Information that flailing CNN has supplied ratings-challenged CBS Mornings’ anchor Gayle King an eye-watering $12 million to co-host a night discuss present has infuriated longtime workers who survived a large job lower on the struggling community, RadarOnline.com has discovered.
As RadarOnline.com first reported, Gayle is about to drag in eight figures per yr for one hour of labor. The community plans to have her host a nighttime present with NBA legend Charles Barkley.
“Everybody has been advised there’s no cash, but they’re managing to scrape up money to pay Gayle King,” stated a supply. “It’s extremely tone-deaf, in addition to being impolite to the hard-working individuals who’ve been toiling right here for years!”
CNN had a meager 535,000 primetime viewers for the primary quarter this yr — a daunting 35 % decline from a yr in the past — marking its lowest quarterly scores common since 2015, sources stated.
The community laid off about 400 employees in December and pulled the plug on the streaming service CNN+ only one month after it launched.
Licht has failed to attain successful following his bungled effort to make Jake Tapper a primetime star final yr. He additionally put in Don Lemon on CNN This Morning to disastrous outcomes.
Insider stated Gayle is taking part in coy and publicly commented she had two years left on her CBS contract earlier than information broke. Her potential recruitment is seen as all of the extra curious to community sources, who observe her present present is mired in third place behind Good Morning America and At the moment — and she or he’s been supplied a deal to remain at CBS whereas working for CNN!
“Clarify how Gayle King goes to assist?” scoffed one indignant staffer. “Actually! They couldn’t have employed somebody from the quantity two rated present, or God forbid, primary?”
As RadarOnline.com first reported, Gayle was in a position to “write her personal examine” after Chris approached her with the deal given the community’s troubles.
“Gayle is not going to solely be the very best paid individual at CNN, she and Charles would be the highest paid on-air pair,” an insider advised RadarOnline.com. “It would additionally make Gayle one of many highest folks on tv once you add her CBS contract into the combination.”
CNN and Gayle have but to finalize the deal however sources revealed it will likely be locked quickly.