16-02-2024, 08:56 AM
(15-02-2024, 07:07 PM)conrad73 Wrote: Spot on!
On average there CNN are utilizing 14 US anchors per weekday - that's an insane amount of money and it's no wonder Thomspon is looking to Anchor costs to save money. His problem is, and as highlighted in the piece posted above, getting rid of anyone with clout would seal the deal for MSNBC and CNN could wave a fond farewell to ever getting a foot hold on ratings in the US.
Honestly, this could be a watershed moment. If CNN makes their anchors take a pay cut, then I'm sure NBC, Fox, et al would be happy to follow their lead. US local news anchors saw their salaries bumped down from implausible levels about 10-15 years ago. It's probably time for national anchors to see the same.
We are long past the conventional wisdom where TV networks felt compelled to pay top dollar for anchors because they thought ratings would decline if they didn't. We have seen time and time again cases where high-profile anchors are replaced with less expensive ones, and the ratings don't really end up changing all that much. You think the TODAY show is any less profitable without Matt Lauer, or that any viewers still think about him and wonder why he isn't on their TV anymore?