Whispers already spreading at CNN that Chris Licht is a goner

Is he Licht already?

Less than a yr after he took over as chairman of CNN, Page Six hears that there’s already chatter all through the halls of the community that Chris Licht might be gone earlier than Labor Day.

But different insiders say he may simply stick round — however solely as a result of such a fast about-face could be embarrassing for CNN’s company boss, David Zaslav, who took an enormous threat in placing the untested Licht accountable for the operation.

Licht — who’s proved himself a phenom on the helm of exhibits like “The Late Show,” “Morning Joe” and “CBS This Morning,” however has no expertise on the prime of a complete community — took over from Jeff Zucker after Zucker was sunk by a intercourse scandal.

He has steamed into the position, disposing of marquee names like Brian Stelter and Jeffrey Toobin (who, admittedly, had some baggage), overseeing main layoffs, shifting community star Don Lemon from his personal primetime present to co-hosting the morning present, and shutting down streamer CNN+ only one month after its launch.

Meanwhile, CNN rankings have plummeted on his watch (though they have been heading downwards underneath Zucker, too) and “CNN This Morning” — which needs to be effectively inside his experience as a breakfast time guru at CBS and MSNBC — has seen on-set confrontations between anchors and a mortifying nationwide scandal after Lemon recommended presidential hopeful Nicki Haley is “previous her prime.” Licht publicly rebuked Lemon for the gaffe.

He’s additionally despatched eyebrows via the roof with information that NBA legend and TNT sportscaster Charles Barkley is being courted to seem on the community at prime time.

Network insiders final week sounded a word of frustration, saying that Licht appears scarcely extra acquainted with the community or its employees than he was when he took over in May 2022.

“He’s consistently with an entourage,” mentioned one, “You see him rush by along with his lackeys, however he doesn’t cease to speak with us common folks. It’s like he’s petrified of us.”

“The joke is that he’s by no means alone,” they added, “Does he go to the lavatory alone?”

“No marvel he had no concept that [Lemon], Poppy [Harlow] and Kaitlan [Collins] have been by no means going to gel [as the co-hosts of “CNN This Morning,]” mentioned the insider, “He doesn’t have his ear to the bottom.”

“He hates the job and may’t do it,” added a very succinct supply, agreeing that the consensus at CNN HQ is that his days are already numbered.

Meanwhile, we hear there’s additionally frustration that Licht appears to look again to equally struggling CBS for his inspiration. He’s picked up executives and on-air expertise from the perennially third-place broadcaster, and he’s additionally in talks to place Gayle King in a primary time rotation, regardless that she was drafted in by CBS to bolster its morning lineup however hasn’t delivered the numbers to match her hefty price ticket.

A CNN spokesperson mentioned: “Time will show this story unsuitable. We received’t be distracted by low cost photographs from rivals and nameless naysayers.”

A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery mentioned referred to as claims that Zaslov is caught with Licht as a result of firing him could be embarrassing, “Total BS.” They added, “Chris has Zaslav’s full assist. Zaslav is all the time publicly supportive of Chris,” and pointed to Zaslav’s current remarks in a CNN city corridor for workers.

“I really like CNN, Chris loves CNN. We’re going to get it proper, it’s going to take some time. We’re making nice progress. This shouldn’t be straightforward. But we’re up for the battle – perhaps it’s a yr, perhaps it’s three years, perhaps it’s 5 years,” Zaslav mentioned.