All Things CNN

Ratings For the Week of January 23 - 27

2012-01-30T21:02:00.003-05:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

2 - Special programming was aired on two nights during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightly ratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbers reflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Tuesday's Election Coverage

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

SCHEDULE UPDATES FOR TUESDAY, JAN. 31:

7:00PM – 11:00PM: America's Choice 2012: The Florida Primary (Live)

11:00PM – Midnight: Anderson Cooper 360 - Special Edition (Live)

Midnight – 1:00AM: Piers Morgan Tonight (Live)

1:00AM – 2:00AM Anderson Cooper 360 - Special Edition

2:00AM – 3:00AM Piers Morgan Tonight

3:00AM – 4:00AM Anderson Cooper 360 - Special Edition

4:00AM – 5:00AM Piers Morgan Tonight

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 1/28/12

2012-01-27T21:47:00.001-05:00

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta focuses on concussion in two sports Americans love – football and soccer. Dr. Gupta interviews former NFL Detroit Lion Lamar Campbell about his multiple concussions throughout his playing days. He now suffers memory loss and chronic migraines and is dedicated to helping other former professional athletes find life after the NFL. Dr. Gupta also interviews professional soccer player Brandi Chastain about her experiences playing the sport she loves despite sustaining concussions during the course of play.

CNN PRESENTS (SATURDAY at 8:00pm, 11:00pm, and 2:00am)
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Brooke Baldwin host a 2-story magazine program. Correspondent Kaj Larson reports from Honduras with a rare behind-the-scenes look at US Drug Enforcement Administration operations there trying to stem the flow of an estimated 25 tons a month of cocaine bound for the US. Also, correspondent Deb Feyerick tries to untangle the extremely complicated case of a former NYC police officer convicted of murder – but in a series of twists and emerging information, and the officer’s overturned conviction – the case continues to raise questions about evidence suppression, witness tampering, justified defense, and judicial fairness.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta focuses on concussion in two sports Americans love – football and soccer. Dr. Gupta interviews former NFL Detroit Lion Lamar Campbell about his multiple concussions throughout his playing days. He now suffers memory loss and chronic migraines and is dedicated to helping other former professional athletes find life after the NFL. Dr. Gupta also interviews professional soccer player Brandi Chastain about her experiences playing the sport she loves despite sustaining concussions during the course of play.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9AM – 10AM and Noon
Topic: 2012 Politics
Guest: Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), presidential candidate
Topics: Florida GOP Politics; Preview of Tuesday’s Primary
Guest: Gov. Rick Scott: (R) Florida
Topic: The Latino Vote
Guest: Carlos Gutierrez: Former Commerce Secretary
Guest: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: (D) Los Angeles
Topics: State of the Union Address Reaction; Senate Agenda; State of the GOP; 2012 Politics
Guest: Sen. Mitch McConnell

Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: Will the U.S. economy grow, and unemployment drop, in 2012? Was Mr. Geithner’s decision not to serve a second term with President Obama his own – or the President’s? Will China reform its economy?
Guest: Timothy Geithner, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury -- A Fareed Zakaria GPS Sunday Exclusive
Topics: Is the U.S. economy rebounding? What will happen with the euro? What is the state of the Arab world, a little over one year since the ‘Arab Spring’ began? Does China need to bail out Europe? How should the GOP deal with the economic inequality problem?
Guest: Niall Ferguson, PhD, professor, Harvard University School of Business; Newsweek columnist
Guest: Wadah Khanfar, President of the Sharq Forum, former Director General of the Al Jazeera Network
Guest: Kishore Mahbubani, Dean and Professor in Public Policy for The Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore

Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11AM - Noon
Topics: Gingrich Takes on the Media; State of the Union Speech Reaction
Guest: Jeff Greenfield, PBS
Guest: Jackie Kucinich, USA Today
Guest: Mark Barabak, The Los Angeles Times
Topic: Florida Primary Preview
Guest: Kathleen Parker, The Washington Post
Guest: Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune
Topic: Google Changes Privacy Policy
Guest: Mark Potts, Internet media consultant

Host: Howard Kurtz

THE NEXT LIST – Sunday 2:00PM – 2:30PM
Anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta meets Ubaldo Vitali, a fourth generation master silversmith and recent recipient of a Macarthur genius grant. Vitali is teaching the world to stop, listen, and look at unparalleled pieces of art. As new technology permeates our daily lives, Vitali is working hard to push forward a centuries old practice.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: Big Hits, Broken Dreams (SUNDAY at 8:00pm, 11:00pm, and 2:00am)
Football is a way of life at many high schools across America, and that’s true at JH Rose High School in Greenville, North Carolina, as well. But football glory has come at a cost for JH Rose. In the fall of 2008, Jaquan Waller, a JH Rose junior, died from "second impact syndrome," a fatal swelling of the brain that occurred when he took a blow to his head before his first concussion injury had healed, just weeks later Matt Gfeller, a sophomore at Reynolds High School in neighboring Winston-Salem, NC, died from a single concussion. And even last year, the J.H. Rose Rampants lost their star quarterback when his fourth football-related concussion took him out of the game forever. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with the coaches, parents and kids trying to learn how to prevent this danger in youth sports.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN's GOP FL. Debate Was #1 Last Night

2012-01-27T20:26:00.001-05:00

CNN'S GOP FLORIDA DEBATE WAS #1 LAST NIGHT; POSTS BEST CNN DELIVERY YET IN THE KEY DEMO 25-54

DRAWS 5.4 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND 1.7 MILLION IN KEY DEMO 25-54

ALSO DRAWS AN ADDITIONAL 1.2 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND 562K IN THE DEMO DURING WEST COAST PRIMETIME

ANDERSON COOPER 360 TOPS THE COMPETITION AT 10P

CNN.com page views & video highest of last five CNN debates

According to Nielsen Fast National data, CNN's Florida debate (8-10p, ET), moderated by Wolf Blitzer delivered 5.4 million total viewers and 1.7 million in the key target demographic 25-54 last night, Thursday, January 26. This represents CNN's best debate yet this election cycle in the key demo and second best among total viewers (behind the Las Vegas GOP debate on 10/18). Last night's debate ranked fourth among all primary debates so far this cycle in the key demo (including broadcast) and second among cable-only debates (behind only FNC's 12/15 debate).

CNN was, by far, top rated during the 8-10p, ET time period last night among the cable news networks in both total viewers and the key demo. CNN topped FNC among total viewers by 160% (5.4m vs. 2.1m) and MSNBC by 444% (5.4m vs. 985k). In the target demo CNN topped FNC by 330% (1.7m vs. 405k) and MSNBC by 702% (1.7m vs. 217k).

During the west coast primetime airing (8-10p, PT/11p-1a, ET replay), CNN had an additional 1.2 million total viewers and 562k in the key demographic 25-54.

With post-debate analysis, Anderson Cooper 360 easily outperformed its cable news competition at 10p. AC360 topped FNC’s On the Record among total viewers by 30% (2.5m vs. 1.9m) and MSNBC’s Last Word by 130% (2.5m vs. 1.1m). In the target demo AC360 topped FNC by 88% (895k vs. 477k) and MSNBC by 261% (895k vs. 248k).

CNN Digital:

During last night’s CNN debate, CNN.com page views & video higher than previous five CNN debates. Stats include:

CNN.com page views were up 37% over the previous 4-Thursdays and up 5% over the average of the prior five CNN debates with 3.7 million page views. CNN.com page views for the day hit 46.8 million, up 6% over the past five CNN debates.

Video starts on CNN.com were also up 71% over the prior 4 Thursdays and 45% over the prior debates with 4.9 million.

Mobile page views were up 6% during the debate. In total, CNN Mobile had 6.1 million page views for the day.

(Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst Prior 4-Thursday average based on 12/22, 12/29, 1/5, 1/12. Prior debate dates include 6/13, 9/12, 10/18, 11/22, 1/19.)

(Source: Bango. Prior 4-Thursday average based on 12/22, 12/29, 1/5, 1/12. Prior debate dates include 6/13, 9/12, 10/18, 11/22, 1/19. Note: International mobile site does not contain video.)

Users also interacted with CNN across social media.

Facebook

• For last night’s Florida Republican debate there were 3 postings on the main CNN Facebook fanpage which generated 3,000 likes and comments.

Source: Facebook fan pages CNN 6/13/11, 9/12/11, 10/18/11, 11/22/11, 1/19/12 & 1/26/12; CNN Politics 9/12/11, 10/18/11, 11/22/11, 1/19/12 & 1/26/12

Twitter

• The CNNbrk account had 13 posts surrounding the debate which were retweeted 2,100 times.

• The hashtag #CNNDebate was a trending topic throughout the evening, ranking as high as #1 in the US and Worldwide throughout portions of the broadcast.

• Wolf Blitzer and Erin Burnett were also trending topics during last night’s debate coverage, with Wolf Blitzer ranking as high as #3 and Erin Burnett ranked #8 in US throughout the broadcast.

Source: Twitter Analytics 6/13/11, 10/18/11, 11/22/11, 1/19/12 & 1/26/12

GetGlue

• The CNN Florida Republican Debate had over 5,700 GetGlue check-ins and generated an estimated 1.3 million impressions across Facebook and Twitter.

Source: GetGlue 9/12, 10/18, 11/22, 1/19 & 1/26

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Dr. Gupta's ‘Big Hits, Broken Dreams’ on Sunday Night

2012-01-27T00:11:00.003-05:00

‘Big Hits, Broken Dreams’ Examines Concussion Hazards in Youth Football
‘Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports’ documentary debuts Sunday, January 29, 8:00pm ET

In a new, one-hour documentary, CNN chief medical correspondent and practicing neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta had exclusive access to follow the JH Rose team for their full 2011 season, exploring concussion in high school football – what happens to the brain under concussive brain injury, and what parents, coaches, and athletes need to be aware of to try to protect themselves. Big Hits, Broken Dreams debuts Sunday, January 29 at 8:00p.m. ET.

Football is a cornerstone of family life in Greenville, NC, and four-time statewide football champion JH Rose High School is one reason why. But the costs for all of that football glory can be very high. The hard hits can mean concussion injuries and the community has borne terrible consequences.

In summer 2008, JH Rose junior and star running back, Jaquan Waller, died as a result of repeated concussion injuries. Weeks earlier, neighboring RJ Reynolds High School sophomore Matthew Gfeller had died from concussion injury. In 2010, JH Rose head coach Todd Lipe had to permanently sideline the varsity quarterback, AJ Flores, after he sustained his fourth football-related concussion. In 2011, JH Rose starting linebacker Gray Dixon was one of nearly a dozen players to sit out part of the season with a serious concussion.

In September 2008, Jaquan Waller hit a middle linebacker head-on during an intense practice. When he came off the playing field, Waller described headaches and balance issues, but the team trainer who later checked him, sent him home with no special instructions for further medical follow up. Dressed for practice the following day, team mate and friend Zach Rogers describes Waller as seeming “normal.”

But during that Friday’s game, some 48 hours after his first concussion, Waller sustained what has been described by others as a relatively low intensity hit, after which it was quickly apparent that something was very wrong with him. Waller seemed confused, began foaming at the mouth, and soon collapsed. Emergency medical services arrived approximately ten minutes after he was sidelined. Within the hour, Waller was declared dead.

The second guessing at JH Rose following Waller’s death has been painful. “You wouldn’t know how many times I thought about doing something different,” reflects Coach Lipe to Dr. Gupta in the documentary.

Superintendent Beverly Reep, PhD, acknowledges that having a certified athletic trainer on the field for practices and games, and having Waller medically evaluated following his first concussion, may have changed Waller’s outcome.

In 2008, the concussion protocol at JH Rose was not unique. Every season, according the Sports Concussion Institute in Los Angeles, one in ten high school football players get a concussion. Yet, despite this troubling statistic, the Center for Injury Research & Policy at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital reports that less than half of American high schools have a certified athletic trainer on the field during games and practices. And many high school trainers are not actually athletic trainers, they may be skilled in first aid, but not certified to recognize possible head trauma. This is coupled with the fact that young players often want to return to play quickly – and some will even not tell the truth in order to keep playing.

Brock Niceler, MD, a Greenville family and sports medicine physician says that because their brains are still developing, “adolescents take longer to heal from their concussions, than their college or pro counterparts.”

“Everybody just thought that he just got his ‘bell rung,’” said Rogers of his friend, Waller in the documentary. “Nothing out of normal. It’s just how you play. You play hurt when you have to.”
Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, one of the nation’s leading concussion researchers, feels that part of the problem is the terminology. Like Dr. Gupta, he prefers to refer to concussion as “brain injury” – since that is what it is – and he hopes the strong terminology will encourage players, families, and coaches to take the injury more seriously. And, Dr. Guskiewicz’s research demonstrates that even subconcussive blows to the head, particularly when repeated, can cause sustained cognitive impairment.

Coach Lipe and Dr. Reep have supervised the implementation of new procedures and protocols to improve the safety of the game since Waller’s death. Now, certified athletic trainers are present at practices and games and are considered essential. Athletes do not have the last word when it is time to assess whether they can play football. Cognitive baseline tests for each player are repeated at intervals during the season and following concussions, to determine if players are healthy enough to return to the game.

In addition to the documentary, more resources for athletes, parents, and coaches can be found on CNN.com about concussion. Online, Dr. Gupta, both a father and a neurosurgeon, describes why it is so important to protect young athletes – including young girls – from concussion and subconcussive blows. And Dr. Gupta has developed an online video demonstration of what happens to the brain when it sustains a concussion, which is supplemented by Dr. Guskiewicz’s “Five Things” viewers need to know about concussion.

Melissa Dunst-Lipman is a senior producer, and Nadia Kounang is a producer for Big Hits, Broken Dreams. Roni Selig is the senior executive producer for the CNN Medical, Health, and Wellness unit.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN's Florida Republican Debate

2012-01-26T22:47:00.004-05:00

All Images David S. Holloway / CNN
Highlight from Debate - Newt Gingrich criticizes Wolf Blitzer's question about wealth, and Wolf responds back during the CNN GOP debate in Jacksonville, Florida

BLITZER: We're continuing the debate here in Jacksonville, Florida.

Let's get to the issue of transparency, because voters out there, they want to know as much about you four gentlemen as possible before they vote.

Tax returns -- let me bring this to Speaker Gingrich.

Earlier this week, you said Governor Romney, after he released his taxes, you said that you were satisfied with the level of transparency of his personal finances when it comes to this. And I just want to reiterate and ask you, are you satisfied right now with the level of transparency as far as his personal finances?

GINGRICH: Wolf, you and I have a great relationship, it goes back a long way. I'm with him. This is a nonsense question.

(APPLAUSE)

GINGRICH: Look, how about if the four of us agree for the rest of the evening, we'll actually talk about issues that relate to governing America?

BLITZER: But, Mr. Speaker, you made an issue of this, this week, when you said that, "He lives in a world of Swiss bank and Cayman Island bank accounts." I didn't say that. You did.

GINGRICH: I did. And I'm perfectly happy to say that on an interview on some TV show. But this is a national debate, where you have a chance to get the four of us to talk about a whole range of issues.

BLITZER: But if you make a serious accusation against Governor Romney like that, you need to explain that.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN's Florida Republican Debate

2012-01-25T16:22:00.002-05:00

GOP Candidates to Appear in Last Debate before Florida Primary

Wolf Blitzer to Moderate; Cooper, King, Burnett, O’Brien Anchor Special Coverage

Just days before Florida Republicans go to the polls to choose their nominee, the GOP presidential hopefuls will meet for a final debate hosted by CNN, the Republican Party of Florida and the Hispanic Leadership Network. CNN lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer will moderate the two-hour presidential debate which will take place at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville on Thursday, January 26 at 8 p.m. ET.
Blitzer, John King, Erin Burnett and Soledad O’Brien will anchor their respective programs live and in Jacksonville on the days surrounding the CNN debate. Anderson Cooper will anchor special, post-debate coverage.
Reporting from Florida in the final days before the primary will be chief political correspondent Candy Crowley, anchor Brooke Baldwin, national political correspondent Jim Acosta, senior political correspondent Joe Johns, correspondent Ed Lavandera, Miami-based correspondent John Zarrella, and CNN Radio’s Bob Costantini. On the campaign trail covering the GOP candidates are reporter-at-large Peter Hamby, political reporter Shannon Travis, and political producers Rachel Streitfeld and Shawna Shepherd. CNN chief political analyst Gloria Borger, senior political analyst David Gergen and CNN political contributors Alex Castellanos, Donna Brazile, Ari Fleisher, John Avlon will be on hand in Jacksonville to offer insight and analysis for all programming.
Four presidential contenders will participate in Thursday’s debate: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. In addition to questions posed to the candidates by Blitzer and Florida Republicans in the audience, CNN will solicit questions and comments submitted in real-time from CNN.com, the CNN Politics fan page on Facebook and by using the #CNNDebate hashtag on Twitter.

CNN Digital
CNNPolitics.com will cover the Florida debate and primary and will be the online destination for all news and analysis related to the 2012 Elections. Users can check out the CNN Election Center to track real-time election results and analyze the exit polls and results thus far from Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. CNN.com has also launched the GOP Delegate Calculator, which allows users after each caucus or primary to try their hand at predicting which candidates will win each state and eventually, the Republican presidential nomination. CNN.com will also continue to provide the CNN Electoral Map with the most recent predictions on battleground states as updated by CNN’s political experts as well as the 2012 Primary Caucus Calendar, an interactive datebook where users can slide over a specific month to see when states will hold their primaries and caucuses throughout the year.

CNN.com will live stream all of the events in Florida - the debate on Thursday as well as the events from the Florida primary next Tuesday. After Thursday’s debate, CNN.com will be live-streaming the Spin Room with CNN’s Jim Acosta. To engage and comment on election night news as it happens, users can view the CNN Politics Facebook page for political stories and photos of CNN’s favorite faces and also follow @CNNPolitics on Twitter for breaking developments all night.

CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community, will be asking for submissions related to the events in Florida, some of which will be shown on CNN.com and broadcast on CNN.
Across CNN’s mobile platforms, the latest election stories and opinion pieces will be available via CNN’s mobile website and on the CNN apps for iPhone, iPad, Android phone and Android tablet. The new Election Center section can also be accessed on CNN’s mobile platforms. Additionally, all apps will live stream the debate and carry live video of candidate speeches and events during the primary. On primary night, live results can be viewed on CNN's mobile website and in the CNN App for iPad.

CNN en Español and CNN International
CNN en Español will offer pre-debate analysis starting at 7.45pm hosted by anchor Juan Carlos López and joined by the network's panel of political contributors Maria Cardona, Roberto Izurieta and Juan Hernandez. At 8pm, the network will carry the debate live with simultaneous interpretation and will feature López fielding questions for the candidates from attendees of the Hispanic Leadership Network Conference taking place in Miami. The debate will be followed by 30 minutes of analysis with our political contributors and guests onsite in Miami.
The debate will also be carried live on CNN International.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

TDS, Newt's Win & John King

2012-01-24T15:26:00.000-05:00

We're big John King fans around here so this wasn't our favorite TDS moment. Since we are ALL Things CNN we need to share the good, the bad and the ugly.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN Coverage of Tonight's SOTU

2012-01-24T13:59:00.000-05:00

CNN Presents Live Coverage of President Obama’s
State of the Union Address and GOP Response
Special Edition of AC 360 to Follow

Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer will lead CNN’s coverage of the State of the Union beginning at 8 pm tonight along with John King and Candy Crowley. President Obama’s State of the Union Address will begin at 9:00 pm. The GOP response with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels will follow.
Blitzer and King will anchor the special coverage live from Capitol Hill, where chief political analyst Gloria Borger and senior political analyst David Gergen will provide analysis immediately following the address. In addition, senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash will report live from inside the Capitol surrounding the address while chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin provides the latest reports and insights of the president’s remarks from the White House. Political contributors participating in tonight’s special coverage include Paul Begala, Ari Fleisher and Roland Martin.
A special edition of AC 360 will follow CNN’s State of the union coverage and analysis, and will air live until midnight.
CNNPolitics.com will offer extensive coverage and real-time analysis of the State of the Union address with live-blogging on the Political Ticker and reader interaction on CNN iReport. Additionally, the address will be live-streamed on CNN.com/Live, via the CNN App for, iPhone and Android.
CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world's most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

All Times Eastern
For more information, visit www.CNNPressroom.com.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings For the Week of January 16th-20th

2012-01-23T23:33:00.000-05:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 1/21/12

2012-01-20T21:08:00.000-05:00

SATURDAY, January 21, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will take a look at the positions of GOP Presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) on health care. He also previews his upcoming documentary on concussion in high school football with a discussion with one of the foremost research experts on the topic, Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD. Also included, a report on toxic air in schools.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs LIVE Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Live coverage of the South Carolina primary from CNN Election Center.

AMERICA’S CHOICE 2012: SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY – Airs LIVE 7:00PM – 11:00PM
Live coverage of the South Carolina primary from CNN Election Center.

A SPECIAL EDITION OF ANDERSON COOPER 360 – Airs LIVE 11:00PM – 12:00AM
Live coverage of the South Carolina primary from CNN Election Center.

A SPECIAL EDITION OF PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT – Airs LIVE 12:00AM – 1:00AM
Live coverage of the South Carolina primary from CNN Election Center.

SUNDAY, January 22, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will take a look at the positions of GOP Presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) on health care. He also previews his upcoming documentary on concussion in high school football with a discussion with one of the foremost research experts on the topic, Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD. Also included, a report on toxic air in schools.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE FROM COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topics: South Carolina Primary; Plans for Florida
Guest: Rick Santorum, GOP presidential candidate
Topics: South Carolina Primary Results
Guest: Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
Topics: Democratic Reaction to South Carolina Primary Results
Guest: Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topic: Is private equity “looting” America? Do private equity executives pay their fair share of taxes? Why is Rubenstein paying to fix the Washington monument?
Guest: David Rubenstein, co-founder, The Carlyle Group global venture capital firm
Topic: Is Pakistan in danger of a military coup? What will stop the violence along the Afghanistan Pakistan border?
Guest: Imran Khan, Pakistani political activist
Topic: Is the Tea Party dead? Is the economy improving? What will happen with the euro? What should President Obama do about Iran?
Guest: David Frum, Republican analyst, columnist for Newsweek / The Daily Beast
Guest: Arianna Huffington, founder, The Huffington Post
Guest: Steven Rattner, former Obama administration “car czar” and author of Overhaul: An Insider's Account of the Obama Administration's Emergency Rescue of the Auto Industry
Guest: Mort Zuckerman, publisher, The New York Daily News and editor-in-chief, U.S. News & World Report
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topics: Interview with Marianne Gingrich
Guest: Brian Ross, chief investigative correspondent, ABC News
Topics: Coverage of South Carolina Primary; Gingrich’s Surge; Romney’s Tax Troubles
Guest: Mark Barabak, Los Angeles Times
Guest: Jennifer Rubin, The Washington Post
Guest: Ryan Lizza, The New Yorker
Topics: New York Times Truth Vigilante Controversy
Guest: Arthur Brisbane, public editor, New York Times
Host: Howard Kurtz

THE NEXT LIST – Sunday 2:00PM – 2:30PM
Anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta meets a rising star in the world of architecture – Bjarke Ingels, whose bold, innovative ideas are pushing the boundaries of design around the globe -- from his native Denmark to Asia and now the Manhattan skyline and beyond.

CNN PRESENTS – Airs Sunday 8:00PM, 11:00PM, and 2:00AM
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Brooke Baldwin host a two-story magazine program. Correspondent Kaj Larsen reports from Honduras with a rare behind-the-scenes look at US Drug Enforcement Administration operations there trying to stem the flow of an estimated 25 tons a month of cocaine bound for the US. Also, correspondent Deb Feyerick tries to untangle the extremely complicated case of a former NYC police officer convicted of murder – but in a series of twists and emerging information, and the officer’s overturned conviction – the case continues to raise questions about evidence suppression, witness tampering, justified defense, and judicial fairness.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

The Opening Question of the South Carolina Debate

2012-01-20T16:32:00.007-05:00

Photographer: David S. Holloway
© 2011. Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company

The first question of last night's debate resulted in an attack on John King and the mainstream media by Newt Gingrich. John King had asked the Speaker about his second marriage and the claims of his ex-wife, which was the elephant in the room to many viewers but apparently not to Newt.
Here's the exchange between Gingrich and John King:

And CNN's political panel's take on the question and answer:

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN Fast National Ratings for SC Debate

2012-01-20T16:16:00.001-05:00

CNN'S GOP SOUTH CAROLINA DEBATE WAS #1 LAST NIGHT
DRAWS 5.03 MILLION VIEWERS AND 1.72 MILLION IN THE KEY DEMO 25-54
AC 360 Top-Rated at 10 pm

According to Nielsen Fast National data, CNN's GOP South Carolina debate (8:00-10:00pm*), moderated by John King, delivered 5.03 million total viewers and 1.72 million in the key demo 25-54 last night, Thursday, January 19. CNN was, by far, #1 during the 8-10pm time period last night among cable news networks.
CNN's South Carolina debate outperformed FNC's South Carolina debate earlier this week (1/16) in the key demo (1.719m vs. 1.573m). Last night's debate was CNN's best yet in this election cycle among the key demo (25-54) and its second best among total viewers (behind the Las Vegas GOP debate).
From 8-10pm, CNN topped FNC by +157% among total viewers (5.03m vs. 1.96m) and by +312% in the target demo 25-54 (1.72m vs. 417k). CNN also topped MSNBC by +512% (5.03m vs. 821k) in total viewers and by +1061% in the key demo (1.72m vs. 148k).
Following the debate, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 ranked first in cable news at 10pm in total viewers, averaging 2.58 million, FNC followed with 2.15m and MSNBC posted 885k. In the key demographic 25-54 CNN delivered 892k at 10pm, while FNC trailed with 564k and MSNBC averaged 187k.
Fast National data is representative of 8:00-10:00pm. Final data will reflect actual debate time of 8:00pm-9:58pm.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN to Host Final Debate Ahead of Crucial South Carolina Primary

2012-01-18T15:30:00.001-05:00

CNN to Host Final Debate Ahead of Crucial South Carolina Primary

John King to Moderate Jan. 19 Face-Off; Blitzer, Cooper, Burnett, O’Brien, Crowley Anchor from Charleston

On Thursday, Jan. 19, just two days before the highly anticipated primary election in South Carolina, CNN and the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC) will present a presidential town hall debate live from the North Charleston Coliseum. The two-hour debate will begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be moderated by CNN anchor and chief national correspondent John King.
Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett, John King and Soledad O’Brien will anchor their respective programs live and on-location in Charleston on Thursday. Then, on Saturday, Jan. 21, the anchors will be live beginning at 6 p.m. from the CNN Election Center for America’s Choice 2012: South Carolina Primary. A special edition of Anderson Cooper 360° will air at 11 p.m. followed by a special live midnight edition of Piers Morgan Tonight. Candy Crowley will report from South Carolina throughout Saturday evening and will anchor State of the Union on Sunday, Jan. 22.
Reporting from the field in the days leading up to the debate and primary in the Palmetto State will be national political correspondent Jim Acosta, senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash, CNN Radio Capitol Hill correspondent Lisa Desjardins, senior political correspondent Joe Johns, anchor Don Lemon, and national correspondents David Mattingly and Gary Tuchman. On the trail with the GOP candidates are reporter-at-large Peter Hamby, political producer Rachel Streitfeld, political reporter Shannon Travis and South Carolina-based political producer Shawna Shepherd.
The following five presidential contenders will participate in Thursday’s debate: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. In addition to questions posed to the candidates by King and southern Republicans in the audience, CNN will solicit questions and comments submitted in real-time from CNN.com, the CNN Politics fan page on Facebook and by using the #CNNDebate hashtag on Twitter.

CNN.com
In the days leading up to the South Carolina primary, CNNPolitics.com will be the online destination for all news and analysis related to the 2012 Elections. New for the South Carolina primary, CNN has launched the GOP Delegate Calculator. After each caucus or primary, users can try their hand at predicting which candidates will win each state and eventually, the Republican presidential nomination. CNN.com will also provide a CNN Electoral Map with the most recent predictions on battleground states as updated by CNN’s political experts as well as the 2012 Primary Caucus Calendar, an interactive datebook where users can slide over a specific month to see when states will hold their primaries and caucuses throughout the year.
On the day of the primary, CNN.com will live stream the events in South Carolina and live blog the night’s developments. As the primary results come in, users will be able to track them in real-time at the CNN Election Center. To engage and comment on election night news as it happens, users can view the CNN Politics Facebook page for political stories and photos of CNN’s favorite faces and also follow @CNNPolitics on Twitter for breaking developments all night.
CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community, will be asking for submissions related to the South Carolina primary, some of which will be shown on CNN.com and broadcast on CNN.
Across CNN’s mobile platforms, the latest election stories and opinion pieces will be available via CNN’s mobile website and on the CNN apps for iPhone, iPad, Android phone and Android tablet. The new Election Center section can also be accessed on CNN’s mobile platforms. Additionally, all apps will carry live video of candidate speeches and events. On election night, live results can be viewed on CNN's mobile website and in the CNN App for iPad.

CNN en Español and CNN International
Starting at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, CNN en Español anchor Juan Carlos López will be joined by the network’s team of political contributors Maria Cardona, Roberto Izurieta and Juan Hernandez for pre-debate analysis. At 8 p.m., CNN en Español will take the debate live with simultaneous interpretation followed by 30 minutes of post-debate analysis.
The debate will also be carried live on CNN International.
CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

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South Carolina Republican Presidential Debate

2012-01-18T08:05:00.002-05:00

Thursday, January 19, 2012
8:00pm – 10:00pm South Carolina Republican Presidential Debate
11:00pm – 1:00am South Carolina Republican Presidential Debate

Friday, January 20, 2012
2:00am – 4:00am South Carolina Republican Presidential Debate

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Ratings For the Week of January 9th-13th

2012-01-17T23:15:00.001-05:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

2 - Special programming was aired on two nights during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 1/14/12

2012-01-13T15:56:00.003-05:00

SATURDAY, January 14, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will explain the key points of “Romneycare” vs. “Obamacare” – sure to be a topic throughout the 2012 political season. He also talks to NFL football players who are choosing to donate their brains to research on concussion, and Dr. Gupta reports on toxic air in schools and also on progress being made in Haiti since the devastating earthquake that ravaged the nation in 2010.

SOUNDCHECK– Saturday 2:30PM
CNN introduces the best music right now with artists from every genre. Hosted by CNN Newsroom anchor Brooke Baldwin.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Topic: Political wrap
Guest: Ron Brownstein & Gloria Borger, senior political analysts
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

CNN PRESENTS – Airs Saturday at 8:00PM, 11:00PM, and 2:00AM
CNN’s Sanjay Gupta and Brooke Baldwin host a 3-story magazine show including a story reported by correspondent Amber Lyon on the elusive international movement, “Anonymous,” a leaderless collective of computer hackers, and street and video activists who view democracy as corrupt and greedy. Using the Internet, Anonymous has flooded and crashed corporate and government websites, exposed embarrassing photos of a San Francisco Bay area public transportation employee after the system began blocking cell phone signals of regional anti police protestors, and joined and supported ‘Arab Spring’ and Occupy Wall Street demonstrations with various disruptions. Chief medical correspondent Dr. Gupta reports on how indoor pollution may be impacting kids in schools, and investigative correspondent Drew Griffin reports on how teaching practices for the medical board certification of radiologists may be inadvertently encouraging cheating.

HOMS: CITY UNDER SIEGE – Airs Saturday 10:30PM – 11:00PM ET AND PT
CNN Presents a journalists’ video from the frontlines of a city under siege in Syria's civil war.

SUNDAY, January 15, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will explain the key points of “Romneycare” vs. “Obamacare” – sure to be a topic throughout the 2012 political season. He also talks to NFL football players who are choosing to donate their brains to research on concussion, and Dr. Gupta reports on toxic air in schools and also on progress being made in Haiti since the devastating earthquake that ravaged the nation in 2010.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topics: South Carolina; 2012 Politics
Guest: Gov. Rick Perry, GOP presidential candidate
Topics: President Obama’s 2012 Campaign
Guest: David Axelrod, senior strategist; Obama re-election campaign
Topics: State of GOP Race
Guest: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), former presidential candidate; Romney supporter
Topic: Analyzing the Evangelical Vote in South Carolina
Guest: Rev. Brad Atkins, President, South Carolina Baptist Convention
Guest: Bob Jones III, Chancellor, Bob Jones University
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topic: The state of the U.S. economy & the state of the euro; advice to Presidential candidates on what to do about the economy
Guest: Paul Krugman, columnist, The New York Times and Professor of Economics & International Affairs, Princeton University; Nobel laureate in economics
Guest: Kenneth Rogoff, PhD, professor of economics and public policy at Harvard University
Topic: Iraq on the brink of disaster
Guest: Ayad Allawi, former interim Prime Minister of Iraq
Topic: Was the Iraq war worth it?
Guest: Max Boot, Senior Fellow for National Security Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Guest: Peter Galbraith, PhD, former U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, former Deputy UN Envoy to Afghanistan, author Unintended Consequences: How War in Iraq Strengthened America’s Enemies (2009)
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topics: Coverage of GOP Presidential Race; Romney’s’ Bain Controversy
Guest: Nia-Malika Henderson, Washington Post
Guest: Maggie Haberman, Politico
Guest: Glynnis MacNicol, Business Insider
Topics: New Book on the Obama’s; Michelle Obama’s Media Image
Guest: David Shuster, Current TV
Guest: Amy Holmes, Glenn Beck TV’s “The Blaze”
Topics: CBS’ New Morning Show
Guest: Eric Deggans, St. Petersburg Times
Guest: Verne Gay, Newsday
Host: Howard Kurtz

CNN PRESENTS – Airs Sunday at 8:00PM, 11:00PM, and 2:00AM
CNN’s Sanjay Gupta and Brooke Baldwin host a 3-story magazine show including a story reported by correspondent Amber Lyon on the elusive international movement, “Anonymous,” a leaderless collective of computer hackers, and street and video activists who view democracy as corrupt and greedy. Using the Internet, Anonymous has flooded and crashed corporate and government websites, exposed embarrassing photos of a San Francisco Bay area public transportation employee after the system began blocking cell phone signals of regional anti police protestors, and joined and supported ‘Arab Spring’ and Occupy Wall Street demonstrations with various disruptions. Chief medical correspondent Dr. Gupta reports on how indoor pollution may be impacting kids in schools, and investigative correspondent Drew Griffin reports on how teaching practices for the medical board certification of radiologists may be inadvertently encouraging cheating.

THE NEXT LIST – Sunday 2:00PM – 2:30PM
Anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta meets musician Jake Shimabukuro, who believes his instrument of choice, the ukulele, is the instrument of peace. Shimabukuro, makes the ukulele cool by stretching the limits of the tiny, 4-stringed instrument through combining elements of jazz and rock in his playing and has recorded several albums and performed with Jimmy Buffett, Yo-Yo Ma, Ziggy Marley, Bette Midler and Cyndi Lauper.

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TDS 'Ragging' on CNN......Again

2012-01-11T23:26:00.003-05:00

CNN's 'Early Start' with Ashley Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin was mentioned on The Daily Show earlier this week. Here's Jon Stewart's report:

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Fast Nationals for Tuesday, January 10 (New Hampshire Primary):

2012-01-11T16:07:00.000-05:00

Fast Nationals for Tuesday, January 10 (New Hampshire Primary):

Highlights:
CNN tops MSNBC in primetime in both total viewers and key demo
CNN has a +64% advantage over MSNBC in the target demo
FNC has only a slight bump compared to regular night of programming

During last night’s coverage of the GOP New Hampshire primary, CNN topped MSNBC in primetime (8-11pm) in both total viewers and in the key demo adults 25-54. In total viewers CNN averaged 1.11 million vs. MSNBC’s 1.05m and in the key demo 25-54 CNN had 401k a +64% advantage over MSNBC’s 245k.

Comparing the New Hampshire primary to the prior four Tuesdays (excl. 1/3 Iowa), FNC’s audience was relatively unchanged in total viewers, increasing just 4% (2.25m vs. 2.16m), while CNN grew triple digits +106% (1.11m vs. 541k) and MSNBC was up 17% (1.05m vs. 903k). In the key demo 25-54 CNN increased even more, up +164% (401k vs. 152k), MSNBC increased 21% (245k vs. 203k) and FNC only grew 15% (550k vs. 478k).

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings For The Week of January 2nd -6th

2012-01-09T23:10:00.001-05:00

1 - Special programming aired on one night during the week

2 - Special programming aired on two nights during the week

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN's New Hampshire Primary Coverage

2012-01-08T11:35:00.000-05:00

CNN in High Gear for New Hampshire Primary Coverage

As the race for the Republican presidential nomination heats up, CNN anchors Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett, Candy Crowley, John King and Soledad O’Brien will headline CNN’s Jan. 10 coverage of the New Hampshire primary election live from the CNN Election Center and the Granite state beginning at 7 p.m. Chief political analyst Gloria Borger, senior political analyst David Gergen, and political contributors James Carville, Ari Fleischer, Dana Loesch and Roland Martin, will offer expert analysis throughout the evening. Piers Morgan will broadcast a special edition of Piers Morgan Tonight at midnight.
Also reporting from New Hampshire will be CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein, along with CNN political contributors, Donna Brazile, Erick Erickson, David Frum, Mary Matalin and Hilary Rosen.
CNN correspondents on the ground in New Hampshire will be national political correspondent Jim Acosta, senior political correspondent Joe Johns, senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash, chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin, and CNN Radio correspondents Bob Costantini and Steve Kastenbaum. CNN reporters embedded in early primary voting states over the last several months will also be in New Hampshire to play a role in coverage, including New Hampshire-based political producer Rachel Streitfeld, political reporter Shannon Travis and political producer Shawna Shepherd. Reporter-at-large Peter Hamby will look one step ahead in the primary contest, live from South Carolina.
Anchors Candy Crowley, John King, Soledad O’Brien, along with Reliable Sources host Howard Kurtz, will report and anchor their respective programs from New Hampshire in the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary. Crowley and O’Brien will remain in New Hampshire through the primary to anchor coverage from the ground the evening of Jan. 10. Through the weekend and primary day, CNN will give viewers an unfiltered look at GOP candidates by airing extensive live events from the campaign trail.

Programming on Tuesday, Jan. 10 – New Hampshire Primary Day
5 a.m. – 7 a.m. Early Start with Ashleigh Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin– live from Atlanta
7 a.m. – 9 a.m. Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien– live from N.H.
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. CNN Newsroom – live from CNN Election Center
4 p.m. – 6 p.m. The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer – live from CNN Election Center
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. John King, USA – live from CNN Election Center
7 p.m. – 12 a.m. CNN America’s Choice 2012: New Hampshire Primary – live from N.H. & CNN Election Center
12 a.m. – 1 a.m. Piers Morgan Tonight – live from CNN Election Center

Technology and Social Media (#CNNElections):
Anchor and chief national correspondent John King will utilize innovative features on CNN’s Magic Wall to explore incoming results. Anchor Erin Burnett and chief political analyst Gloria Borger will drive the dual-screen “FlickBoard” to explain how exit polls are calculated. Animated 3-D virtual voters will again be used to help explain how a primary works.
The network will aggregate social media conversations happening using the hashtag #CNNElections. Those tweets will be displayed in the lower third of the screen throughout CNN’s programming and will display user sentiments about candidates and issues in real time.

CNN.com
In the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary, CNNPolitics.com will be the online destination for all news and analysis related to the 2012 Elections. New for the New Hampshire primary, the CNN Electoral Map will provide the most recent predictions on battleground states as updated by CNN’s political experts, and the 2012 Primary Caucus Calendar will serve as an interactive datebook where users can slide over a specific month to see when states will hold their primaries and caucuses throughout the year. Across CNN’s mobile platforms, the latest election stories and opinion pieces will be available via mobile web and the CNN apps for iPhone, iPad, Android phone and Android tablet.
On the day of the primary, CNN.com will live stream the events in New Hampshire and live blog the night’s developments. As the primary results come in, users will be able to track them in real-time at the CNN Election Center. To engage and comment on election night news as it happens, users can view the CNN Politics Facebook page for political stories and photos of CNN’s favorite faces and also follow @CNNPolitics on Twitter for breaking developments all night.
CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community, will be asking for submissions related to the New Hampshire primary, some of which will be shown across CNN.com and broadcast on CNN.

CNN en Español and CNN International:
CNN en Español will offer extensive coverage of the Jan. 10 New Hampshire primaries with correspondent Adriana Hauser reporting live from New Hampshire throughout the day. Starting at 7 p.m., the network will offer periodic updates with Washington, D.C. anchor Juan Carlos López. At 9 p.m., López will host a special edition of Directo USA from Atlanta joined by anchors Patricia Janiot and Fernando del Rincón, and a panel of political contributors Maria Cardona, Juan Hernandez and Roberto Izurieta to offer analysis of the events of the day. Gustavo Valdés will be reporting live from South Carolina throughout the day for a look ahead to the next prize in the primary race.
CNN International will simulcast the domestic network’s coverage beginning at 7 p.m.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Your Views on the News 1/7/12

2012-01-07T09:30:00.004-05:00

CNN issued a press release earlier this week announcing Amy Entelis as Senior Vice President for Talent and Content Development. You can read it after the jump. Feel free to give us you opinion on this or any other CNN related topic that has your attention.

CNN Names Amy Entelis Senior Vice President for Talent and Content Development

CNN has named Amy Entelis to a newly created position of Senior Vice President, Talent and Content Development for CNN Worldwide, it was announced today by Mark Whitaker, CNN Worldwide Managing Editor.

Reporting directly to Whitaker, Entelis will be responsible for show development, including pilots and content acquisitions, and talent recruitment and strategy for all CNN networks and platforms including CNN, HLN and CNN International. Entelis will begin on January 17 and will be based in CNN’s New York offices.

Entelis has had an extensive career in television news as a producer and as a senior executive, spending more than 30 years at ABC where she was Senior Vice President of Talent Strategy, Development and Research until May 2011. While at ABC, Entelis hired and developed the careers of hundreds of journalists, both on and off-air, including recruiting and managing talent for the network’s most high-profile programs including Good Morning America, World News, Nightline and 20/20. Following ABC, Entelis served as Executive Vice President, Talent Strategy at Sucherman Consulting Group.

“Amy's eye for talent and gift for nurturing it are legendary throughout the television industry,” said Whitaker. “In this key new executive role, she will help us even better showcase the great anchors, reporters and producers we already have at CNN and our other networks, attract the next generation of talent, and work with program developers both inside and outside the company to create our shows and specials of the future."

“This position offers me a special opportunity to work with the talented journalists of CNN and to contribute to shaping its programming vision,” said Entelis. “I am thrilled to be joining the CNN team.”

Entelis served in a number of capacities while at ABC News. In addition to hiring and cultivating on-air talent, Entelis oversaw all off-air editorial recruiting, hiring and growth and development opportunities. She created mentoring programs, career development initiatives and a diversity advisory board. For ten years she led ABC News’ Business Affairs department, supervising all talent negotiations. As Senior Vice President of Talent Strategy, Development and Research, she was responsible for the news division’s strategic plan for on-air and off-air talent.

Entelis began her career on the weekly news magazine 20/20, and then spent five years as a producer at World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, specializing in business and economics reporting. ABC News President Roone Arledge recruited Entelis for her first management role with a mandate to develop women and minorities for on-air positions. Later at ABC, Entelis pioneered the first system in network news that coordinated the identification, recruitment and development of on-air talent.

Entelis has received many awards for her work as a producer, including the National News Emmy, the duPont Columbia Award, the Front Page Award from the Newswomen’s Club of NY, the Headliner Award, and the Planned Parenthood Award. A graduate of Vassar College, Entelis received her Masters in Journalism from Columbia University and serves as a member of the Board of Visitors of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 1/7/12

2012-01-06T21:26:00.002-05:00

SATURDAY, January 7, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday – 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta announces the six 2012 CNN Fit Nation participants for the 6-month triathlon challenge. This year, the “six pack” will join Atlanta radio host Bert Weiss to train for the 2012 Nautica Malibu Triathlon in California. He also interviews former NFL great Dorsey Levens (Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles) about his lasting physical injuries and 2008 Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones about his fitness regimen and inspiring others to take up swimming.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Topic: GOP Fighting
Guest: Reince Priebus: Chair, Republican National Committee
Topic: Political Wrap
Guest: Ron Brownstein and Gloria Borger
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

A FAREED ZAKARIA GPS SPECIAL: RESTORING THE AMERICAN DREAM – FIXING EDUCATION – Airs Saturday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM, Sunday 2:00AM
American primary and secondary education were once envied by much of the world, but over the last few decades U.S. students have fallen behind – while students in other countries have benefitted from improvements to their educational systems. CNN and TIME magazine’s Fareed Zakaria interviews innovative and creative leaders working on solutions to fix what ails American education. Zakaria guides viewers through tours of what is working in education in countries with high rankings – to South Korea where students have more classroom time; and Finland, where professionalization of the teacher workforce has improved educators – in order to mine ideas for what could put U.S. education back on the right track. Featured in the special are: Microsoft founder and education philanthropist Bill Gates, founder of the online Khan Academy Salman Khan, NYU Professor, former Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education, and author (The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education, 2010) Diane Ravitch, and Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, who now leads StudentsFirst.

SUNDAY, January 8, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday – 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta announces the six 2012 CNN Fit Nation participants for the 6-month triathlon challenge. This year, the “six pack” will join Atlanta radio host Bert Weiss to train for the 2012 Nautica Malibu Triathlon in California. He also interviews former NFL great Dorsey Levens (Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles) about his lasting physical injuries and 2008 Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones about his fitness regimen and inspiring others to take up swimming.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE - Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topics: New Hampshire Primary; Huntsman’s Strategy
Guest: Jon Huntsman, GOP presidential candidate
Topics: Dems Legislative Agenda for 2012; Race for the White House
Guest: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Minority Leader
Topics: Romney vs. Gingrich in New Hampshire
Guest: John Sununu, former New Hampshire Governor; Romney surrogate
Guest: Bob Walker, former U.S. Congressman; Gingrich surrogate
Topics: New Hampshire Primary
Guest: Phil Rucker, The Washington Post
Guest: Neil King, The Wall Street Journal
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs Sunday 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: Election 2012: does the former Senator think the GOP race is Mitt Romney’s to lose? Is Simpson ready to endorse Romney? Has the Tea Party played much of a role in election 2012? What about the GOP candidates pledge to not raise taxes? Can the math work?
Guest: Alan Simpson, former U.S. Senator (R-WY)
Topic: Evolving the Pentagon: Is Secretary Panetta’s strategy to downsize the armed forces one whose time has come – or is it too much, too fast?
Guest: Michael O’Hanlon, PhD, director of research and senior fellow, foreign policy, 21st Century Defense Initiative, The Brookings Institution
Guest: Lawrence Korb, PhD, senior fellow, Center for American Progress; senior advisor to the Center for Defense Information
Topic: The verbal war between the U.S. and Iran – will it ultimately lead to military conflict?
Guest: Hillary Mann Leverett, CEO, Strategic Energy and Global Analysis (STRATEGA) and lecturer for Yale University Jackson Institute for Global Affairs
Guest: Hooman Majd, writer/author The Ayatollahs’ Democracy: An Iranian Challenge (2011)
Guest: Vali Nasr, PhD, U.S. State Department Foreign Affairs Policy Advisory Board
Guest: Bret Stephens, deputy editorial page editor, The Wall Street Journal (European and Asian Editions)
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topics: Santorum’s Surge Coverage; Iowa Caucus Coverage and Romney’s 8-Vote Win
Guest: Jonathan Karl, ABC News
Guest: Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times
Guest: Roger Simon, POLITICO
Topic: Fair Game Reporting
Guest: Robert Costa, National Review
Guest: Dana Milbank, The Washington Post
Topic: Covering the New Hampshire Primary
Guest: James Pindell, WMUR
Host: Howard Kurtz

THE NEXT LIST – Airs Sunday 2:00PM – 2:30PM
Anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta revisits profiles of cyber illusionist Marco Tempest, graffiti artist and illustrator Tristan Eaton, perfume designer Christopher Brosius, experimental gastronomer Homaro Cantu, computer applications developer and filmmaker Scott Snibbe, and social roboticist Heather Knight.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN After Dark

2012-01-05T23:13:00.000-05:00

Tom Foreman took a look at late night election coverage by the Best Political Team on Television for AC360 Tuesday night. Enjoy!

Anderson Cooper had it right when he said The Daily Show would be mocking CNN's weeble technology. Here's Jon Stewart's Moment of Zen Wednesday night.

But I think the funniest look back at CNN's Iowa Caucus coverage with Stephen Colbert's take on Erin Burnett's flicking.

On Thursday night Ms. Burnett had the last word? Well maybe......

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Fast Nationals for Tuesday, January 3 (Iowa Caucuses)

2012-01-04T16:46:00.000-05:00

Fast Nationals for Tuesday, January 3 (Iowa Caucuses)

As the only news organization that doesn’t take sides, CNN had a strong performance during Tuesday’s Republican Iowa caucuses topping MSNBC in both total viewers and the key demo 25-54 during all key day parts.

CNN also showed the most growth among total viewers compared to the prior four Tuesdays, increasing +142% (1.310m vs. 541k), while FNC increased just 22% (2.631m vs. 2.158m) and MSNBC was up 32% (1.195m vs. 903k) during primetime. In the target demo 25-54, CNN also grew the most, increasing +220% (486k vs. 152k), while FNC was up 43% (684k vs. 478k) and MSNBC grew 49% (303k vs. 203k) vs. the prior four Tuesdays.

Primetime: (8-11p)
CNN: 1.31m total viewers/486k target demo 25-54
FNC: 2.63m/684k
MSNBC: 1.20m/303k

Late Night: (11p-3a)
CNN: 839k total viewers/347k target demo 25-54
FNC: 1.82m/645k
MSNBC: 693k/228k

Full Block: (7p-3a)
CNN: 1.0m total viewers/390k target demo 25-54
FNC: 2.15m/637k
MSNBC: 932k/259k

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings for the Week of December 26th-30th

2012-01-03T21:57:00.002-05:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

2 - Special programming was aired on two nights during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN's Coverage of Iowa Caucuses

2012-01-03T10:54:00.002-05:00

CNN Plans Expanded Coverage of Iowa Caucuses

On Jan. 3, the night of the Iowa caucuses, CNN anchors Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett, Candy Crowley and John King will lead CNN’s election night coverage from 7 p.m.-midnight from the CNN Election Center and live from Iowa. Chief political analyst Gloria Borger, senior political analyst David Gergen, along with political contributors James Carville, Ari Fleischer, Dana Loesch and Roland Martin, will be on hand to offer expert analysis. Piers Morgan will broadcast a special edition of Piers Morgan Tonight at midnight.

CNN will have more reporters on the ground in Iowa this year than in past Republican primary elections. On the ground in Iowa will be national political correspondent Jim Acosta, senior political correspondent Joe Johns, senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash, chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin and CNN Radio Capitol Hill correspondent Lisa Desjardins. In addition, reporting from Iowa will be CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein, along with CNN political contributors Paul Begala, Donna Brazile, Alex Castellanos, Erick Erickson, David Frum and Mary Matalin.
CNN reporters who have been embedded in key, early voting states for the past several months including political reporter Shannon Travis, political producers Shawna Shepherd and Rachel Streitfeld and CNN’s political reporter-at-large Peter Hamby will all be in Iowa playing a role in caucus night coverage.

Technology and Social Media (#CNNElections):
On caucus night, Tuesday, Jan. 3, CNN will unveil a brand new Election Center studio, complete with new technology and data visualization capabilities. Anchor and chief national correspondent John King will utilize new features on CNN’s Magic Wall to explore the incoming results more in-depth than in the past. CNN will also utilize dual-screen technology to examine demographics and to track how voters cast their votes via CNN’s entrance polls. In addition, the network will aggregate social media conversations, by using #CNNElections, and display users’ sentiments about particular candidates or issues in real time.
CNN.com:
Online on the day of the Iowa caucuses, CNNPolitics.com will host real-time reports from the network’s political correspondents and anchors on the ground in Iowa and the region throughout the weeks leading up to the voting there.
On caucus night, CNN.com will live stream the events in Iowa. Users will also be able to track results by county as they come in at the CNN Election Center and through the CNN Apps for iPad, iPhone and Android. Also launching in time for the Iowa caucus is the CNN GOP Delegate Calculator. After each caucus or primary, users can submit their best guesses for which presidential candidates will win each state and compare their predictions to those of the CNN political experts.
CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community, will be asking for submissions related to the Iowa caucus, some of which will be shown across CNN.com and broadcast on CNN.
CNN en Español and CNN International:
CNN en Español will offer extensive coverage of the Jan. 3 Iowa Caucuses with correspondent Ione Molinares reporting live from Iowa throughout the day. Starting at 7 p.m., Washington D.C. anchor Juan Carlos López will host a special edition of Directo USA and will be joined by a panel of political contributors Maria Cardona, Juan Hernandez and Roberto Izurieta to offer analysis of the events of the day and the perspectives for this primary election process. CNN International will simulcast the domestic network’s coverage beginning at 7 p.m.

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Happy New Year 2012!

2011-12-31T23:58:00.001-05:00

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming December 31, 2011

2011-12-30T23:29:00.002-05:00

SATURDAY, December 31, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday – 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta recaps a year of amazing medical triumphs, mysterious and blunders – and updates stories that captured viewers’ hearts and minds – including a special update with Max “Little Darth Vader” Page.

THE CONTENDERS 2012 – Airs LIVE Saturday 2:00PM – 6:00PM
CNN will launch The Contenders 2012 series on Saturday, Dec. 31 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 1 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The distinctive coverage, anchored by Candy Crowley live from Iowa, will give viewers a chance to learn more about the 2012 GOP presidential candidates by capturing unedited, uninterrupted remarks from campaign events throughout the weekend.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Countdown to the Iowa caucuses: Wolf Blitzer’s interviews with all of the GOP presidential candidates including, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman.
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE WITH ANDERSON COOPER AND KATHY GRIFFIN – Airs LIVE 11:00pm – 1:00am (Replay 2:00AM – 4:00AM)

SUNDAY, January 1, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday – 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta recaps a year of amazing medical triumphs, mysterious and blunders – and updates stories that captured viewers’ hearts and minds – including a special update with Max “Little Darth Vader” Page.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE FROM DES MOINES, IOWA - Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topic: 2012 Race; Iowa Caucuses
Guest: Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), Republican presidential candidate
Topic: “The Kingmaker” on the GOP Candidates
Guest: Rep. Steve King (R-IA)
Topic: Importance of Iowa in 2012
Guest: Gov. Terry Branstad (R) Iowa
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs Sunday 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: Iran, Israel, and the ‘Arab Spring’ is the region headed toward more conflict – or, are there new opportunities for peace amidst the current turmoil? It’s the 10th anniversary of the euro bank note: can / should the euro be saved?
Guest: Ian Bremmer, PhD, president, Eurasia Group
Guest: Anne-Marie Slaughter, D.Phil, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, former Director of Policy Planning for the U.S. State Department of State (Barack Obama Administration)
Guest: Daniel Franklin, digital editor at Random House Group - UK
Topics: Is there intelligent life beyond Earth?
Guest: Lisa Randall, theoretical physicist, Harvard University
Topics: What can we apply from learning how we think to making a better world?
Guest: Daniel Kahneman, PhD, Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences; author of Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011)
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topic: Iowa Caucus Preview
Guest: Michael Shear, The New York Times
Guest: Nia-Malika Henderson, The Washington Post
Guest: A.B. Stoddard, The Hill
Topic: Rise in Negative Coverage of Ron Paul
Guest: Debra Saunders, The San Francisco Chronicle
Guest: John Aravosis, AmericaBlog.com
Topic: Life on the Campaign Trail
Guest: Rachel Streitfeld, CNN
Guest: Sara Boxer, CBS News
Host: Howard Kurtz

THE CONTENDERS 2012 – Airs Sunday 2:00PM – 5:00PM
CNN will launch The Contenders 2012 series on Saturday, Dec. 31 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 1 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The distinctive coverage, anchored by Candy Crowley live from Iowa, will give viewers a chance to learn more about the 2012 GOP presidential candidates by capturing unedited, uninterrupted remarks from campaign events throughout the weekend.

Countdown to Iowa: Final 48 Hours – Airs LIVE Sunday 8:00PM – 10:00PM (replays 11:00PM – 1:00AM)
On Sunday, Jan. 1, CNN will kick off the network’s “America’s Choice 2012” coverage with a prime-time special Countdown to Iowa: Final 48 Hours with Wolf Blitzer anchoring live from the Election Center.

** PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL SCHEDULE CHANGES:

BEGINNING MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2012:

Early Start with Ashleigh Banfield & Zoraida Sambolin – Weekdays, 5:00AM – 7:00AM ET
Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien -- Weekdays, 7:00AM – 9:00AM ET

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012:

CNN America’s Choice 2012: Iowa Caucuses – Airs LIVE 7:00PM – Midnight ET

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New Year's Eve on CNN

2011-12-28T11:33:00.000-05:00

Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin Co-Host CNN’s New Years Eve Celebration

Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin will again co-host CNN’s celebration of the New Year’s Eve celebration on Saturday, Dec. 31, from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (ET). The odd-couple will ring in the new year for CNN’s "New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin” live from NYC’s Time Square.
"Get ready, America. Pull up a chair and a box of your finest wine, because you've never seen a New Year's Eve show like this,” said Griffin. “By the time I'm done with him, Anderson's hair is going to be even more gray. In fact, the night is going to be so wild, his hair is actually going to turn brown again."
“Kathy Griffin scares me. I’ve said this often to CNN management directly and through my attorneys,” said Cooper “She continues to appear by my side on New Year’s Eve, so clearly no one is listening to me”
CNN correspondents will provide reports from celebrations across the country and around the world. Isha Sesay will join Cooper and Griffin from the crowds in Times Square and Gary Tuchman will report live from Central Park for the annual Midnight Run. Correspondent John Zarrella will be live in Key West, Florida and Brooke Baldwin from Nashville, Tennessee. The show will simulcast on CNN International. After Anderson and Griffin sign off from Times Square at 12:30a.m. (ET) CNN’s Brooke Baldwin and Marty Savidge will take over from Nashville and count down to midnight, central time.

Leading up to “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin” will be “Best and Worst of 2011,” an Anderson Cooper 360° special, which will air at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.(ET). The special will count down to the new year by looking back at 2010, anchored by Tom Foreman, who will shine a spotlight on the highs and lows of the past twelve months in politics, pop culture, the economy, entertainment, and much more. A re-air of Piers Morgan Tonight will air at 9 p.m. (ET).

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings for the Week of December 19 - 23

2011-12-27T19:56:00.001-05:00

1 - Special programming was shown on one night during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-24T23:14:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from the ATC Team

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This Weekend's Programming 12/23/11

2011-12-23T19:42:00.002-05:00

SATURDAY, December 24, 2011
Please see below CNN SPECIALS PROGRAMMING NOTE

SUNDAY, December 25, 2011

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topic: Future of North Korea, congressional gridlock, Tea Party
Guest: Sen. Dick Lugar (R) ranking member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Topic: 2012 Race preview
Guest: Ron Brownstein, CNN senior political analyst
Guest: A.B. Stoddard, columnist for The Hill
Topic: Condoleezza Rice on her time in the Bush Administration
Guest: Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: How will history view the rancorous cultural and political times we live in today? The President? The Congress?; Also, a look back at a time when Americans were curious about the rest of the world
Guest: David McCullough, author (most recently) The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris
Topics: What does the author of Bloodmoney say about where reality meets fiction in his book? What kind of cover businesses does the CIA use? Are the CIA and Pakistan’s ISI in a never-ending game of cat-and-mouse?
Guest: David Ignatius, columnist for The Washington Post
Topics: Innovation, building construction, and design; Should architectural be subject to sustainability?
Guest: Frank Gehry, architect
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topics: Scandals, Politics, and Foreign events of 2011
Guest: Jamie McIntyre, NPR Newscaster
Guest: Lauren Ashburn, former managing editor, USA Today
Guest: Fred Francis, former NBC special correspondent
Topics: Transitioning to Buzzfeed
Guest: Ben Smith, Politico
Host: Howard Kurtz

CNN SPECIALS PROGRAMMING NOTE:
Please note the following CNN schedule and program descriptions – all times below are EASTERN.

Friday, December 23, 2011
8:00pm – 9:00pm Anderson Cooper Special: CNN on the Frontlines
10:00pm – 11:00pm Anderson Cooper Special: CNN on the Frontlines

Saturday, December 24, 2011
1:00am – 2:00am Anderson Cooper Special: CNN on the Frontlines
4:00am – 5:00am Anderson Cooper Special: CNN on the Frontlines
7:30am – 8:00am SANJAY GUPTA MD (description to come)
2:00pm – 2:30pm Big Stars Big Giving
2:30pm – 3:00pm Giving in Focus
3:00pm – 4:00pm CNN Presents: Mystery of Jesus
4:00pm – 5:00pm CNN Presents: The Two Marys
5:00pm – 7:00pm CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE
7:00pm – 8:00pm AC 360’s All the Best, All the Worst 2011
8:00pm – 9:00pm Anderson Cooper Special: CNN on the Frontlines
9:00pm – 10:00pm A Piers Morgan Christmas
10:00pm – 12:00am CNN Presents After Jesus – The First Christians

Sunday, December 25, 2011
12:00am – 1:00am A Piers Morgan Christmas
1:00am – 2:00am Anderson Cooper Special: CNN on the Frontlines
2:00am – 4:00am CNN Presents After Jesus – The First Christians
4:00am – 5:00am CNN Presents: Mystery of Jesus
5:00am – 6:00am CNN Presents: The Two Marys
6:00am – 7:00am Anderson Cooper Special: CNN on the Frontlines
7:30am – 8:00am SANJAY GUPTA MD (description to come)
10:00am – 11:00am FAREED ZAKARIA GPS (description below)
1:00pm – 2:00pm FAREED ZAKARIA GPS (description below)
2:00pm – 2:30pm THE NEXT LIST (first show – please see description below)
2:30pm – 3:00pm THE NEXT LIST (second show – please see description below)
3:00pm – 4:00pm Your Money
4:00pm – 4:30pm Big Stars Big Giving
4:30pm – 5:00pm Giving in Focus
5:00pm – 7:00pm CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE
7:00pm – 8:00pm Anderson Cooper Special: CNN on the Frontlines
8:00pm - 9:00pm Piers Morgan Tonight
9:00pm – 10:00pm Piers Morgan Tonight
10:00pm – 11:00pm A Piers Morgan Christmas
11:00pm – 12:00am Anderson Cooper Special: CNN on the Frontlines

Program Descriptions:
BLACK IN AMERICA: THE NEW PROMISED LAND – SILICON VALLEY
While much of the country struggles to emerge from a recession, California’s Silicon Valley is booming, and technology companies like Facebook, Skype, and Apple are seeing their valuations soar. CNN’s Soledad O’Brien profiles a unique technology-focused “accelerator” – a collaborative of African-American start-up founders with Internet-based businesses developed to help diversify the technology sector. Eight participants – strangers – lived together for nine weeks in a modest, three-bedroom house in Mountain View, CA, were mentored, worked on their business proposals, and pitched for venture capital funding. Viewers see their journey, learn who secured funding to develop their Web-based companies – and who is still waiting.

ANDERSON COOPER SPECIAL: CNN ON THE FRONTLINES
CNN’s international correspondents Matthew Chance, Arwa Damon, Hala Gorani, Kyung Lah, Nic Robertson, Sara Sidner, Ivan Watson and Ben Wedeman join anchor Anderson Cooper for their personal reflections of the international breaking news they covered in 2011, including the fall of long-held dictatorships in Egypt and Libya, and the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

CNN PRESENTS: The Mystery of Jesus
Exploring the stories and questions surrounding Jesus, CNN Presents uses research techniques, medical modeling, and analysis from biblical scholars to try to answer: When was Jesus born – and was it in Bethlehem? What did he look like? And how did he really die? From Nazareth to Galilee to Jerusalem, this documentary, narrated by Liam Neeson, recreates Jesus’ largely unknown early life as a young Jewish boy, and then probes the mysteries of his betrayal, trial, execution, and the miracle of his resurrection.

CNN PRESENTS: The Two Marys
Sigourney Weaver narrates this documentary of the biographies of the "Founding Mothers" of Christianity – and what the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene mean to believers today. CNN Presents traveled to Galilee, the northernmost province of Israel, where Jesus, and Christianity, was born to visit archeological digs, Jerusalem, and popular shrines in Rome and Fatima, Lourdes and Vézelay to show the great influence of the two women closest to Jesus. Scholars grapple with the reality of who these women were and how their roles continue to change the world's largest faith.

A Piers Morgan Christmas
CNN’s Piers Morgan hosts a holiday special featuring his interviews with Beyoncé, Lenny Kravitz, Donny and Marie Osmond, and Tony Bennett and Mitch Winehouse remembering Amy Winehouse. Also featured are musical performances by Il Divo and 2011 America’s Got Talent winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.

CNN presents: AFTER JESUS – THE FIRST CHRISTIANS
As two billion Christians worldwide prepare for the celebration of Christmas, CNN examines archeological evidence and insights from renowned authorities on the ancient church to explore how a faith challenged by the martyrdom of its earliest followers and apostles, could also survive controversy and vigorous debate over its orthodoxy, to become the world’s largest religion. Narrated by Liam Neeson, After Jesus explores the sometimes surprising early history of Christianity, and the challenges and struggles of the early church.

THE NEXT LIST (12/25/2011 – first show)
Graffiti artists take risks to tag forbidden walls and public spaces with their creations. CNN anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews Tristan Eaton. Now an artist, illustrator, and toy designer, Eaton still remembers jumping fences and occasionally even having a gun pulled on him during his wilder youth. Now Eaton is sought after by rock bands, celebrities, and companies - and in 2008, he even created art for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.

THE NEXT LIST (12/25/2011 – second show)
CNN anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews social roboticist Heather Knight about her inspiring visions and creations for human interaction with technology. Knight describes to Dr. Gupta how people relate to technology and introduces him to “Data” – a talking robot that tells jokes, dances, and remembers human behaviors.

BIG STARS, BIG GIVING
CNN national correspondent Alina Cho interviews celebrities Jennifer Lopez, Will Ferrell, President Bill Clinton, Tony Bennett, Jeff Bridges and more about their foundations and charitable lives.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports: BIG HITS, BROKEN DREAMS
Football is a way of life at many high schools across America, and that’s true at JH Rose High School in Greenville, North Carolina, as well. But football glory has come at a cost for JH Rose. In the fall of 2008, Jaquan Waller, a JH Rose junior, died from "second impact syndrome," a fatal swelling of the brain that occurred when he took a blow to his head before his first concussion injury had healed, just weeks later Matt Gfeller, a sophomore at Reynolds High School in neighboring Winston-Salem, NC, died from a single concussion. And even last year, the J.H. Rose Rampants lost their star quarterback when his 6th concussion took him out of the game forever. Nationally, less than 40% of high schools have certified trainers – the key medical personnel who can help diagnose and treat injured players. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with the coaches, parents and kids trying to learn how to prevent this danger in youth sports.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Jim Walton's Memo to CNN Staffers

2011-12-23T10:16:00.002-05:00

From DC Fishbowl:

December 22, 2011

To: CNN Staff
From: Jim Walton
=======================================================

Get ready. Any minute now, columnists and pundits will decide what 2011 was the year of. As in, The Year of Regime Change or The Year of the Arab Spring. The Year of Occupations seems like a possibility. Maybe The Year of The Royal Wedding. I will not be surprised to hear someone proclaim this The Year of Tebow. I hope not to learn that it was The Year of Kardashian.

I wouldn’t want the job of choosing just one event to represent the past twelve months—not in a world as complex, diverse, challenged and changing as ours. Besides, I think most people mark time with milestones closer to home: The year we got the dog. The year we drove to the Grand Canyon. The year (or years) the Christmas tree fell over. Many of mine connect to CNN. I remember and celebrate the stories, the launches and the honors for the achievements they are, especially for the work that I know went into them and the people who made them happen.

I think I’ll remember 2011 as the year that CNN’s international reporting reasserted its dominance on the media landscape. Through an extraordinary news cycle, we told global stories of natural disaster, political upheaval, war and human failing with breadth, authority and timeliness. We worked together and across our platforms. Our journalism set us apart. Our work made a difference to millions who count on us.

It was the year that the CNN/U.S. prime time schedule regained its footing and became the only news network to post growth in prime - with a significant increase of 30%; that our signature In America franchise distinguished itself and our brand with thoughtful, provocative new chapters; that CNN’s Freedom Project shone light in the dark corners of slavery and human trafficking; and that CNN Heroes reminded us that service, selflessness and humility are quietly and profoundly at work all around us.

I’ll look back on 2011 as a great year for CNN.com, highlighted by the acquisition of Zite and content enhancements that brought interesting new characters and voices to the site. It was a runway year for our colleagues covering the U.S. Presidential race. As the only cable news network whose reporting doesn’t take sides, our election coverage is poised for leadership and respect as political journalism without agenda. And it was a year of high-fives for our technology colleagues and becoming the first to simulcast our domestic networks on the Web.

No doubt about it: 2011 was The Year of the Trial at HLN and In Session, with their wall-to-wall coverage of courtroom drama and the record-setting ratings it delivered. HLN also provided powerful and moving reporting on the struggles of military families and on communities across America recovering and rebuilding in the wake of disaster.

I’m pleased that this was our eighth consecutive year of profit growth, and more so since that period covers the worst recession in 80 years. It’s been a true team effort to grow our business in this economy, and it would not have happened without creativity, commitment and, sometimes, sacrifice. We didn’t do it on our own; Turner Broadcasting and our sister networks and businesses are unfailing in their support of and pride in CNN.

This was the year that many of us took on new assignments. We welcomed colleagues whose energy and ideas are the future of CNN, and we said goodbye to some on whose shoulders we stand. We are who, what and where we are because Burt Reinhardt, Jon Petrovich, Nick Charles and Stan Case were here.

Those are some of the ways I’ll remember this year. Here’s one more: I marked my 30th anniversary as part of CNN, doing work I love in a place unlike any other. My wish for each of you is a run as enjoyable as mine has been and continues to be. And I hope that when you look back on 2011, it’s with pride, satisfaction and good memories of this Year of CNN.

We asked a lot of you this year and I am grateful to each of you for working so hard and delivering in so many ways. Thank you.

Jim

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‘CNN On The Frontlines’ Premieres Dec. 23

2011-12-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

CNN’s International Correspondents Reflect on the Biggest Stories of 2011 ‘CNN On The Frontlines’ Premieres Globally on Friday, Dec. 23 at 8p.m. ET

CNN’s international correspondents join Anderson Cooper for a one-hour special presentation of their personal reflections of the international breaking news they covered in 2011, including the fall of long-held dictatorships in Egypt and Libya, and the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. CNN On The Frontlines will broadcast on CNN and CNN International on Friday, December 23, at 8p.m. (ET), with Matthew Chance, Arwa Damon, Hala Gorani, Kyung Lah, Nic Robertson, Sara Sidner, Ivan Watson and Ben Wedeman.

In a rare studio gathering of CNN’s international correspondents, Cooper interviews them about life reporting on the frontlines, as well as the latest developments and challenges for media in covering current stories overseas. CNN’s correspondents reflect on some of the memorable moments of 2011, including: Chance’s reporting while held hostage inside the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli by regime forces; Damon eluding government minders in Syria to cover the underground Syrian resistance movement; Gorani’s reporting from Cairo as the regime released camels into crowds of democracy protesters in Tahrir Square; Sidner’s reporting from Tripoli as rebels advanced on the city; Lah’s reporting live from Japan on the earthquake and tsunami; Robertson’s exclusive discovery of the Lockerbie bomber ailing with an oxygen mask in a villa in Tripoli; Watson’s report from Egypt’s Tahrir Square as the uprisings became dangerous for journalists; and Wedeman’s reports as the first Western television journalist to enter Libya after the uprisings.

When Cooper asked if stories stay with them, Robertson answered, “I’ve experienced on several occasions, I will sit on the plane on the way home and it’s the first time when you can stop and you’re not focusing on the next story and you’re beginning to disconnect and disengage and the tears are rolling down my face and I can’t stop it, and I don’t want to stop it because that’s part of the release. I’m lucky when I go home. I walk in the front door and I’m dad, I have two girls and a lovely wife, and I like running and that dissipates some of it. But why do we go out again? Because ultimately, we believe it does make a difference.”

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Ratings for the Week of December 12-16th

2011-12-19T22:55:00.004-05:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Your Views on the News 12/17/11

2011-12-17T00:17:00.003-05:00

It's a busy time of year but if you have time to share your opinions we're listening.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 12/16/11

2011-12-16T23:28:00.002-05:00

SATURDAY, December 17, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday – 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Beirut correspondent Arwa Damon update a heartrending story that has engaged viewers since 2007. While playing outside his Baghdad home, a five-year-old Youssif was horribly burned by masked men that drenched him in kerosene and set him on fire. Damon visited Youssif recently and spoke with him and his family about their lives in Los Angeles and his continuing recovery. Also, Jonathan Gruber (Health Care Reform: What It Is, Why It’s Necessary, How It Works, 2011), MIT economics professor, not only helped design the Obama health care law, but also helped Mitt Romney draft his health care plan in Massachusetts. Dr. Gupta speaks with him about both, interviews Sarah Werner about conception after cancer, and talks about beating the seasonal blues with Dr. Andrew Weil.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
The best of The Situation Room from the week of Dec. 12.
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

SUNDAY, December 18, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday – 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Beirut correspondent Arwa Damon update a heartrending story that has engaged viewers since 2007. While playing outside his Baghdad home, a five-year-old Youssif was horribly burned by masked men that drenched him in kerosene and set him on fire. Damon visited Youssif recently and spoke with him and his family about their lives in Los Angeles and his continuing recovery. Also, Jonathan Gruber (Health Care Reform: What It Is, Why It’s Necessary, How It Works, 2011), MIT economics professor, not only helped design the Obama health care law, but also helped Mitt Romney draft his health care plan in Massachusetts. Dr. Gupta speaks with him about both, interviews Sarah Werner about conception after cancer, and talks about beating the seasonal blues with Dr. Andrew Weil.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topic: Politics of a Payroll Tax Cut
Guest: Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Guest: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Topic: New Hampshire; 2012 Rivals
Guest: Jon Huntsman (R), presidential candidate
Topic: End of the U.S. War in Iraq
Guest: Paul Bremer, Former Presidential Envoy to Iraq
Guest: Gen. James Cartwright (Ret.), Former Vice-Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
Guest: Robin Wright, Joint Fellow at the US Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson Center
Guest anchor: Joe Johns, CNN political correspondent

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs Sunday 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM

Topic: Are the US & NATO “winning” the war in Afghanistan? Have they broken some of the Taliban’s momentum? Does President Karzai want coalition troops to remain beyond the current timetable? Will human rights violations like rape victim Gulnaz’s sentencing to 12 years in jail increase when international forces withdraw? Has President Karzai succeeded in trying to stop the U.S. “night raids” in Afghanistan? Is the recent sectarian terror attack a portent of worse things to come in Afghanistan?
Guest: Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan
Topics: What’s behind Newt Gingrich’s rise in the GOP field? Are Republican candidates right to attack President Obama’s foreign policy? Will the Euro survive? What made 2011 the year of protests – and are they all inter-connected?
Guest: Kurt Andersen, columnist, New York magazine, author Reset: How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America (2009)
Guest: Peggy Noonan, author and Wall Street Journal columnist
Guest: David Remnick, editor, The New Yorker
Guest: Gillian Tett, managing editor for U.S. news, Financial Times
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON

Topics: Romney’s Changing Media Strategy
Guest: Julie Mason, host, Sirius XM Radio
Guest: Dana Milbank, The Washington Post
Guest: Ramesh Ponnuru, senior editor, National Review
Topics: Christiane Amanpour Exits “This Week”
Guest: David Zurawik, The Baltimore Sun
Guest: Marisa Guthrie, The Hollywood Reporter
Topics: Media Reaction to Tebow’s Open Display of Faith
Guest: Dave Zirin, sports, The Nation
Guest: Gregg Doyel, columnist, CBS Sportsline
Topics: TIME Person of the Year
Guest: Richard Stengel, TIME managing editor
Host: Howard Kurtz

THE NEXT LIST – Airs Sunday – 2:00PM – 3:00PM
CNN anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta will interview computer applications developer, Scott Snibbe, about how he transforms surfaces like floors, ceilings, tables into fully interactive canvases for digital artistic displays. With installations in airports and museums Snibbe recently collaborated to develop the first-ever “app album” in Biophilia, combining music and technology for an all-sensory music experience. Snibbe next hopes to create a feature-length movie in which the audience movements will actually change storylines.

BLACK IN AMERICA: THE NEW PROMISED LAND – SILICON VALLEY - Sunday 8:00PM – 9:00PM, 11:00PM – 12:00AM, 2:00AM-3:00AM
While much of the country struggles to emerge from a recession, California’s Silicon Valley is booming, and technology companies like Facebook, Skype, and Apple are seeing their valuations soar. CNN’s Soledad O’Brien profiles a unique technology-focused “accelerator” – a collaborative of African-American start-up founders with Internet-based businesses developed to help diversify the technology sector. Eight participants – strangers – lived together for nine weeks in a modest, three-bedroom house in Mountain View, CA, were mentored, worked on their business proposals, and pitched for venture capital funding. Viewers see their journey, learn who secured funding to develop their Web-based companies – and who is still waiting.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN's Year End Numbers

2011-12-15T22:21:00.001-05:00

CNN HAS SIGNIFICANT RATINGS GAINS IN 2011, UP +30% IN PRIMETIME Anderson Cooper 360 Tops MSNBC at 10p and Grows +37%At 8p AC 360 is Up +40%; while FNC and MSNBC are Down Piers Morgan Tonight is Up +26% vs. Larry King a Year AgoCNN Tops MSNBC in Total Day and Daytime Highlights:Nielsen YTD-December 11, 2011 vs. same time period a year ago (12/27/10-12/11/11 vs. 12/28/09-12/12/10)
Primetime: CNN is up +30% (FNC down -16%, MSNBC up 2%)
Total Day: CNN is up +22%, topping MSNBC (a year ago MSNBC topped CNN)
Dayside: CNN outperforms MSNBC by +71%
Since AC 360 moved to 8pm, the program is up +40%AC 360 at 10 pm tops MSNBC and is also up +37%
Piers Morgan Tonight is up +26% vs. Larry King a year ago
Erin Burnett OutFront is up in total viewers vs. same time period a year ago
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer tops MSNBC’s Hardball at 5p

Fueled by program line-up changes throughout CNN’s schedule and the successful leveraging of breaking news stories – CNN had significant double-digit ratings growth across all dayparts in 2011 – while FNC lost viewers and MSNBC had very modest gains. CNN grew an impressive +30% in M-F primetime in 2011 and topped MSNBC in total day this year.

Daypart Highlights:In M-F primetime, CNN increased +30% (242k vs. 186k) in the target demo 25-54 and +16% in total viewers (743k vs. 641k) vs. the same time period a year ago. FNC is down -16% (527k vs. 627k) in the demo and lost -10% among total viewers (2.23m vs. 2.47m) and MSNBC had slight gains in 2011, increasing just 2% (255k vs. 251k) in 25-54 and 4% in total viewers (914k vs. 881k).

In 2011, CNN topped MSNBC in total day (6a-6a) in both the demo (163k vs. 149k) and in total viewers (485k vs. 437k). Last year MSNBC topped CNN in the total day/demo (142k vs. 134k). CNN also had the most growth in 2011, increasing +22% in the key demo vs. 2010 (163k vs. 134k), FNC was down -9% (277k vs. 304k) and MSNBC increased just 5% (149k vs. 142k).

During dayside (9a-5p), CNN had a +71% advantage over MSNBC in the demo (161k vs. 94k) and +55% more total viewers (552k vs. 355k).

Show Highlights:
• Since Anderson Cooper 360 moved to 8p in August, the program has shown impressive growth, up +40% in the demo (196k vs. 140k) and +31% in total viewers (623k vs. 476k) vs. same time period a year ago. Last year, MSNBC had an 86% advantage over CNN, now CNN has erased that gap and has a +5% advantage over MSNBC. Rolling up CNN’s 8p programming from the beginning of the year, CNN was the only program to show growth in 2011 -- increasing +27% in the key demo (185k vs. 146k) and +17% in total viewers (599k vs. 511k); while FNC was down -15% in the demo (676k vs. 799k) and lost -7% in total viewers (2.99m vs. 3.23m). MSNBC was also down 8p this year, decreasing -19% in 25-54 (221k vs. 272k) and was down -12% in total viewers (922k vs. 1.05m).

• AC 360 at 10p topped MSNBC in both the demo (283k vs. 237k) and in total viewers (783k vs. 774k). Last year, MSNBC topped CNN at 10p in the demo. The 10p show delivered solid gains in 2011, increasing +37% among 25-54 (283k vs. 207k) and +18% in total viewers (783k vs. 666k). FNC was down -17% (401k vs. 486k) in the demo and off -12% in total viewers (1.68m vs. 1.91m) and MSNBC was up 12% in the demo (237k vs. 211k) and increased 24% among total viewers (774k vs. 624k).

• Since launching at 9p on January 17, 2011 Piers Morgan Tonight improved substantially over Larry King a year ago -- increasing +26% in the key demo (222k vs. 176k) and growing +9% in total viewers (735k vs. 672k). FNC declined at 9p, losing -13% of its audience in the demo (521k vs. 597k) and is down -10% in total viewers (2.09m vs. 2.32m). This year, MSNBC is up 12% in the key demo (288k vs. 258k) and grew just 4% in total viewers (1.01m vs. 964k).

• CNN’s 7p programming this year (roll up of John King, USA and Erin Burnett OutFront) is also up vs. a year ago – increasing 22% in the key demo (174k vs. 143k) and +13% in total viewers (538k vs. 478k). Since Erin Burnett OutFront launched in October the 7p time period has registered gains of +9% among total viewers (502k vs. 460k) and +1% in the demo (142k vs. 141k) compared to the same time period a year ago.

• The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer topped MSNBC’s Hardball at 5p (177k vs. 158k) in the target demo this year and has grown +16% (177k vs. 152k) vs. a year ago.

• CNN’s Sunday morning programming has also seen solid gains in the key demo this year with State of the Union with Candy Crowley (9a) increasing +19% (162k vs. 136k), Fareed Zakaria GPS (10a) growing +24% (154k vs. 124k), and Reliable Sources is up +37% (175k vs. 128k).

• CNN Presents, home of CNN’s long-form documentary programming (Sunday at 8p) has also seen significant gains this year, increasing +38% in the target demo (174k vs. 126k) vs. the same time period a year ago.

Audience Reach:Throughout 2011, CNN held a consistently strong advantage over its competitors in cumulative audience. On an average monthly basis for 2011 to date (Jan-November) CNN reached 99.4m viewers, 20% ahead of FNC (82.8m) and 23% in front of MSNBC (80.7m).

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Christiane Amanpour Back at CNN Part Time

2011-12-13T19:38:00.000-05:00

Jim Walton statement:Christiane Amanpour has been synonymous with international reporting and with CNN for many years. We could not be happier that through this unique arrangement with ABC News her experience and global perspective are returning to a nightly news broadcast for our international audience.Jim WaltonPresident, CNN Worldwide

Christiane Amanpour statement:This is an exciting and unique opportunity for me to take my love of story telling to primetime at ABC News with multiple specials, as well as becoming a roving Global Affairs anchor across all ABC platforms.I am looking forward to getting back into the field to report stories on global issues that matter greatly to the American people. At the same time, I will be broadcasting once again to hundreds of millions of people across the world with a weekday show on CNN International.This role is groundbreaking, bold and very different! I am thrilled and honored.It's been an incredible experience to have had a ringside seat to democracy in action at This Week. It's been an incredible honor to anchor such a prestigious program and I thank all of you who have helped me on that journey.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings for the Week of December 5th - December 9th

2011-12-12T22:27:00.001-05:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN’S FIFTH ANNUAL CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE

2011-12-11T22:12:00.004-05:00

images courtesy of CNN

ROBIN LIM NAMED 2011 CNN “HERO OF THE YEAR” AT
CNN’S FIFTH ANNUAL CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE

December 11, 2011 - In a star-studded ceremony Sunday night at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Robin Lim was named the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year.

Christy Turlington Burns introduced Lim as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes while host Anderson Cooper announced her name as the CNN Hero of the Year at the end of the evening. Each of the Top 10 CNN Heroes received $50,000, and Lim’s nonprofit, Bumi Sehat Foundation, will receive an additional $250,000 grant.

In Indonesia, women are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than women in developed countries. After Lim’s younger sister died from pregnancy complications, she became a professional midwife and dedicated her life to offering free prenatal and birthing services to low-income Indonesian women. Since 2003, Lim’s“Yayasan Bumi Sehat” (Healthy Mother Earth) clinic has provided medical assistance to thousands of women in Bali and Aceh, Indonesia.

The star-studded ceremony included celebrity participants Jerry Seinfeld, Sofia Vergara, Mary-Louise Parker, Ice Cube, Laura Dern, J.R. Martinez, will.i.am, Christy Turlington Burns, George Lopez and Kurt Warner. Miley Cyrus, Chris Colfer and Emma Roberts presented to youths who were recognized and honored by CNN as “Young Wonders.” Miley Cyrus also performed her triple platinum hit “The Climb”, while Kid Rock performed a powerful version of "Care" from his platinum selling album, “Born Free.”

Now in its fifth year, CNN Heroes is a multi-platform campaign that shines a spotlight on individuals who go to extraordinary lengths to serve others. This year, the campaign received over 10,000 submissions from more than 100 countries.

For more information, including photos and video highlights from the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, as well as information on all the Top 10 CNN Heroes for 2011, please visit CNNHeroes.com.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 12/9/11

2011-12-10T00:58:00.002-05:00

SATURDAY, December 10, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews Joan Gagliardi, who was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that caused scarring on her insides, breathing difficulties, and more. Treatments at the University of Miami have saved her life, but she now faces medical bills totaling more than a million dollars. Also, Don Wright, 70, was recently diagnosed with cancer and has a goal to run marathons in all 50 states before his final days.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
The best of The Situation Room from the week of Dec. 5.
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

LARRY KING SPECIAL: DINNER WITH THE KINGS – Airs Saturday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM (Sunday 2:00AM)
CNN’s Larry King and wife Shawn King invite viewers to join their dinner party with some of the biggest names in Hollywood to discuss life, love, finding success and coping with insecurities and failure. With dinner prepared by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, the Kings host Tyra Banks, Russell Brand, Twitter / Square founder Jack Dorsey, Quincy Jones, Seth MacFarlane, Conan O’Brien, and Shaquille O’Neal.

SUNDAY, December 11, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews Joan Gagliardi, who was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that caused scarring on her insides, breathing difficulties, and more. Treatments at the University of Miami have saved her life, but she now faces medical bills totaling more than a million dollars. Also, Don Wright, 70, was recently diagnosed with cancer and has a goal to run marathons in all 50 states before his final days.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topic: Retail Politics in Iowa
Guest: Rick Santorum (R) presidential candidate
Topic: Newt vs. Mitt: Surrogates Weigh In
Guest: Bob Walker, former U.S. Congressman; Newt Gingrich surrogate
Guest: John Sununu, former New Hampshire Governor; Mitt Romney surrogate
Topic: Election 2012
Guest: Anita Dunn, former White House communications director
Guest: Tom Davis, former U.S. Congressman
Topic: Future of the Postal Service
Guest: Patrick Donahoe, Postmaster General, USPS
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM

Topic: Does Huntsman have the temperament to run against Gingrich and Romney et al? What are his plans for controlling the deficit? How would he change the way the banks do business? What does he think we should do with Iran? Is an attack on Iran the right move? How would he deal with China? Has he “gone native” after his time as ambassador to China? What to do about China’s currency manipulation? Is Huntsman really running for Secretary of State in a potential GOP administration?
Guest: Jon Huntsman, GOP presidential candidate, former U.S. Ambassador to China (2009-2011), former Gov. of Utah (2005-2009)
Topics: Update on Egypt after the 1st round of elections: Who were the big winners? Do we need to fear the Salafis and the Muslim Brotherhood?
Guest: Tarek Masoud, PhD, assistant professor of public policy, Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government
Topic: Is the world headed for a shale gas rush? Would that be a good or bad thing? What’s the truth about hydraulic fracturing?
Guest: Daniel Yergin, PhD, chairman and founder of IHS Cambridge Energy Research Authority; author, The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World (2011)
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topics: Spotlight on Gingrich; Trump to Moderate GOP Debate
Guest: Margaret Carlson, Bloomberg
Guest: John Harris, POLITICO
Guest: Matt Lewis, The Daily Caller
Topic: Politico E-Book
Guest: John Harris, POLITICO
Topic: Political Parodies and their Role
Guest: Rachel Sklar, Mediaite
Guest: Robert Thompson, Syracuse University
Host: Howard Kurtz

THE NEXT LIST – Airs Sunday 2:00PM – 2:30PM
Graffiti artists take risks to tag forbidden walls and public spaces with their creations. Anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta profiles Tristan Eaton, artist and illustrator, who remembers jumping fences and occasionally having a gun pulled on him during his youth. Now, Eaton is commercially successful and even created art in 2008 for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Your Views on the News 12/9/11

2011-12-09T09:34:00.003-05:00

Since people were leaving comments on the TJ Holmes posts totally unrelated to TJ we felt it was time to start a new topic post. So here's the place to post those complaints and complements about CNN.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

TJ Holmes to BET

2011-12-07T18:47:00.003-05:00

Award-Winning Journalist T.J. Holmes Signs Multi-Platform Talent Deal With BET Networks

NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BET Networks announced today a multi-platform talent agreement with award-winning journalist and television personality, T.J. Holmes. The deal with Holmes includes a new show on BET as well as content on BET.com in which he can bring his many talents to some of the most important and interesting stories to BET's audience.

"We are of course ecstatic to have T.J. Holmes coming to our fold. He's been an outstanding news anchor and we look forward to making him shine. He's been an outstanding news anchor and we look forward to working with him in a variety of new ways on BET," said Stephen G. Hill, President of Music Programming and Specials at BET Networks. "We look forward to weaving T.J.'s mixture of credibility and charisma into our fabric."

An award-winning journalist and respected television personality within the African American community, T.J. Holmes was formerly a news anchor for various CNN programs and has anchored numerous major breaking news stories and human interest pieces ranging from the devastating tornadoes across the Midwest and Southeast to the Gulf oil spill in 2010 to Saddam Hussein's execution in 2006. Holmes came to CNN from NBC11 in the San Francisco Bay Area. While with NBC, he covered the 2004 Olympics, the first Summer Games held since the September 11th terrorist attacks. Before that, Holmes served as a weekend anchor and reporter for KTHV-TV in Little Rock, Ark. He began his career at KSNF-TV in Joplin, Mo. Holmes contributed to CNN's 2010 coverage of the Gulf Oil Spill that garnered a Peabody Award. In 2007, he was honored with the Young Alumni Award by the University of Arkansas. Holmes graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. He is a board member of the Emory University Board of Visitors, a member of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. and serves on the Chancellor's Board of Advisors at the University of Arkansas.

Source: BET Networks

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TJ Holmes Leaving CNN

2011-12-06T16:55:00.003-05:00

According to the Maynard Institute:
T.J. Holmes, who anchors the weekend edition of "CNN Newsroom" on Saturday and Sunday mornings, told colleagues on Sunday that he is leaving the network at the end of the year for another job. He did not disclose the new position. Holmes joined CNN in October 2006.

TVNewser published CNN's memo to staff:

From: Rodriguez, Janelle
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 3:24 PM
Subject: Staff Announcement

Please join me in congratulating TJ Holmes who will be leaving the company at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities. Since 2006, we’ve had pleasure to work alongside him as he anchored CNN Newsroom and reported stories from throughout the world. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
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Ratings For The Week of November 28th - December 2nd

2011-12-05T22:45:00.001-05:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Your Views on the News 12/3/11

2011-12-03T10:27:00.004-05:00

The Colbert Report did a segment this week on CNN's recent firings and layoffs. (If you missed that news it was reported by TVNewers on November 11th.) We thought it might make a good jumping off point for this week's discussion.

"Bravo CNN for getting rid of all those pesky professionals. Hopefully this bold move will help you get rid of your remaining viewers." ~ Stephen Colbert

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 12/2/11

2011-12-02T16:00:00.001-05:00

SATURDAY, December 3, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
Thirty years ago, five men in Los Angeles died from a mysterious disease later classified as HIV/AIDS by the CDC. Now, 25 million people have died from and 33 million people are currently living with the disease. In reflection of World AIDS Day, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, visits Atlanta's Ponce de Leon Clinic to talk with Angelle Vuchetich, RN, founder of Grady Infectious Disease Program (IDP), one of the largest AIDS clinics. Also, Dr. Gupta speaks with a man that may have actually been cured from HIV/AIDS. Dr. Erin Carr-Jordan is banned from McDonald’s because of the “McGerms” she found in various play areas – now she is working on legislation to give local health departments jurisdiction forcing big corporations to clean up their acts. Also, Barry Estabrook, author of “Tomatoland”, will discuss newfangled fruit and how modern industrial agriculture is destroying our most alluring fruit.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
The best of The Situation Room from the week of Nov. 28.
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

COMMON DREAMS – Airs Saturday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM (Sunday 2:00AM)
Actor and Grammy-winning artist Common travels to Haiti to see the hardened forced child labor practice rooted deep within the culture. He learns of the noble premise on which the “restavek” system began and comes to understand how a devastating earthquake and decades of despotic rule have eroded the restavek ideal. Common meets the children, their ‘guardians’ and a team of dedicated people determined to change cultural perceptions and provide them with a better life. In the process, his team helps convince a family to give a little girl what she so desperately wants: the chance to go to school and dream of a better future.

SUNDAY, December 4, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
Thirty years ago, five men in Los Angeles died from a mysterious disease later classified as HIV/AIDS by the CDC. Now, 25 million people have died from and 33 million people are currently living with the disease. In reflection of World AIDS Day, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, visits Atlanta's Ponce de Leon Clinic to talk with Angelle Vuchetich, RN, founder of Grady Infectious Disease Program (IDP), one of the largest AIDS clinics. Also, Dr. Gupta speaks with a man that may have actually been cured from HIV/AIDS. Dr. Erin Carr-Jordan is banned from McDonald’s because of the “McGerms” she found in various play areas – now she is working on legislation to give local health departments jurisdiction forcing big corporations to clean up their acts. Also, Barry Estabrook, author of “Tomatoland”, will discuss newfangled fruit and how modern industrial agriculture is destroying our most alluring fruit.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topic: Campaign 2012; Jobs; Economy
Guest: Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), GOP presidential candidate
Topic: Campaign 2012; Jobs; Economy
Guest: Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), GOP presidential candidate
Topic: Global Hot Spots; Campaign 2012; Payroll Tax and Unemployment Benefits
Guest: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), ranking member, Armed Services Committee
Topic: Jobs Numbers; Payroll Tax and Unemployment Benefits
Guest: Alice Rivlin, former Director, Office of Management and Budget
Guest: Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former Director, Congressional Budget Office
Guest: Ron Brownstein, editorial director, National Journal; CNN political contributor
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topic: Greece’s economic crisis – what’s next? What’s the solution? Should Germany be doing more? Should Greece just default?
Guest: George Α. Papandreou, former Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic of Greece
A FAREED ZAKARIA GPS exclusive
Topics: What to do about the Pakistan problem? How quickly can we/should we drawdown from Afghanistan? Will we strike Iran? How did President Obama’s Asia trip effect US-China relations?
Guest: Ian Bremmer, PhD, president, Eurasia Group
Guest: Nile Gardiner, director, The Heritage Foundation's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom
Guest: Gideon Rose, editor, Foreign Affairs magazine
Guest: Anne-Marie Slaughter, D.Phil, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, former Director of Policy Planning for the U.S. Department of State (Obama Administration)
Topic: Why does Ijaz think a branch of Pakistan’s ISI should be labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S.? What does the “S Branch” of the ISI do?
Guest: Mansoor Ijaz, venture capitalist; middleman of “Memogate”
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topics: Coverage of Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain; Greta’s Tie to Cain’s Campaign
Guest: Steve Roberts, professor, The George Washington University
Guest: Jennifer Rubin, “Right Turn” blogger, The Washington Post
Guest: Bill Press, syndicated talk radio host
Topics: Scandal at Syracuse
Guest: Mike Wise, sports columnist, The Washington Post
Guest: Jason Whitlock, FoxSports.com
Topics: Allegations against Syracuse’s Bernie Fine
EXCLUSIVE Guest: Vince Doria, vice president and director of news, ESPN
Host: Howard Kurtz

THE NEXT LIST – Airs Sunday 2:00PM – 2:30PM
Anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews engineer Heather Knight, who studies social charisma between humans and technology. Knight discusses how socially-intelligent robots can interact with humans through humor, gestures, language and even performance art in order to ultimately make technology more useful and user-friendly.

LARRY KING SPECIAL: DINNER WITH THE KINGS – Airs Sunday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM
CNN’s Larry King and wife Shawn King invite viewers to join their dinner party with some of the biggest names in Hollywood to discuss life, love, finding success and coping with insecurities and failure. With dinner prepared by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, the Kings host Tyra Banks, Russell Brand, Twitter / Square founder Jack Dorsey, Quincy Jones, Seth MacFarlane, Conan O’Brien, and Shaquille O’Neal.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

A Dinner with the Kings to Air Sunday, Dec. 4th

2011-12-02T10:19:00.006-05:00

For his fourth hour-long special for CNN, Larry King and his wife Shawn hosted a dinner part with some of the biggest names in Hollywood and invited viewers in to join. The one hour special titled “Larry King Special: A Dinner with Kings” will air Sunday, December 4th at 8 and 11pm ET.

The dinner prepared by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck includes Tyra Banks, Russell Brand, Twitter and Square founder Jack Dorsey, Quincy Jones, Seth MacFarlane, Conan O’Brien, and Shaquille O’Neal. Join Larry and his guests as they discuss life, love, insecurities, success and failures at this dinner party like no other.

Conan O’Brien on insecurities: “There's a tendency for people to look at a table like some of the people that are here and say they’ve made it. They have it. And what they don't understand is the amount of insecurity that drives you when you're 15. But it's still there when you're 48”.

Tyra Banks on her looks: “I'm so not sexy. I know how to turn it on for a picture, but I'm not sexy in real life”

Russell Brand on his success: “How I deal with my personal, material success is guiltily”

Seth MacFarlane: “I'm still working on my hiding my insecurity 100 percent”

Jack Dorsey on success: “I've made hundreds and hundreds of mistakes and -- and learned from 'em. And -- and that's what makes a successful company, that's what makes a successful creative endeavor, is learning from your mistakes”.

The special will re-air December 10th at 8 and 10pm ET and on CNN international on Saturday, December 10th at 9pm and Sunday December 11th at 6am.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Some Numbers & Rankings From CNN

2011-11-30T17:43:00.001-05:00

CNN ONLY CABLE NEWS NETWORK TO POST DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH, UP +30% IN 2011

CNN GAINS VIEWERS IN NOVEMBER; MSNBC DOWN -23% AND FNC DECLINES -32% IN PRIMETIME

ANDERSON COOPER 360 UP +49%; ONLY SHOW TO GROW AT 8p; FNC DOWN -23%, MSNBC -36%

Highlights:
• CNN grows in primetime in Nov. while MSNBC and FNC experience double-digit declines, -23% and -32%, respectively.
• AC 360 (8p) up +49%; FNC declines -23%, MSNBC down -36%.
• CNN tops MSNBC in daytime (9a-5p).
• In 2011, CNN up +30% in primetime while FNC looses -16% of its audience and MSNBC holds only 3%; beating MSNBC in total day.
• Erin Burnett OutFront at 7p up vs. CNN programming a year ago.

In M-F prime (8-11p), CNN increased +4% (211k vs. 203k) among P25-54 vs. Nov 10; MSNBC and FNC posted significant double-digit declines, down -23% (229k vs. 298k) and -32% (461k vs. 680k), respectively. In addition, Nov marks CNN’s 5th straight month of year-over-year growth in prime among the key demo.

YTD (through Nov 27), CNN is up +30% in M-F prime among P25-54 vs. same time period a year ago; MSNBC virtually flat (+3%) and FNC down -16%. In addition, CNN is outperforming MSNBC in total day (6a-6a) among P2+ (488k vs. 437k) and P25-54 (165k vs. 150k) 2011 to-date.

CNN tops MSNBC in daytime (9a-5p) in Nov, averaging 134k in P25-54 vs. MSNBC’s 95k.

Show Highlights (Nov 11 vs. Nov 10):

• 7p, ET: Erin Burnett OutFront continues to post increases vs. CNN programming a year ago, up +3% in the key demo (140k vs. 136k) and +16% in total viewers (510k vs. 440k).

• 8p, ET: Anderson Cooper 360 is the only program at 8p to post growth vs. a year ago–increasing a substantial +49% (192k vs. 129k) in the key demo; MSNBC down a staggering -36% and FNC declined -23%.

• 10p, ET: Anderson Cooper 360 grew +20% (221k vs. 184k) in the key demo, MSNBC down -11% and FNC declined -18%.

• 4p, ET: The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer topped MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan handily in both total viewers (691k vs. 480k) and P25-54 (173k vs. 103k). Sit Room also grew vs. a year ago, increasing +30% in the key demo.

Reach:

CNN reached a cumulative audience of 85.7 million viewers in Nov, MSNBC followed with 74.6 million, while FNC was third with 71.7 million.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings For The Week of November 21st - 25th

2011-11-29T21:59:00.001-05:00

1 - Special programming aired on one night during the week.

2 - Special programming aired on two nights during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 11/26/11

2011-11-25T12:29:00.000-05:00

SATURDAY, November 26, 2011

DR SANJAY GUPTA REPORTS: THE LAST HEART ATTACK – Airs Saturday 2:00AM – 3:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates whether diet and modern medicine are enough to prevent every heart attack -- and if living a healthier lifestyle could save more than 100,000 lives every year in the U.S. alone. Dr. Gupta interviews former President Bill Clinton, who credits his vegan diet with his improved heart disease, and doctors researching the latest treatments. Dr. Gupta also puts his own heart under the microscope as to offer practical advice and hard science to show how healthy living could reduce heart disease. Includes interviews with Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Arthur Agatston (author of The South Beach Diet), for insights on how diet impacts heart disease – and how heart disease may be reversible with better nutrition.

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates whether diet and modern medicine are enough to prevent every heart attack -- and if living a healthier lifestyle could save more than 100,000 lives every year in the U.S. alone. Dr. Gupta interviews former President Bill Clinton, who credits his vegan diet with his improved heart disease, and doctors researching the latest treatments. Dr. Gupta also puts his own heart under the microscope as to offer practical advice and hard science to show how healthy living could reduce heart disease. Includes interviews with Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Arthur Agatston (author of The South Beach Diet), for insights on how diet impacts heart disease – and how heart disease may be reversible with better nutrition.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
The best of The Situation Room from the week of Nov. 21.
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

GERRY-RIGGED: WHY YOUR VOTE FOR CONGRESS MIGHT NOT MATTER – Airs Saturday 8:00PM – 9:00PM, 11:00PM and Sunday 2:00AM
In the last decade, almost 4 out of every 5 seats in Congress remained in the same party’s hands. The consequence is gridlock with little reason for compromise on either side as long as voters have no realistic say on who stays in office. CNN investigative correspondent Drew Griffin describes how political parties engage in “gerrymandering,” drawing odd-shaped districts – with voters from one party or the other, essentially designed to retain incumbents. Redistricting happens once a decade—this is the year. Will the system change? Probably not. Who loses? Voters.

SUNDAY, November 27, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates whether diet and modern medicine are enough to prevent every heart attack -- and if living a healthier lifestyle could save more than 100,000 lives every year in the U.S. alone. Dr. Gupta interviews former President Bill Clinton, who credits his vegan diet with his improved heart disease, and doctors researching the latest treatments. Dr. Gupta also puts his own heart under the microscope as to offer practical advice and hard science to show how healthy living could reduce heart disease. Includes interviews with Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Arthur Agatston (author of The South Beach Diet), for insights on how diet impacts heart disease – and how heart disease may be reversible with better nutrition.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topic: 2012 Election; Immigration; Race for the White House
EXCLUSIVE GUEST: Herman Cain, presidential candidate
Topic: U.S. Foreign Policy; 2012; Her Book
Guest: Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: Steve Jobs, also what can we learn from the California of Steve Jobs’ youth in the 1950s to inspire innovation, invention, better education, and jobs?
Guest: Walter Issacson, president and CEO, Aspen Institute
Topics: What is innovation? How did Dyson invent his revolutionary vacuum? What can we learn from that? What can we do to help encourage and incubate innovation?
Guest: Sir James Dyson, industrial inventor and designer, founder and managing director of Dyson, Inc.
Topics: Prospects for the US and the global economy; What is Prof. Spence’s prescription for economic growth in the short and long term?
Guest: Michael Spence, PhD, professor of economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business, senior fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, author of The Next Convergence: The Future of Economic Growth in a Multispeed World (2011)
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topics: Coverage of Newt Gingrich; Super Committee Deadline
Guest: Jackie Kucinich, USA Today
Guest: Danielle Crittenden, The Huffington Post
Guest: Eleanor Clift, Newsweek/The Daily Beast
Topics: Criticism of GOP Candidates
Guest: Andrew Sullivan, conservative blogger
Host: Howard Kurtz

COMMON DREAMS – Airs Sunday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM
Actor and Grammy-winning artist Common travels to Haiti to see the hardened forced child labor practice rooted deep within the culture. He learns of the noble premise on which the “restavek” system began and comes to understand how a devastating earthquake and decades of despotic rule have eroded the restavek ideal. Common meets the children, their ‘guardians’ and a team of dedicated people determined to change cultural perceptions and provide them with a better life. In the process, his team helps convince a family to give a little girl what she so desperately wants: the chance to go to school and dream of a better future.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T23:14:00.001-05:00

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN's GOP Debate was #1 Last Night

2011-11-23T16:20:00.000-05:00

CNN’S GOP NATIONAL SECURITY DEBATE WAS #1 LAST NIGHT

DRAWS 3.6 MILLION VIEWERS AND ONE MILLION IN KEY DEMO 25-54

AC 360 Top-Rated at 10 pm

According to Nielsen Fast National data, CNN’s GOP National Security Debate (8:00-10:00pm*), moderated by Wolf Blitzer, delivered 3.599 million total viewers and 1.041 million in the key demo 25-54 last night, Tuesday, November 22. This debate topped CNBC’s 11/09 debate (993k), CNN’s 6/13 debate (918k) and FNC’s 5/5 debate (854k) in the key demo 25-54. CNN was, by far, #1 during the 8-10pm time period last night among cable news networks.

From 8-10pm, CNN topped FNC by +93% among total viewers (3.599 million vs. 1.862 million) and +152% among 25-54 (1.041 million vs. 413k). CNN also topped MSNBC by +343% among total viewers (3.599 million vs. 812k) and by +413% among 25-54 (1.041 million vs. 203k).

Following the debate, CNN’s AC 360 ranked first in cable news at 10pm in total viewers averaging 1.427 million, FNC followed with 1.298m and MSNBC posted 723k. In the key demographic 25-54 CNN delivered 405k at 10pm, while FNC trailed with 365k and MSNBC averaged 209k.

*Fast National Data is representative of 8:00p-10:00p. Final Data will reflect actual debate time of 8:00p-9:59p.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

COMMON DREAMS: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary

2011-11-23T13:58:00.001-05:00

COMMON Partners with the CNN Freedom Project for the Global Broadcast of COMMON DREAMS: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary

Grammy Award-winning artist and actor COMMON (@common) has partnered with the CNN Freedom Project to make a journey of discovery deep into the dangerous slums of Haiti where 300,000 children are forced to work in conditions the United Nations calls a ‘form of modern-day slavery.’ COMMON DREAMS: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary will broadcast globally on CNN on Sunday, November 27, at 8 p.m. (ET).
Haiti is a nation with a dramatic beginning and a disturbing secret. The world’s first black republic was created by slaves who rebelled against their masters in order to create a better future for themselves and their descendants. But 200 years later, that promise of freedom still eludes many Haitian children, who are today living in a form of abuse and exploitation known as ‘restavek.’ A French word meaning ‘to stay with,’ restavek began with the intention to educate children from rural villages. Unfortunately, many restavek children today are forced to work long hours in other people’s homes, cooking, cleaning dishes, doing laundry and fetching water. Worse yet, many of these children are not even allowed to go to school.
COMMON travels to Haiti to see this hardened practice rooted deep within the culture. He learns of the premise on which the system began and comes to understand how a devastating earthquake and decades of despotic rule have eroded the restavek concept. COMMON meets the children, their ‘guardians’ and a team of dedicated people determined to change cultural perceptions and provide them with a better life. In the process, his team helps convince a family to give a little girl what she so desperately wants: the chance to go to school and dream of a better future.
Earlier this year, CNN announced it was marshaling its global resources to take on human trafficking with the launch of ‘The CNN Freedom Project: Ending Modern-Day Slavery.’ Through this multi-platform initiative, CNN’s reporting aims to expose the horrors of modern-day slavery, highlight the growing efforts to stop the trade and exploitation of human beings and amplify the voices of the victims.
The Freedom Project blog will be the online hub for special coverage of COMMON Dreams. Users will also be able to check for updates across social media on the Freedom Project Facebook page or @CNNFreedom.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings For The Week of November 14th-18th

2011-11-21T22:01:00.001-05:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN Hosts GOP Debate on National Security from Washington, DC

2011-11-21T08:32:00.000-05:00

CNN Hosts GOP Debate on National Security from Washington, DC

CNN lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer will moderate a Republican presidential debate on Tuesday, Nov. 22 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (ET) live from the historic DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. The debate, in partnership with The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), will focus on three of the most critical issues candidates will encounter during the Republican presidential nomination: national security, foreign policy and the economy. The debate falls on the eve of the deadline for the so-called congressional super committee to create a plan for at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction.

In addition to Blitzer, Foreign policy experts from AEI and The Heritage Foundation will pose questions to the candidates. The following eight presidential contenders will participate in the debate: Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

Live coverage from DAR Constitution Hall will begin the day before the debate, on Monday, Nov. 21, and continue through the post-debate programming on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 22 to include anchors Wolf Blitzer, John King and Erin Burnett. CNN political analysts and contributors Paul Begala, Gloria Borger, Donna Brazile, David Frum, David Gergen, Ari Fleischer, and Dana Loesch will participate in coverage from the nation’s capital.

CNN en Español's Washington, D.C. anchor Juan Carlos López will host live analysis on that network before the debate starting at 7:45 p.m. (ET). At 8 p.m., CNN en Español will take the debate live with simultaneous interpretation followed by more analysis with CNN en Español's team of political contributors. The debate will also be carried live on CNN International.

CNN.com:
Online, users can visit CNN’s Election Center and CNNPolitics.com for all things political before, during and after the debate. On debate night, CNNPolitics.com will live stream the event. CNN will solicit questions and comments submitted in real-time from CNN.com, the CNN Politics fan page on Facebook and by using the #CNNDebate hashtag on Twitter. The Political Ticker will live-blog the debate and incorporate live comments generated from social networks directly on the Ticker.
CNNPolitics.com will also showcase commentary and analysis from CNN’s political contributors, and feature a post-debate camera live from the Spin Room. CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community, will be asking for submissions of reactions to the debate, some of which will be shown across CNN.com and broadcast on CNN.
PROGRAMMING:
The following programs will originate live from DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.:
All times Eastern

Monday, November 21
4 p.m. – 6 p.m. The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. John King, USA

Tuesday, November 22
4 p.m. – 6 p.m. The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. John King, USA
7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Erin Burnett OutFront
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. CNN NATIONAL SECURITY DEBATE
10 p.m. – 11 p.m. Anderson Cooper 360° (guest anchored by John King)
11 p.m. – 1 a.m. CNN NATIONAL SECURITY DEBATE (replay)

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Your Views on the News 11/19/11

2011-11-19T11:44:00.003-05:00

Another weekend another chance to complain in 'Your Views on the News'. Any chance anyone has something positive to say about CNN?

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 11/18/11

2011-11-18T12:42:00.002-05:00

SATURDAY, November 19, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin preview the oral arguments expected during next spring’s U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the Constitutionality of the individual mandate for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as “national healthcare reform”). Dr. Gupta also interviews rapper Joseph “Fat Joe” Cartagena, about how he lost over 85 pounds without surgery or supplements – and kicks off the 2012 CNN Fit Nation Challenge with a look back at what the 2011 participants achieved, and explaining how viewers can submit applications to be on the 2012 team.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Topic: Political/Debate Preview
Guest: Norm Ornstein, resident scholar, AEI
Guest: Danielle Pletka, vice president, foreign and defense policy, AEI
Guest: James Carafano, deputy director, The Heritage Foundation
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

BLACK IN AMERICA: THE NEW PROMISED LAND – SILICON VALLEY – Airs Saturday 8:00PM-9:00PM, 11:00PM, 2:00AM
While much of the country struggles to emerge from a recession, California’s Silicon Valley is booming, and technology companies like Facebook, Skype, and Apple are seeing their valuations soar. CNN’s Soledad O’Brien profiles a unique technology-focused “accelerator” – a collaborative of African-American start-up founders with Internet-based businesses developed to help diversify the technology sector. Eight participants – strangers – lived together for nine weeks in a modest, three-bedroom house in Mountain View, CA, were mentored, worked on their business proposals, and pitched for venture capital funding. Viewers see their journey, learn who secured funding to develop their Web-based companies – and who is still waiting.

SUNDAY, November 20, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin preview the oral arguments expected during next spring’s U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the Constitutionality of the individual mandate for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as “national healthcare reform”). Dr. Gupta also interviews rapper Joseph “Fat Joe” Cartagena, about how he lost over 85 pounds without surgery or supplements – and kicks off the 2012 CNN Fit Nation Challenge with a look back at what the 2011 participants achieved, and explaining how viewers can submit applications to be on the 2012 team.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topic: Super Committee Deadline
EXCLUSIVE GUEST: Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Co-Chair, Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
Topic: U.S. Foreign Policy; 2012; Her Book
Guest: Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs Sunday 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: Will Israel attack Iran? Does Israel have the capability to take out Iran’s nuclear program? Was Israel involved in the attack on an Iranian base last weekend? Does Israel believe the Obama administration is supportive enough of that country? What will happen in Syria? What does the resignation of chief White House adviser on Middle East policy Dennis Ross mean for the Middle East peace process?
Guest: Ehud Barak, Israeli Defense Minister, fmr. Prime Minister of Israel
Topics: The preeminent political prognosticator gives his take on the world-shaking events that have happened in 2011…and those that are likely to happen in coming years.
Guest: Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, PhD, professor of politics at New York University, author of The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics (2011)
Topics: Will or should the euro survive this financial crisis? Will Germany write the check it needs to in order to fix the euro crisis? Is austerity the right approach in Britain to turn its economy around? What lessons (if any) should the US take from Britain on austerity?
Guest: Bronwen Maddox, chief executive and editor of Prospect magazine
Guest: David Miliband, MP, British Parliament, former Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom (Labour Party).
Guest: Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator of the Financial Times
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON

Topics: Penn State Coverage; New Early Show; Chelsea Clinton to NBC News
Guest: Marisa Guthrie,The Hollywood Reporter
Guest: Eric Deggans, St. Petersburg Times
Guest: David Zurawik, The Baltimore Sun
Topics: Penn State Coverage
Guest: Sarah Ganim, Harrisburg Patriot-News
Topics: Cain’s Libya Gaffe; Gloria Cain Speaks Out; Gingrich’s Ties to Freddie Mac
Guest: Nia-Malika Henderson, The Washington Post
Guest: Robert Costa, National Journal
Guest: David Shuster, Current TV
Host: Howard Kurtz

THE NEXT LIST – Airs Sunday 2:00PM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews Christopher Brosius, perfumer and founder of CB I Hate Perfume. Brosius offers his take on style, the influence of Chanel, the NYC club scene in the 1980s, individual expression – and, the inspiration for his famously unique and sometimes irreverently non-traditional perfume compositions such as “Burning Leaves,” “In the Summer Kitchen,” “Gathering Apples,” and his custom scents.

GERRY-RIGGED: WHY YOUR VOTE FOR CONGRESS MIGHT NOT MATTER – Airs Sunday 8:00PM-9:00PM, 11:00PM, 2:00AM
In the last decade, almost 4 out of every 5 seats in Congress remained in the same party’s hands. The consequence is gridlock with little reason for compromise on either side as long as voters have no realistic say on who stays in office. CNN investigative correspondent Drew Griffin describes how political parties engage in “gerrymandering,” drawing odd-shaped districts – with voters from one party or the other, essentially designed to retain incumbents. Redistricting happens once a decade—this is the year. Will the system change? Probably not. Who loses? Voters.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings For the Week of November 7th-11th

2011-11-14T22:32:00.001-05:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 11/12/11

2011-11-11T20:15:00.002-05:00

SATURDAY, November 12, 2011

24/7 PACQUIAO / MARQUEZ – Part 3 airs Saturday 12:00AM – 12:30AM, 3:00AM; Part 4 airs 12:30AM – 1:00AM, 3:30AM
In the lead-up to the electric HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast on November 12 in Las Vegas when worldwide boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and his formidable challenger Juan Manuel Marquez collide in a welterweight title showdown, CNN will present all four episodes of 24/7 PACQUIAO/MARQUEZ, the all-access, behind-the-scenes pass that allows viewers to step into the lives of the fighters before they step into the ring. Pacquiao is an iconic figure in his native Philippines where he serves as the lone congressional representative for the Sarangani province, while Marquez is a celebrated personality in his hometown of Mexico City.

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
In honor of Veterans Day, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta visits Los Angeles where there are more than 8,000 homeless veterans. Dr. Gupta talks with a veteran who shares disappointment with the vacant government land donated to veterans for home establishment. Kyle Maynard, a congenital quadruple amputee has his sights set on Tanzania, Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro sending a message to all veterans that all is possible. Dr. Gupta visits Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and interviews Dr. Charles Limp, Otolaryngologist, on brain activity when improvising by examining a freestyle rapper and jazz musician placed into a functional MRI. Also, advice on what your local food banks consider the best donations.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
The ‘best of’ The Situation Room from the week of November 7.
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

A FAREED ZAKARIA GPS SPECIAL: RESTORING THE AMERICAN DREAM – FIXING EDUCATION – Airs Saturday 8:00PM – 9:00PM, 11:00PM and Sunday 2:00AM
American primary and secondary education were once envied by much of the world, but over the last few decades U.S. students have fallen behind – while students in other countries have benefitted from improvements to their educational systems. CNN and TIME magazine’s Fareed Zakaria interviews innovative and creative leaders working on solutions to fix what ails American education. Zakaria guides viewers through tours of what is working in education in countries with high rankings – to South Korea where students have more classroom time; and Finland, where professionalization of the teacher workforce has improved educators – in order to mine ideas for what could put U.S. education back on the right track. Featured in the special are: Microsoft founder and education philanthropist Bill Gates, founder of the online Khan Academy Salman Khan, NYU Professor, former Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education, and author (The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education, 2010) Diane Ravitch, and Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, who now leads StudentsFirst.

SUNDAY, November 13, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
In honor of Veterans Day, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta visits Los Angeles where there are more than 8,000 homeless veterans. Dr. Gupta talks with a veteran who shares disappointment with the vacant government land donated to veterans for home establishment. Kyle Maynard, a congenital quadruple amputee has his sights set on Tanzania, Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro sending a message to all veterans that all is possible. Dr. Gupta visits Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and interviews Dr. Charles Limp, Otolaryngologist, on brain activity when improvising by examining a freestyle rapper and jazz musician placed into a functional MRI. Also, advice on what your local food banks consider the best donations.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topic: Super Committee’s Approaching Deadline
Guest: Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), co-chair, Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
Topic: The Search for Compromise for the Super Committee
Guest: Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), "Gang of Six" member
Guest: Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Oklahoma, "Gang of Six" member
Topic: GOP Presidential Field
Guest: Reince Priebus, chairman, Republican National Committee
Topic: Bringing Jobs Back to Los Angeles
Guest: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, (D) Los Angeles
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs Sunday 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: Iran: To bomb, or not to bomb? Does the U.S. need to disable Iran’s nuclear facilities by military force – or, should the U.S. support Israel if Israel chooses to do it?
Guest: Bret Stephens, Global View columnist, The Wall Street Journal
Guest: Karim Sadjadpour, associate, Middle East Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Topic: The Economy: Just how bad is the Euro situation? Is it too late to fix it? What are the possible fixes?
Guest: Mohamed El-Erian, CEO & Co-CIO, PIMCO Investments, LLC.
Topics: Where did all the American jobs go? And how can we keep the ones that are still here?
Guest: Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan (D)
Topics: Why did the interim Prime Minister leave his post? How delicate is the situation in Libya? Will Islamists/Sharia fill the vacuum left by Gadhafi? Should Gadhafi have been killed?
Guest: Mahmoud Jabril, former Interim Prime Minister, Libya
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON

Topics: Cain Sexual Harassment Allegations
Guest: Lauren Ashburn, Newsweek/Daily Beast
Guest: Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune
Guest: Matt Lewis, The Daily Caller
Topics: Penn State Rape Scandal
Guest: Christine Brennan, USA Today
Guest: Buzz Bissinger, Newsweek/Daily Beast
Topics: Reporting on Sandusky
Guest: Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated
Host: Howard Kurtz

BLACK IN AMERICA: THE NEW PROMISED LAND – SILICON VALLEY – Airs Sunday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM
While much of the country struggles to emerge from a recession, California’s Silicon Valley is booming, and technology companies like Facebook, Skype, and Apple are seeing their valuations soar. CNN’s Soledad O’Brien profiles a unique technology-focused “accelerator” – a collaborative of African-American start-up founders with Internet-based businesses developed to help diversify the technology sector. Eight participants – strangers – lived together for nine weeks in a modest, three-bedroom house in Mountain View, CA, were mentored, worked on their business proposals, and pitched for venture capital funding. Viewers see their journey, learn who secured funding to develop their Web-based companies – and who is still waiting.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

The Next List with Dr. Sanjay Gupta

2011-11-11T10:14:00.002-05:00

New CNN Show The Next List with Dr. Sanjay Gupta Premieres November 13

Weekend Program to Spotlight Top Innovators Will Air Sundays at 2:00pm ET & PT on CNN/U.S.

CNN will launch a new weekly program The Next List with anchor and chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Sundays at 2:00-2:30p ET & PT beginning November 13. The program will feature profiles of exceptional individuals, who as agents of change are leading innovation, setting trends and making strides within various industries around the world. Each week, leading up to Sunday, vignettes from the program will air on CNN/U.S.

Dr. Gupta will introduce viewers to innovators from around the world who are on the cutting edge of change in their fields. We will hear from them, in their own words, about the challenges they faced and the innovative approaches they’ve developed to overcome obstacles. From science and education to sports and engineering, CNN will tell these thoughtful stories of unique game-changers across CNN platforms. The Next List will feature commentary on CNN.com/TheNextList from those profiled on the show, as well as the very latest on innovation and innovators from around the world.

Said Dr. Gupta, “All over the world, there are innovators who have worked in relative obscurity, quietly changing the world in unimaginable ways. As a global reporter, I have had the chance to see them at work, and I can’t wait to introduce them to viewers on The Next List.”

Dr. Gupta is the multiple Emmy®-award award winning chief medical correspondent for CNN. Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon, plays an integral role in CNN’s reporting on health and medical news for American Morning, Anderson Cooper 360°, CNN documentaries, and anchors the weekend medical affairs program Sanjay Gupta, MD. Gupta also contributes to CNN.com and CNNHealth.com. His medical training and public health policy experience distinguish his reporting on a range of medical and scientific topics including brain injury, disaster recovery, health care reform, fitness, military medicine, HIV/AIDS, and other areas.

Award winning producer CNN’s Jim McGinnis will executive produce of The Next List. Most recently he was the executive producer of American Morning and was the executive producer of Lou Dobbs Tonight from July 2004 until November 2009. Prior to that, he was a supervising producer with the show for three years. McGinnis began his career at CNN in January 1989.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Salute to Troops: Stories of Courage

2011-11-11T06:22:00.000-05:00

“SALUTE TO TROOPS: STORIES OF COURAGE” ANCHORED BY ROBIN MEADE, PREMIERES FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 @7PM, ET ON HLN
MEADE EXPLORES SACRIFICES AND TRIUMPHS OF AMERICA’S
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WAR VETERANS

As the U.S. looks to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, HLN pays special tribute to those who served by reporting their stories of strength and sacrifice, in SALUTE TO TROOPS: STORIES OF COURAGE,” an HLN Veterans Day special anchored by Robin Meade, and premiering Fri, Nov 11, 7:00-8:00 p.m., ET.
Meade, host of HLN’s “Morning Express with Robin Meade” travels across the U.S. to locations that include Jacksonville FL, West Point, NY, Warner Robins, GA. and Norfolk, VA., to meet with veterans and their families whose triumphs over adversity can prove inspirational to all Americans.
Following its premiere on Veterans Day, the special will repeat on Sat, Nov 12 at 7 p.m., ET and Sun, Nov13 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., ET on HLN.

Featured subjects include:
• Captain Scotty Smiley: Meade reports from West Point, NY and interviews this renowned soldier who was blinded and partially paralyzed after an IED attack while serving in Iraq. She talks to Captain Smiley about returning to the military and how he found the strength to create a new life for himself and his young family.
• Blue Star Moms: Meade interviews members of this organization that was formed by mothers whose sons and daughters were already serving in the military when the US was attacked on Sep 11, 2001. The group provides servicemen and servicewomen with a little slice of home through care packages.
• Wounded Warriors: Meade meets with Dan Nevins and Bryan Wagner who share their stories of the battlefield, rehab and achievements since joining the Wounded Warrior Project, which empowers and encourages wounded heroes as they re-adjust to civilian life.
• Ride 2 Recovery: Meade rides along with returning soldiers, their families and friends on this bike ride designed to benefit injured veterans.
• Inside a Navy Destroyer: Meade travels to Jacksonville, Florida to offer an insider’s look into life at sea on the Navy Destroyer USS Farragut and interviews its commander.
• Family Reunion: Meade surprises two new mothers with an unexpected studio visit from their husbands who are just back from Afghanistan. One month later, Robin revisits the families in their homes to see how they are faring.
• Mr. Moms: Meade meets two active duty sailors who each have to fill in as “mom” while their wives are deployed overseas.
• USS Sullivans- Meade sees firsthand the heartbreak as families say goodbye to their loved ones. She talks to a mom and her three children as they watch their dad’s ship depart. She also speaks to a new bride as her husband ships out.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN Announces Foreign Policy-Focused GOP Debate

2011-11-10T12:39:00.000-05:00

CNN Announces First National Security, Foreign Policy-Focused GOP Debate

CNN, in partnership with The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute, will host a Republican presidential debate on Tuesday, November 15 at 8 p.m. ET. Candidates will have an opportunity to weigh in on two of the most critical subjects they will face during their bid for the Republican presidential nomination: national security and foreign policy.
The national security debate, which will take place in Washington, D.C., will air nationally on CNN, CNN en Español, and worldwide on CNN International, CNN Radio and CNN.com.

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Sherling Joins CNN as Director of Washington Programming

2011-11-09T11:16:00.003-05:00

Sherling Joins CNN as Director of Washington Programming

Eric Sherling has been named director of Washington programming, it was announced today by Sam Feist, CNN Washington bureau chief and senior vice president. Sherling rejoins CNN after serving as executive broadcast producer of Good Morning America at ABC News.

In this role, he will oversee Washington political programming to include, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, John King, USA, State of the Union with Candy Crowley and Reliable Sources. Sherling also will play a lead role in CNN’s special campaign coverage to include debates, primary nights, and Election night programming.

“We are delighted to welcome Eric back to Washington and to the CNN family,” said Feist. “His experience speaks for itself. He’ll be an invaluable asset as the network heads into the 2012 election cycle.”

Sherling first joined CNN in 2000 as a producer in the network’s Atlanta headquarters and rose to become executive producer of Wolf Blitzer Reports in Washington. He served as supervising producer of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer when it launched in August 2005, later becoming executive producer of that program. Sherling began his career in television news as a producer at WTVQ in Lexington, Ky. and WFLA-TV in Tampa, Fla. Sherling earned his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Ithaca College and graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings for the Week of October 31 to November 4th

2011-11-07T19:49:00.002-05:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Special Programming CNN at 11 PM Tonight

2011-11-07T17:35:00.003-05:00

Michael Jackson: The Final Days

CNN brings you a special investigation into the final days and hours of the legendary singer's life and death, plus heart-wrenching testimony from the last people to see him alive, as well as compelling moments from the trial. Michael Jackson: The Final Days airing on CNN tonight 11 p.m. ET/PT.
***Please note this is a one hour program.

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Your Views on the News 11/5/11

2011-11-05T12:44:00.003-04:00

Some changes to CNN's morning line up were announced this week. While we don't have all the details yet reaction seems to be positive. Fill us in on how you would tweak programming or anything else on your mind.

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This Weekend's Programming 11/5/11

2011-11-04T17:19:00.002-04:00

SATURDAY, November 5, 2011

24/7 PACQUIAO / MARQUEZ – Part 2 Airs Saturday 12:00AM – 12:30AM, 3:00AM; Part 3 Airs Saturday 12:30AM, 3:30AM
In the lead-up to the electric HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast on November 12 in Las Vegas when worldwide boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and his formidable challenger Juan Manuel Marquez collide in a welterweight title showdown, CNN will present all four episodes of 24/7 PACQUIAO/MARQUEZ, the all-access, behind-the-scenes pass that allows viewers to step into the lives of the fighters before they step into the ring. Pacquiao is an iconic figure in his native Philippines where he serves as the lone congressional representative for the Sarangani province, while Marquez is a celebrated personality in his hometown of Mexico City.

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews an ovarian cancer patient who goes without needed medicine due to the nationwide drug shortage. Following the Supreme Court hearing on the reliability of eyewitness identification, Dr. Gupta interviews an expert in the accuracy of memory and perception. Also, author Dr. Andrew Weil, reveals his struggles with clinical depression described in his forthcoming book, Spontaneous Happiness (2011). Also, Amit Gupta, 31-year old web-entrepreneur, was recently diagnosed with acute leukemia and has launched a drive for bone marrow donations that has received immense response, and college student, Ashley Smith, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, gives back by sharing how to handle individuals with her condition with low-income families through her non-profit, Embracing My Mind.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Topics: Foreign Policy
Guest: Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

CNN PRESENTS – Airs Saturday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM (and Sunday 2:00AM)
CNN’s Soledad O’Brien and Dr. Sanjay Gupta host a news magazine that includes reports from Kaj Larsen on how shark hunts are depleting the global population – and the impact of the crash of the species on the larger food chain; Amber Lyon reports on the pollution caused by the use of plastic bags and one man’s fight against the industry to reduce their use; and Dr. Gupta reports on the challenges faced by returning veterans seeking healthcare.

SUNDAY, November 6, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews an ovarian cancer patient who goes without needed medicine due to the nationwide drug shortage. Following the Supreme Court hearing on the reliability of eyewitness identification, Dr. Gupta interviews an expert in the accuracy of memory and perception. Also, author Dr. Andrew Weil, reveals his struggles with clinical depression described in his forthcoming book, Spontaneous Happiness (2011). Also, Amit Gupta, 31-year old web-entrepreneur, was recently diagnosed with acute leukemia and has launched a drive for bone marrow donations that has received immense response, and college student, Ashley Smith, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, gives back by sharing how to handle individuals with her condition with low-income families through her non-profit, Embracing My Mind.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topics: Obama’s State Strategy for 2012; Democratic Support; Economy
Guest: Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), chair, Democratic Governors Association
Topics: Lobbyists Pressuring the Supercommittee
Guest: Marty Durbin, American Petroleum Institute
Guest: Sean Kennedy, Air Transport Association
Guest: David Certner, AARP
Topics: Herman Cain’s Campaign Controversy; Primary Strategy
Guest: Tom Davis, former U.S. Congressman
Guest: Anita Dunn, former White House Communications Director
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs Sunday 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: Are nuclear stockpiles being hidden from the world by Pakistan? Is Pakistan moving nuclear weapons around the country in unsecured vans? Are terrorists in Pakistan trying to get access to the nations’ nuclear stockpile?
Guest: Jeffrey Goldberg, national correspondent, The Atlantic; columnist, Bloomberg View
Topics: Are nuclear stockpiles being hidden from the world by Pakistan? Is Pakistan moving nuclear weapons around the country in unsecured vans? Are terrorists in Pakistan trying to get access to the nations’ nuclear stockpile? What will happen to the region once the U.S. draws down from Afghanistan?
Guest: Gen. Pervez Musharraf (Ret.), former President of Pakistan
Topics: What lessons has the world’s biggest education benefactor learned about reforming education? What works and what doesn’t?
Guest: Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corporation; co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Topics: How bad is America’s educational system compared to the rest of the world? What’s the problem? How can it be fixed?
Guest: Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topics: Herman Cain Scandal Coverage
Guest: Jonathan Martin, POLITICO
Guest: Kathleen Parker, columnist, The Washington Post
Guest: Keli Goff, Loop21.com
Topics: Debut of NBC’s Rock Center
Guest: Adam Buckman, television columnist and weekend editor, TVHowl.com
Guest: Gail Shister, columnist, TVNewser.com; professor, University of Pennsylvania
Topics: New Book: “My Long Trip Home”
Guest: Mark Whitaker, executive vice president and managing editor of CNN Worldwide
Host: Howard Kurtz

A FAREED ZAKARIA GPS SPECIAL: RESTORING THE AMERICAN DREAM – FIXING EDUCATION – Airs Sunday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM
American primary and secondary education were once envied by much of the world, but over the last few decades U.S. students have fallen behind – while students in other countries have benefitted from improvements to their educational systems. CNN and TIME magazine’s Fareed Zakaria interviews innovative and creative leaders working on solutions to fix what ails American education. Zakaria guides viewers through tours of what is working in education in countries with high rankings – to South Korea where students have more classroom time; and Finland, where professionalization of the teacher workforce has improved educators – in order to mine ideas for what could put U.S. education back on the right track. Featured in the special are: Microsoft founder and education philanthropist Bill Gates, founder of the online Khan Academy Salman Khan, NYU Professor, former Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education, and author (The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education, 2010) Diane Ravitch, and Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, who now leads StudentsFirst.

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Soledad O’Brien Returns to Mornings with New Show, New Direction

2011-11-03T11:31:00.003-04:00

Soledad O’Brien Returns to Mornings with New Show, New Direction

Ashleigh Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin Co-Anchor 5-7am; Soledad O’Brien Anchors 7-9am

CNN will launch a new format of news and conversation in the morning, including a 7-9am ET show anchored by award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien in 2012.
O’Brien will anchor a new conversational ensemble program that explores top issues of the day while opening the conversation to people from all walks of life. O’Brien will continue to be a special correspondent for long-form documentaries at CNN.
“I couldn’t be more eager to return to daily news, to bring conversation and context to CNN viewers in the morning. I welcome the opportunity to give voice to people who aren’t often heard, and stories that are sometimes overlooked,” says O’Brien. “I love telling people’s stories, and I’m looking forward to bringing the perspective, heart and storytelling that have worked well in our documentaries to a morning audience”
“CNN has the opportunity in the morning to cover a wider range of stories from broader perspectives,” says Executive Vice President of CNN Ken Jautz. “We are planning to offer something original in the four-hour morning block to complement our direction in primetime.”
"This is an exciting time to be relaunching our morning show, with the morning television audience more up for grabs than it has been in years," says Executive Vice President and Managing Editor of CNN Mark Whitaker, who will oversee development of the new program. "With CNN's global reach and this unique cast of superb journalists as anchors, we have the opportunity to do something truly fresh and different."
Ashleigh Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin will anchor from 5-7am ET, kicking off the new CNN morning block with a new program covering a broad spectrum of the day’s news from two highly personable and passionate journalists.

Shannon High will join CNN later this month and will be executive producer of both programs. Most recently, High was the executive producer of development for NBC Peacock Productions, and before that served as MSNBC’s vice president of daytime program development, and vice president and managing editor. At MSNBC she developed The Dylan Ratigan Show and oversaw Morning Joe and daytime news. An award-winning producer, High has worked in local news in Miami, Houston and Charlotte as a manager and producer.
“I've dreamed of joining CNN for more than 20 years. It’s the gold standard of news -- the brand, the people and the product. I am excited to be stepping back into a daily anchor role with such a prestigious team, and I can't wait to get started!" says Banfield.
Sambolin adds, “I am completely thrilled to be coming to CNN. Ashleigh is an accomplished journalist with an incredible wit and dynamic personality. I look forward to collaborating with her and working together to inform, enlighten and build a strong relationship with our viewers.”
Since joining the network in 2003, O’Brien has reported breaking news from around the globe—including the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, hurricane Katrina, and the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. In addition, she has produced award-winning documentaries, including the acclaimed Black in America, Latino in America and Muslim in America. Earlier this year she was part of a CNN team that won an Emmy Award for their reporting of the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. O’Brien came to CNN from NBC, where she anchored the network’s Weekend Today show from 1999-2003. She was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists in 2010. That same year she launched a personal foundation with her husband, the Soledad O’Brien and Brad Raymond Foundation to send underprivileged youth to and through college.
Banfield has covered national and international stories including live reports from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, England, Israel (West Bank and Gaza), Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Most recently, she was a correspondent for ABC News, reporting for Good Morning America, 20/20 and Nightline. Prior to ABC, Banfield anchored and hosted three programs on TruTV (formerly Court TV); Banfield and Ford: Courtside, Hollywood Heat and Disorder in the Court. As a correspondent for NBC News from 2000-2004, Banfield reported for The Today Show, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw and Dateline. She received Emmy Award recognition for her groundbreaking 9/11 coverage from Ground Zero in New York City.
Sambolin was the Weekday Edition co-anchor of NBC5 News Today in Chicago and special assignment reporter and fill-in news anchor for Telemundo Chicago. She also served as host of Un Buen Doctor, a weekly Spanish language medical series airing on cable stations worldwide. Before joining NBC5, Sambolin was the creator and Emmy award-winning host and executive producer of Small Talk for Parents on WYCC-TV and Nuestros Ninos on WSNS-TV from 1999 to 2002.

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Ali Velshi Takes New Roles Across CNN Worldwide

2011-11-03T11:27:00.003-04:00

Ali Velshi Takes New Roles Across CNN Worldwide

Velshi to Launch Signature Segments on CNN/U.S. and Anchor CNN International's ‘World Business Today’

CNN Chief Business Correspondent Ali Velshi is adding new roles across CNN Worldwide. Beginning next month, Velshi will provide business reporting and analysis for CNN’s domestic channel, launching signature segments that will interpret and explain a top story of the day. In addition, in 2012, he becomes an anchor of CNN International’s World Business Today, a daily global business news program. Velshi also continues as host of Your Money on weekends on CNN/U.S.
In Velshi's new role for CNN/U.S., he will take a look at one of the top economic, global or political stories of the day and deconstruct and translate it for viewers. Drawing upon Ali’s global business news experience, this segment is geared towards breaking down for audiences some of the most complex issues of our time.
Velshi is anchoring one-hour of CNN International’s World Business Today, which is broadcast live to over 200 countries across the world.
“Ali’s global business expertise is an asset that we want to showcase more broadly across a range of CNN programs," said Ken Jautz, Executive Vice President, CNN/U.S. "He will help viewers understand and decode some of the most complex and important stories of the day, particularly economic and global issues.”
CNN International Executive Vice President and Managing Director Tony Maddox added, “With new economic superpowers emerging across different continents, Ali brings the right mix of curiosity and business news experience to play a prominent role in reporting these crucial stories to CNN Worldwide’s global audience.”

Trusted for his hallmark explanations of complicated issues during the financial crisis and during times of political and economic uncertainty, Velshi will expand his now familiar role as a decoder of political and economic issues and fact-checking across CNN’s U.S. and International programming. He has reported extensively on the global financial meltdown since 2008; the financial collapses of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG and Lehman Brothers; the U.S. government’s bailout plan; the battle over the fate of the American big three automakers; and the U.S. debt ceiling and budget debate.
“I’m looking forward to the daily intellectual exercise of taking the most important and intricate issues, breaking them down and providing the context necessary to help the CNN viewer make the smartest decisions they can,” said Velshi.
Velshi’s in-depth reporting for CNN’s “How The Wheels Came Off” was honored with a National Headliner Award for Business & Consumer Reporting in 2010. He anchored CNN’s breaking news coverage of the attempted terror attack on a flight into Detroit, delivering CNN’s worldwide newsgathering for which the network was nominated for a 2010 Emmy. Velshi is the co-author of “How To Speak Money,” which releases on November 8, 2011; and author of “Gimme My Money Back,” which released in January 2009.

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CNN's October Numbers

2011-11-01T17:33:00.003-04:00

Our ratings blogger is out of commission because of last weekend's snow storm. We hope they'll be back with ATC's weekly ratings post next week. Here's the latest press release from CNN on October's numbers:

WHILE CNN GROWS; MSNBC IS DOWN -25% AND FNC IS OFF -28% IN PRIMETIME

CNN OUTPERFORMS MSNBC AT 8 AND 10 PM

October Highlights:
• While CNN grows in primetime vs. a year ago, MSNBC and FNC primetime programming have double-digit losses.
• At 8p and 10p, AC 360 tops MSNBC in the key demo 25-54 and grows vs. a year ago; while MSNBC and FNC experience double-digit declines.
• Piers Morgan Tonight is the only 9pm program to grow among 25-54, while MSNBC and FNC are down double-digits.
• Erin Burnett OutFront at 7p grows from CNN programming a year ago.

Despite the cable news network’s significant ratings bump due to heightened viewership from the rescue of the Chilean miners last October, CNN showed growth in key day parts and primetime programming while MSNBC and FNC declined vs. a year ago.

In M-F prime (8-11p), CNN topped MSNBC in the key demo (233k vs. 197k) and was up +25% vs. a year ago. MSNBC was down -25% and FNC was off -28% among 25-54. (Omitting CNN’s Republican debate on October 18, CNN averaged 197k in the key demo, tying MSNBC. Without the Republican debate, CNN also still grew vs. a year ago – increasing +5% among 25-54.)

CNN outperformed MSNBC in total day (6a-6a) among total viewers (409k vs. 402k) during October. In addition, CNN grew +5% in the key demo (128k vs. 122k), MSNBC was down -10% (129k vs. 143k) and FNC lost -15% of its audience (253k vs. 299k) compared to a year ago.

CNN also topped MSNBC during dayside programming (M-F 9a-5p) in total viewers (519k vs. 344k) and in the demo 25-54 (139k vs. 85k). Compared to a year ago, CNN increased +5% in the key demo 25-54; MSNBC was up +5% and FNC was down -16%.

Show Highlights:
• 8p, ET: Anderson Cooper 360 topped MSNBC in the demo (178k vs. 175k) for the third consecutive month. The CNN program was the only program at 8 pm to show growth vs. a year ago– increasing +21% (178k vs. 147k), while MSNBC was down a staggering -36% (175k vs. 272k) and FNC dropped -28%.

• 9p, ET: Piers Morgan Tonight is also the only show at 9 pm to gain demo viewers compared to last year – increasing +4% (176k vs. 170k) , while MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show is down -21% (217k vs. 276k) and FNC declined -24% (457k vs. 598k).

• 10p, ET: Anderson Cooper 360 continued to top MSNBC in the demo (234k vs. 188k). October represents the 6th straight month that AC 360 topped MSNBC at 10p in the key demo 25-54. Despite heightened viewership a year ago, AC 360 grew +2% (234k vs. 229k), MSNBC is down -22% (188k v. 241k) and FNC lost one quarter of its audience, declining -25% (376k vs. 503k).

• 7p, ET: Launch-to-date (October 3-28) Erin Burnett OutFront has also seen growth compared to CNN programming a year ago, increasing +8% in the key demo (146k vs. 135k) and growing +7% in total viewers (490k vs. 458k). MSNBC is down -3% among 25-54 vs. a year ago (177k vs. 183k) and FNC is off -16% (379k vs. 449k).

• 4p, ET: Launch-to-date (October 3-28) The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (new time slot) topped MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan in both total viewers (674k vs. 401k) and among 25-54 (175k vs. 92k). The Sit Room also grew compared to programming a year ago, increasing +26% in the key demo (175k vs. 139k) while MSNBC is down -5% (92k vs. 97k) and FNC is off -15% (235k vs. 278k).

Reach:

CNN reached a cumulative audience of 95.2 million viewers in October, FNC followed with 78.5 million, while MSNBC was third with 77.7 million.

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Your Views on the News 10/29/11

2011-10-29T10:40:00.002-04:00

As usual this is the open forum where you tell us, and CNN, the good, the bad and the ugly. We'd like to pose a question this week, who is your favorite CNN anchor and why?

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This Weekend's Programming 10/29/11

2011-10-28T16:02:00.001-04:00

SATURDAY, October 29, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews Dean and EVP of Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice about Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the relationship of breast cancer and family history. Dr. Gupta also talks to the managing editor of CNN.com’s Eatocracy blog, Kat Kinsman, about what Halloween candy is okay for a treat – and which should not be eaten, even on October 31st.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Topic: Election 2012
Guest: Jon Huntsman, former Utah Governor; presidential candidate
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

CNN PRESENTS –Saturday 8:00PM-9:00PM, 11:00PM – 12:00AM, 2:00AM – 3:00AM
CNN’s Sanjay Gupta and Soledad O’Brien host a news magazine program that includes reports from Amber Lyon on women’s professional mixed martial arts fighters, and an investigation from Drew Griffin on the shocking investigation of the horrific beating and murder of African-American James Craig Anderson, who was run over multiple times by an F-250 pickup and left for dead by a violent group of young, white men known as the “Brandon Boys” in Mississippi. The U.S. Department of Justice could potentially classify this case as a federal hate crime against driver Deryl Dedmon, however, some Rankin County citizens are indifferent to suggestions that Dedmon committed a hate crime. Griffin interviews District Attorney Robert Smith, Assistant Police Chief, Anderson’s sister Barbara Anderson Young, Pastor Richardson, Hayden Coven, Ken Johnston and others.

SUNDAY, October 30, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews Dean and EVP of Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice about Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the relationship of breast cancer and family history. Dr. Gupta also talks to the managing editor of CNN.com’s Eatocracy blog, Kat Kinsman, about what Halloween candy is okay for a treat – and which should not be eaten, even on October 31st.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topics: Economy; 2012 Campaign
Guests: David Axelrod, senior strategist, Obama Re-election Campaign
Topics: 2012 Campaign; President Obama and GOP Rivals
Guests: Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) presidential candidate
Topics: GOP Presidential Primaries: Iowa and Florida
Guest: O. Kay Henderson, news director, Radio Iowa
Guest: Adam Smith, political editor, St. Petersburg Times
Guest: Gina Smith, reporter, The State
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs Sunday 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: Has the euro been saved? Will the agreement reached by European leaders to bail out Greece lift the global economy? Is Occupy Wall Street targeting the right people? Are “the 1%” criminals?
Guest: Niall Ferguson, PhD, professor, Harvard University School of Business; Newsweek columnist
Guest: Jeffrey Sachs, PhD, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University
Topics: How does the man who pushed President Sarkozy to urge NATO intervention in Libya feel about that country’s revolution now? Was the death of Gadhafi justified? Will Libya become an Islamic nation, under Sharia law?
Guest: Bernard-Henri Lévy, French philosopher, author Public Enemies
Topics: What lessons from big money baseball can be applied to life and business?
Guest: Michael Lewis, author (Boomerang, 2011; The Blind Side, 2006; Moneyball, 2003), financial journalist, former investment banker
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topics: Perry on Birther Questions; Herman Cain vs. Karl Rove
Guest: Jennifer Rubin, columnist, The Washington Post
Guest: Roger Simon, chief political columnist, POLITICO
Guest: John Aravosis, liberal political blogger, AMERICAblog.com
Topics: ‘Gotcha!’ Journalism: Mattera, O’Keefe
Guest: Glynnis MacNichol, editor of Business Insider's media page "The Wire"
Guest: Paul Farhi, media reporter for Washington Post
Topics: Importance of Being Public
Guest: Jeff Jarvis, author, “Public Parts”; founder, BuzzMachine.com
Host: Howard Kurtz

CNN PRESENTS – Sunday 8:00PM-9:00PM, 11:00PM – 12:00AM, 2:00AM – 3:00AM
CNN’s Soledad O’Brien and Dr. Sanjay Gupta host a news magazine that includes reports from Kaj Larsen on how shark hunts are depleting the global population; Amber Lyon reports on the pollution caused by the use of plastic bags and one man’s fight against the industry to reduce their use; and Dr. Gupta reports on the challenges faced by returning veterans seeking healthcare.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings for the Week of October 17th - 21st

2011-10-24T22:05:00.002-04:00

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightlyratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbersreflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

The New American Morning?

2011-10-24T10:39:00.003-04:00

Like former Chicago WMAQ-Channel 5 news anchors Robin Meade and Don Lemon, Zoraida Sambolin is headed to CNN. Sambolin, anchor of NBC 5 News Today, is leaving the NBC-owned station after nine years to join CNN in New York. Sources at the network said she’s been hired as one of the anchor replacements for American Morning. Rumor has it that AM will be shorten from it's current 4 hours to 2 two hour blocks. Past host Soledad O’Brien (who previously co-hosted American Morning from 2003 to 2007) and ABC’s Ashleigh Banfield also have been mentioned as anchors of the new shows.

*Source: TimeOut Chicago
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Your Views on the News 10/22/11

2011-10-22T01:06:00.000-04:00

Debate, Gadhafi or opinions on cable news in general, if you have something to say here's the place.

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This Weekend's Programming 10/21/11

2011-10-21T13:02:00.003-04:00

SATURDAY, October 22, 2011

24/7 PACQUIAO / MARQUEZ 3 – Airs Saturday 12:00AM – 1:00AM
In the lead-up to the electric HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast on November 12 in Las Vegas when worldwide boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and his formidable challenger Juan Manuel Marquez collide in a welterweight title showdown, CNN will present all four episodes of 24/7 PACQUIAO/MARQUEZ, the all-access, behind-the-scenes pass that allows viewers to step into the lives of the fighters before they step into the ring. Pacquiao is an iconic figure in his native Philippines where he serves as the lone congressional representative for the Sarangani province, while Marquez is a celebrated personality in his hometown of Mexico City.

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
After attending international HIV conferences held in the U.S., Iranian brothers Dr. Arash and Kamiar Alaei were both imprisoned for allegedly trying to overthrow the Iranian government. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews the siblings. Dr. Gupta also interviews GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain’s oncologist about how Mr. Cain survived stage 4 colon cancer. Dr. Gupta also takes a look at the history of the school lunch program – and makes a return visit to his own elementary school, Buchanan Elementary in Livonia, MI.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Topic: Libya; Death of Gadhafi
Guest: Fouad Ajami, Middle East expert; senior fellow at the Hoover Institution
Topic: 2012 Politics
Guest: Herman Cain, businessman; GOP presidential candidate
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

CNN PRESENTS: LARRY KING SPECIAL – JOHNNY DEPP – Airs Saturday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM and Sunday 2:00AM
CNN’s Larry King scores a rare interview with versatile, reclusive Golden Globe-winning actor Johnny Depp about his life and career, and collaborating with journalist and screenwriter Hunter S. Thompson for his forthcoming film The Rum Diary.

SUNDAY, October 23, 2011

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday & Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
After attending international HIV conferences held in the U.S., Iranian brothers Dr. Arash and Kamiar Alaei were both imprisoned for allegedly trying to overthrow the Iranian government. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews the siblings. Dr. Gupta also interviews GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain’s oncologist about how Mr. Cain survived stage 4 colon cancer. Dr. Gupta also takes a look at the history of the school lunch program – and makes a return visit to his own elementary school, Buchanan Elementary in Livonia, MI.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM
Topics: U.S. Troops Out of Iraq; Death of Gadhafi
Guest: Secretary Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State
Topics: Death of Gadhafi; Obama 2012 Campaign; Economy
EXCLUSIVE Guest: Vice President Joe Biden
Topics: Republicans’ Jobs Plan; Death of Gadhafi; Reaction to VP Biden
EXCLUSIVE Guest: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Leader
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs Sunday 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: Death of Gadhafi; Alleged Iranian Assassination Plot against the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S.; Release of American Hikers; Iranian Democracy Movements
Guest: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
*** This exclusive interview will air live in a special broadcast on CNN International on Friday, Oct. 21 at 10:30pm ET on CNN International. The full interview will air inside FAREED ZAKARIA GPS on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 10:00am ET on CNN/U.S.***
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON
Topics: Role of the Moderator in Debates; Covering the 2012 Elections
Guest: Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchor, PBS NewsHour
Host: Howard Kurtz

CNN PRESENTS – Airs Sunday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM
CNN’s Sanjay Gupta and Soledad O’Brien host a news magazine program that includes reports from Amber Lyon on women amateur mixed martial arts fighters, and an investigation from Drew Griffin on the shocking investigation of the horrific beating and murder of African-American James Craig Anderson, who was run over multiple times by an F-250 pickup and left for dead by a violent group of young, white men known as the “Brandon Boys” in Mississippi. The U.S. Department of Justice could potentially classify this case as a federal hate crime against driver Deryl Dedmon, however, some Rankin County citizens are indifferent to suggestions that Dedmon this is a hate crime. Griffin interviews District Attorney Robert Smith, Assistant Police Chief, Anderson’s sister Barbara Anderson Young, Pastor Richardson, Hayden Coven, Ken Johnston and others.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.