Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav gave former CNN chief Chris Licht a heat endorsement, even hinting on the risk that the TV information vet might work once more with the corporate.
Licht is a “nice man, proficient man,” Zaslav stated on the New York Instances DealBook convention at Jazz at Lincoln Middle, as Licht sat within the viewers. The exec was ousted from CNN final June after a tumultuous run capped by a damning profile in The Atlantic. Weeks earlier than the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger closed in April 2022, Zaslav had chosen Licht to go up CNN, reportedly with out having performed a strong search course of. The 2 had been personally acquainted earlier than the hiring.
“Chris is an efficient good friend,” Zaslav stated. As to their parting methods, he added, “That was … look, there are a number of good days and a number of robust days. Chris has had a number of nice days. He created Morning Joe. He created CBS This Morning. We had a number of enjoyable and a number of battles collectively. Chris goes to have a number of nice chapters and hopefully a few of these with us at Warner Bros. He’s very proficient.”
Moderator Andrew Ross Sorkin requested Zaslav concerning the state of his relationship with Jeff Zucker, who had been a detailed good friend for a few years till his departure as head of CNN in February 2022. Zucker left as a consequence of a consensual relationship with colleague Allison Gollust, which had been extensively recognized by staffers and his exit brought on unrest amongst CNN expertise loyal to Zucker. “It seems that that relationship fractured,” Sorkin stated. “I wouldn’t say it fractured,” Zaslav replied. “In the long run, I consider that you simply need to foster friendships, however you must make the choice that’s the most effective for the enterprise. And in case you have a finest good friend they usually have an awesome script, if the Warner Bros. group doesn’t suppose that’s the most effective storytelling car that we should always go along with, you must put the friendships apart.”
Sorkin stated enterprise leaders can wrestle to discern who their actual associates are, and “in Hollywood it’s worse.” Zaslav interjected, “I don’t find out about that.” The CEO then stated he has “a great deal of associates” from the course of his profession. CNBC expertise, together with Sorkin and his Squawk Field co-hosts Becky Fast and Joe Kernen, are “nonetheless very shut associates of mine” courting again to Zaslav’s run at NBC, when he was in on the founding of the enterprise community. “ who your pals are,” Zaslav stated. “And also you’re additionally friend-ly with lots of people. However you’ll be able to’t combine the 2. And typically, once you make a enterprise choice, or typically when a enterprise choice is made by your group, your pals can take it personally. They’ll really feel that you need to have interceded. And typically, , it’s unlucky. And it’s emotional. It’s emotional for me. I’d wish to at all times say sure to my associates.”
Mark Thompson, who took over CNN final summer time after government runs on the New York Instances Co. and the BBC, received reward from Zaslav on the finish of the half-hour session. “Distinctive chief. Floor-up chief,” Zaslav stated. “He’s received the hearts and minds of the group.”
Sorkin concerning the present political orientation of CNN, which has been beneath scrutiny since WBD board member and Zaslav mentor John Malone decried its left-leaning strategy beneath Zucker.
Zaslav stated the corporate has sought to deal with the “strategic query of, ‘Ought to information networks be advocacy networks, or ought to information networks be journalistic organizations?’ And it’s actually a strategic selection, nothing good or unhealthy. For CNN, the selection was, this ought to be — it’s — the best journalistic group on the planet.”
