TV personalities Gayle King and Charles Barkley will headline a new prime-time weekly CNN show, King Charles, debuting in the fall, the network announced Saturday as it tries to engineer a turnaround amid tumbling ratings.
CNN chairman and CEO Chris Licht said in a statement that the show will be an exciting new way we are delivering culturally relevant programming and unique perspectives to our audience, from two incredibly dynamic personalities.
Licht said King will continue to anchor CBS Mornings, and former NBA star Barkley will continue his current role at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports.
Appearing on TNT to discuss the new show, King said she hadnt been looking for an additional job but relished the chance to work with Barkley.
What I think is so great for the both of us is that its live TV, she said. To me, live TV is like working without a net. So whatever happens, happens. I like that.
The duo said theyd talk about politics but that the show would not be political.
We dont want to say, Were a liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat,' Barkley said. Thats one of the things thats already ruined television in general.
Cable news ratings are down across the board compared to 2022, when Russias invasion of Ukraine was fresh in the news. CNNs dip has been most dramatic 61% in prime time in March.
CNN is a year into new corporate management with Warner Bros. Discovery, which hired ex-CBS producer Licht to run the network.
Lichts revamp of CNN This Morning last fall was plagued with bad publicity in the wake of co-host Don Lemons ill-advised reference to a womans prime years, which offended many.
