With CNN’s parent company Discovery pulling the plug on their subscription service CNN+, who will be the next domino to fall?
I know who I’m picking.
According to former Mediaite reporter Joe Nicosia, a member of Discovery’s board of directors described the ignominious end of CNN+ as “emblematic” of how former CNN boss Jeff Zucker had turned the cable network into a “private playground and political operation masquerading as a news channel.” And “in the coming days,” this “non-news apparatus” along with “its members will be jettisoned” in the same way the streaming service was jettisoned.
In short, CNN+ was just the first domino to fall now that CNN is under new ownership.
It might be time for Brian Stelter to grab a banker’s box, pack up his lunchbox, sippy cup, and red stapler, and start combing the want ads.
There’s been talk for some time now that Stelter is not going to survive this merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery.
Stelter’s primary role at the cable network during the Age of Zucker was to burp out the talking points, his boss wanted out there. Stelter was Jeff Zucker’s dutiful, obedient Mini-Me. And if Nicosia’s report is right and Discover blames Zucker for CNN becoming a “non-news apparatus,” then Stelter is toast.
But I’m sure Brian Stelter won’t be the last domino to fall.
There are so many moving parts in CNN’s “non-news apparatus” for Discovery to choose from, it’ll be like Michael Corleone taking out the Five Families all in one fell swoop. It’ll be a bloodbath.
Today, during his CNN+ show, Stelter was still busy burping out nonsensical talking points:
Are you kidding me?
Brian, CNN+ sputtered out like a wet fart less than a month in because nobody was willing to pay $5.99 a month to watch the same low-rated bilge that CNN churns out for free. And you can’t figure out whether CNN+ was a success or a failure?
Sweet merciful Zeus.
This is whistling-past-the-graveyard-level denial.
But I get it. I can’t be the only one who thinks Brian Stelter will be the next domino to fall. If I had to guess, I’d say Brian is thinking it too.