CNN announces primetime show featuring Gayle King, Charles Barkley

By Michael P. Hill Article may include affiliate links

CNN has announced it has signed “CBS Mornings” co-anchor Gayle King and former NBA player and current sports commentators Charles Barkley as the hosts of a new primetime show, according to a memo sent Saturday, April 22, 2023.

CNN CEO Chris Licht sent the memo on a digital version of personalized stationery.

The show, which will debut in the fall of 2023, will be titled “King Charles,” a play on King’s last name and Barkley’s first name while also creating an interesting juxtaposition to the U.K.’s reigning monarch, King Charles.

The memo did not include any hyphen, ampersand, slash or word “and” in the show title as is sometimes done when using personality names to create a show title.

The memo also did not indicate a schedule for the show or significant details on the format.

News of the show is not a surprise. There had been speculation that CNN was interested in pursuing King and the pairing of the two was also suggested in earlier reports.

“This show will be an exciting new way we are delivering culturally relevant programming and unique perspectives to our audience, from two incredibly dynamic personalities,” the memo reads.

The will be “running into 2024.”

King will continue to work at “CBS Mornings” according to the terms of her contract there. Barkley will continue to serve as a commentator for WBD Sports.

WBD owns CNN.

Although part of a separate arrangement, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper also has a contract with CBS News as a correspondent for “60 Minutes.” He was also recently announced as host of a new Sunday evening program on CNN, “The Whole Story.”

It’s not uncommon for TV personalities to have terms in their contracts that allow them to pursue other projects if they meet specific requirements. It’s also sometimes possible for talent to negotiate addendums to their contracts that allows them to appear on other networks when such an offer comes along.

The full text of the memo is below.

April 22, 2023

To my CNN Colleagues,

I am thrilled to share that CNN will be home to a new show featuring the extraordinary duo of Gayle King and Charles Barkley, aptly titled King Charles, which will air weekly in primetime beginning this fall and running into 2024. This show will be an exciting new way we are delivering culturally relevant programming and unique perspectives to our audience, from two incredibly dynamic personalities. We are excited that they are both able to join us in addition to their current respective roles with Gayle continuing to anchor CBS Mornings. King Charles exemplifies the one-team, one-company mentality with Charles playing double duty at CNN and in his role at WBD Sports.

There will be more to come on this in the months ahead, but in the meantime, please join me in welcoming Gayle and Charles to CNN.

Chris