Warner Bros. Discovery chairman David Zaslav said advertisers are interested in returning to CNN because “They don’t want to be part of an advocacy network” during an appearance at the MoffettNathanson Technology, Media and Telecom Conference. Keith Olbermann took issue with the phrasing used by Zaslav.
In addition to his “advocacy network” comments, Zaslav touted that there were 75 Republicans on CNN earlier this year, with 41 of them choosing to appear there before going on Fox News because “they are not going to get one more vote on Fox”.
Zaslav “doubled down on his metaphorical suicide pact with Chris Licht…(Zaslav) blissfully announced advertisers are interested in CNN again,” explained Olbermann on his podcast Friday. “‘They don’t want to be part of an advocacy network’, while in the same breath, was promoting CNN as an advocacy network for Republicans for their hopes of getting re-elected.”
Olbermann then argued that Zaslav’s statements about trust being restored in CNN are misleading, noting that Fox News, MSNBC, and NBC News are all more trusted by the general public, and had higher increases in their trust level. He added that the network’s strategy under CEO Chris Licht, who he has often been critical of, showcases the ineptitude of those running the company.
“Destroy your primetime to build up your mornings, and then destroy your mornings to build up your primetime. End the career of your signature anchor, Anderson Cooper, and end it so quickly that he’s being beaten in the ratings two nights running by Eric freaking Bolling on Newsmax,” Olbermann concluded.
