CNN denies rumour that Piers Morgan is being replaced by Bill Weir from ABC Nightline
CNN moved today to quash reports that former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan is being replaced in his 9pm slot at CNN by Bill Weir, a new hiring from ABC where he has been the anchor of Nightline.
Morgan: Losing 9pm CNN slot?
A reliable source connected to CNN told Mediaite that Weir "had been promised a show during the 9 p.m. ET hour — an hour that happens to be currently occupied by Piers Morgan."
Mediate said that according to their source, the details and timing have not yet been worked out "but Weir is expected to get either half or all of the 9 p.m. slot, meaning Morgan will either move time slots or, at best, reduce to a half hour of airtime per evening."
Another CNN source said Weir’s show will likely launch in “late night” but Mediaite said their original source insists that if that happens, the goal would be to test it out for an eventual move to the 9 p.m. hour.
"Either way, the British host, who’s become associated with his anti-gun campaign, looks to be losing the full 9 p.m. hour," said the report. Meantime Morgan's new book on the gun controversy, Shooting Straight, is said to be selling well.
Weir was previously the anchor of ABC’s show Nightline, and on Friday morning, ABC News chief Ben Sherwood announced that Weir was leaving “for another opportunity in the news business.”
Earlier this month, FTVLive reported that CNN was preparing to “dump” Piers Morgan, with Katie Couric allegedly being eyed as a replacement. That rumor plus Morgan’s declining ratings further fueled speculation that he could be planning an exit strategy from CNN, said Mediate.
Morgan whose anti-guns campaign led to a petition to Obama to deport him - rejected by the President - was saying nothing, not even on Twitter,
But a a CNN spokesperson insisted : “Bill Weir was not brought to CNN to replace Piers Morgan.”