Cable News Network canceled four programs, resulting in the loss of 20
production personnel and 10 on-air staffers, spokesman Matt Furman said Friday.
Burden of Proof, NewsSite, Showbiz This Weekend and
Travel Now -- four programs that haven't run
since Sept. 11 -- have been pulled permanently, he said.
Roger Cossack, Joie Chen and Bill Tush are among the
talent leaving the network as a result of the cuts.
The network is also talking with former
Showbiz anchor Lauren Sydney about her role, Furman added.
CNN also plans to announce the hiring of some general-assignment anchors
within the next couple of weeks, Furman said.
By the end of the year, the network expects to have about 45 anchors on the
payroll, which would be the same number it started the year with.
In a memo to CNN staffers, general manager Sid
Bedingfield said the cuts were made 'to accommodate this new lineup' and the
expanded role of some other staffers, including Paula Zahn, Bill Hemmer, Wolf
Blitzer, Greta Van Susteren, Aaron Brown and Judy Woodruff.
