Katie Couric May Replace Piers Morgan On CNN [Report]
Is Piers Morgan Live dead?
Katie Couric reportedly may take over the CNN 9 pm Eastern show from ratings-challenged Piers Morgan, who was the network’s replacement for Larry King.
As we previously reported, in August 2013 Piers Morgan Live attracted a measly 87,000 viewers in its key 25-54 demographic. With his ongoing poor ratings, there’s no way he will be competitive on cable news once Megyn Kelly’s show The Kelly File officially launches on the Fox News Channel in the same time slot.
The TV news insider website FTVLive claims that CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker would like Couric to replace Morgan when Morgan’s contract expires at the end of this year. But Zucker is apparently casting a wider net beyond Couric.
This may be more than just a rumor; it should be noted that FTVLive first reported that NBC would abandon the Hillary Clinton miniseries, and that turned out to be true.
According to the website, “Sources tell FTVLive that CNN Boss Jeff Zucker is ‘actively looking for a replacement for Piers Morgan.’ Morgan signed a one year extension to his contract and as time winds down, Zucker is looking for someone to takeover his time slot.Word is that Zucker really wants Katie Couric in that slot. Couric should be available soon as many expect this is the last year her talk show Katie will be on the air.”
Zucker is also considering other candidates in addition to Katie Couric. In the meantime, Morgan — a British journalist whose other claims to fame on this side of the Atlantic include being a judge on America’s Got Talent and winning The Celebrity Apprentice — may stay on at CNN but in a far different role. “Morgan, his agent and CNN have been working on his new role or his exit strategy from the network.”
According to the Washington Times, Morgan — who has burned up a lot of airtime with an obsession with gun control — has been on thin ice for some time. “In December 2012, when Mr. Zucker was on the cusp of taking over CNN Worldwide as president, the network was reportedly in talks to move Mr. [Morgan’s] show away from the prime 9 p.m. slot — to 10 p.m. or even later, to bolster flagging ratings.”
Morgan has also been recently engaged in a Twitter feud with Jon Stewart of Comedy Central.
[Image via RoidRanger / Shutterstock.com]
