CNN Ups Ali Velshi to Daytime Anchor…Heidi Collins leaving CNN…
In a move that several saw coming, CNN has promoted Ali Velshi to dayside anchor. Somewhere Steve Krakauer is taking a victory lap. Yup, this means Heidi Collins is out. Here’s CNN’s release…
CNN’s Ali Velshi to Anchor Weekday Program
New Network Daytime Lineup: Phillips, Harris, Velshi and Sanchez
Building upon the success of CNN’s dayside programming, Ali Velshi will join the weekday lineup with anchors Kyra Phillips, Tony Harris and Rick Sanchez beginning January 18, it was announced today by CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein. From Atlanta, Velshi will anchor a two-hour general newscast from 1-3 p.m. as well as continue his role as CNN’s chief business correspondent and co-anchor of Your $$$$$.
Phillips will anchor the 9-11 a.m. hours of CNN Newsroom, Harris continues from 11-1 p.m., followed by Velshi. From 3-5 p.m., Sanchez anchors his new program Rick’s List also debuting on January 18.
“Ali has enormous range as a broadcaster, whether he’s reporting breaking news about an attempted terror threat, traveling across the U.S. interviewing Americans about how the economy has affected them, or breaking down business issues as complex as the mortgage crisis or the stimulus plan. He’s passionate and smart, and brings a level of expertise that viewers expect from CNN,” said Klein.
Since joining the network in 2001, Velshi has covered every major business news story including the reopening of the markets after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and the fall of Enron, Arthur Anderson and WorldCom. Velshi traveled to cover the economic impact of natural disasters including Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav and Ike. In December 2007 he traveled to Pakistan to report on the assassination of politician Benazir Bhutto for the network. During the coverage of the 2008 presidential election Velshi was a part of the best political team on television and traveled extensively around the country on the CNN Election Express reporting on real issues facing voters. Last year, he covered the meltdown of the world financial markets and the following recession.
Said Velshi, “I’m excited to have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our viewers by making the tough issues of our time clear and accessible to them. The feedback I get from our viewers as I travel around the country reinforces that they appreciate our commitment to breaking down the day’s news.”
With Velshi starting the same week as “Rick’s List” launching, this raises the question of how close CNN is to launching that rumored new HD studio in Atlanta. This would seem to me to be the time to do it.
TVNewser was first to report that Collins was not renewed, which is going to surprise more than a few people considering her somewhat meteoric rise through the CNN ranks to from HLN anchor to AC 360 reporter/sub anchor to CNN anchor under Jonathan Klein’s watch.
Update: Mediate’s Steve Krakauer talked to Velshi, post-news…
Velshi says one of the goals of the show is to “break things down the way I’ve become accustomed to on CNN the last couple years.”
Velshi says he will use social media in his show, in the same way others at CNN have begun incorporating Twitter and more into the programs. He will be relocating to Atlanta from New York.
