CNN is parting ways with “Reliable Sources” host, Brian Stelter, with his last show airing on Sunday.
“CNN will end its ‘Reliable Sources’ program on Sunday, August 21st. As a result Brian Stelter will leave the company. We appreciate his contributions to the network and wish him well as he embarks on new endeavors,” a CNN spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
The show’s staff was also laid off in the shakeup.
In a statement Stelter said he was “grateful for my nine years with CNN, proud of what we accomplished on Reliable Sources and so thankful for the viewers who tuned in every week for our examination of the media, truth and the stories that shape our world.”
He added that “it was a rare privilege to lead a weekly show focused on the press at a time when it has never been more consequential.”
Stelter, 36, a former New York Times reporter, joined CNN in 2013.
Stelter’s exit comes as new CNN CEO Chris Licht has put an emphasis on “news,” as opposed to the liberal opinion programming that the network become known for under its its former bossJeff Zucker’s, particularly during the Trump administration.
“Reliable Sources” had issues attracting viewers in recent times. In August, the show is down a staggering 41% among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults age 25-54 compared to the same month last year.
For the year, Stelter’s program shed 26% of its 2021 total audience and 34% among the key demo. 2022 was also the lowest-rated year among the demo for “Reliable Sources” since before Trump took office.
Between August 2021 and late July, “Reliable Sources” averaged 748,000 total viewers, tops among CNN programs on Sundays and ahead of the competition on MSNBC at 11 a.m. — but behind Howard Kurtz’s show, “mediabuzz” on Fox News.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
