CNN This Morning anchor Kaitlan Collins signed off from the show for the final time Thursday as she begins preparations to move to the network’s primetime lineup.
Collins will begin hosting the 9:00 PM ET program for CNN as it looks to regain its footing from a yearslong slide in the ratings. Recently, the network has seen some programs, including Anderson Cooper’s 8:00 PM ET show, defeated in the ratings by upstart Newsmax.
As she shared her final moments on the program with co-anchor Poppy Harlow, Collins shared her appreciation for the relationship she had built with her co-host.
“The gift of this show, for me, has been you. Thanks for the laughs, the fun, the many Starbucks orders, mostly the friendship,” Harlow said to Collins.
CNN This Morning debuted last fall as a three-person program with Collins, Harlow, and the now departed Don Lemon. Lemon and Collins reportedly clashed behind the scenes during a November episode that saw Collins leave the program early. The morning show has failed to gain much traction with viewers thus far, sitting at or below the network’s previous iteration — New Day — in average audience.
Collins is slated to begin her new primetime program in June. It is yet to be titled and a firm debut date has not been announced.
In the meantime, CNN will pair Harlow with a rotating panel of guest co-hosts before settling on a replacement for Collins.
