CNN Worldwide head Chris Licht warns of further cuts after six-month review

CNN Worldwide CEO Chris Licht has told staffers the news organisation is set to accelerate the implementation of its new strategy, hinting that significant layoffs and cuts could be imminent.

Chris Licht

Licht, who took the reins in April, has undertaken a six-month review process to understand and identify areas of the business where cuts, investments and changes are required.

That review has now concluded and, in a memo to staff on Wednesday, Licht said the resulting changes will “affect people, budgets and projects.”

New measures implemented under Licht’s stewardship thus far include the combination of the linear and digital newsgathering teams and changes to the morning and evening programming line-ups. In addition, immediately following his arrival, CNN’s new parent company Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) shuttered its streaming service CNN+ just one month after it was launched.

“There is a lot more to be done. I am writing to you today to say that over the next several weeks, that work will accelerate. There is widespread concern over the global economic outlook and we must factor that risk into our long-term planning,” he told staff.

“All of this together will mean noticeable change to this organisation. That, by definition, is unsettling. These changes will not be easy, because it will affect people, budgets and projects.”

The CNN head did not expand on what the changes were, but emphasised that they would not weaken the newsgathering operation. The goal is to make these decisions before the end of the year, added Licht, “so we can start 2023 feeling settled and prepared for the future.”

Reports suggest that across the entire WBD business, there could be as many as 1,000 additional layoffs before the end of the year.

Licht added: “When we emerge on the other side, CNN will be a stronger, more nimble organisation, ready to weather whatever the global economy throws at us and to grow into the future.”