CNN has seen its share of ups, downs, controversies, and internal strife since CEO Chris Licht joined the fray. He got a vote of confidence from Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
According to a report from The New York Post, Zaslav held an internal conference call with CNN’s managers Tuesday, totaling nearly 600 members, and admitted that while times have been challenging, Licht has his support.
“There’s not a playbook for Chris’ job. He’s gotten a lot wrong. We’ve gotten a lot wrong. That’s how it works,” Zaslav is reported to have said. “We’re all flawed. We are trying to figure out what is best for CNN.
“I love CNN, Chris loves CNN. We’re going to get it right, it’s going to take a while,” Zaslav continued. “We’re making great progress. This is not easy. But we’re up for the fight — maybe it’s a year, maybe it’s three years, maybe it’s five years,”
The support of Licht comes after a Page Six report claims many inside the cable network believe Licht will be pushed out by Labor Day of this year, with other CNN staffers saying Zaslav will hold onto the CEO to avoid admitting a mistake was made in hiring the former The Late Show, Morning Joe, and CBS This Morning executive producer.
“He hates the job and can’t do it,” one CNN employee said of Licht.
