CNN boss reportedly tried to lure Gayle King from CBS

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CNN president Jeff Zucker reportedly approached CBS anchor Gayle King’s reps to see if she’d be interested in anchoring the networks 9 p.m. hour, reports The New York Times.

King currently co-anchors “CBS Mornings” on the network, which remains mired in third place. Her contract is up this year, but reports indicate she’s going to stick with the network, despite others expressing some interest in luring her away.

CNN’s 9 p.m. hour opened up after it fired Chris Cuomo after an investigation determined he allegedly violated journalistic standards with his involvement in handling his brother’s, Andrew Cuomo, the disgraced former governor of New York, sexual misconduct scandal.

The 9 p.m. hour is a key portion of cable news schedules.

Zucker also reportedly tried to hire MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow for CNN+, the network’s streamer to launch later in 2022 with a $20 million deal.

Maddow ultimately re-signed with MSNBC for a higher figure but with the understanding her daily “The Rachel Maddow Show” would end sometime in 2022, allowing her to focus on more longform content for the network.