CNN’s new owner John Malone personally made the decision to cancel Brian Stelter’s show and fire the host from the network, according to reports.
As Slay News first reported Thursday, CNN canceled Stelter’s Sunday media affairs show “Reliable Sources” and the host confirmed to NPR that he is leaving the network.
Jon Nicosia, the President of News Cycle Media, later revealed that the decision to give Stelter the chop was personally made by Malone.
Billionaire Malone is CNN’s parent company’s largest shareholder and a major donor to President Donald Trump.
Nicosia has been reporting on the inside scoop regarding the new management-driven changes happening at CNN.
He previously revealed that Malone described Stelter as a “cancer” on CNN and also wants Jim Acosta to be fired.
Nicosia said on Twitter: “Source: Brian Stelter’s firing decision came directly from Discovery Board member John Malone.”
Source: @BrianStelter's firing decision came directly from Discovery Board member John Malone.
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) August 18, 2022
In April, Nicosia reported: “SOURCE: At a recent (informal) Discovery Board meeting (largest shareholder) John Malone referred to CNN’s Brian Stelter as a ‘cancer’ and a ‘Zucker Henchman’ that has a failing show.'”
SOURCE: At a recent (informal) Discovery Board meeting (largest shareholder) John Malone referred to CNN's Brian Stelter as a "cancer" and a "Zucker Henchman" that has "a failing show" – (more to come)…
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) April 5, 2022
In a statement to NPR, Stelter says he’s grateful for the show and how his team’s examination of “the media, truth and the stories that shape our world.”
“It was a rare privilege to lead a weekly show focused on the press at a time when it has never been more consequential,” Stelter said.
“Stelter came to CNN from the New York Times as the nation’s top media reporter,” Amy Entelis, CNN’s executive vice president for talent and content development.
“He departs CNN an impeccable broadcaster.
“We are proud of what Brian and his team accomplished over the years, and we’re confident their impact and influence will long outlive the show.”
According to NPR:
Reliable Sources is the longest-running show on CNN; Stelter has hosted it for the past nine years and celebrated its 30th anniversary in March.
CNN chief Chris Licht informed Stelter of the decision yesterday. Licht has been making cuts throughout the network since taking the helm as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s takeover of the old Time Warner company.
Stelter, who often touted the show’s ratings on Twitter, was among those CNN hosts targeted for frequent criticism from conservatives for his coverage of the media in the Trump years.
Among those publicly joining in on the broader criticism of CNN as having become politicized was the investor John Malone, a major financial stakeholder of the new WarnerDiscovery conglomerate.
In an episode in February, Stelter cited Malone more than a dozen times in coverage of the Discovery deal for CNN and its sister properties, expressing some concern about the investor’s influence.
Pro-Trump Malone promised big changes to CNN when his company bought a controlling stake.
From The Daily Mail:
A source told DailyMail.com: ‘Chris is really focused on CNN turning a corner. He actually listens to what people want and isn’t driven by ego.
‘He’s moving CNN back to the center, he abolished the ridiculous breaking news cut-ins and graphics that drove everyone crazy and he knows that no one will shed a tear re Toobin’s departure, especially the women of CNN.’
A cable news veteran, who wishes not to be named, spoke of the close relationship between Stelter and Zucker.
‘Brian Stelter should be calling his agent to start looking for another job,’ they said. ‘He’s been Jeff Zucker’s water boy for years and no one believes he didn’t know about all of this.’
Gollust and Zucker lived in the same apartment building with their respective families, have worked together at NBC and then CNN for more than 20 years, and had what some called an ‘uncomfortably cozy’ rapport.
