Susan Sarandon. That will join the lineup in March. Anthony Bourdain and Morgan Spurlock will both be back in April. The Sixties, which is a series from Tom Hanks and Playtone, will premiere in May. And then we’ll have several other series towards the end of the year and, obviously, a full slate of films,” he said.
That said, Zucker added that the network wants to broaden the scope of what it offers to the audience while staying true to its news roots.
“There’s always a control room that’s hot at CNN. We will never ever get out of making sure that we are there for news. And primetime will continue to be the home of news and talk. I think the key thing that I want to do is make sure that CNN remains true to its news and journalistic background. That really is first and foremost.
"So my priority will continue to be to look at how we can expand our audience in primetime, continue to broaden the definition of offerings that we’re providing, such as these series and films, continue to grow our digital offerings, which are, you know, virtually second-to-none in news. Those are the priorities,” he concluded.