Veteran CNN anchor Anderson Cooper might be staying with the community amid rumors that he has plans to maneuver elsewhere. The information outlet, owned by Warner Bros. Discvoery, has determined to maintain the favored host regardless of declining scores for CNN’s primetime present, notably throughout a time when viewers are selecting to seek out their information on social media, podcasts, and different non-linear programming. It was beforehand reported that the 58-year-old anchor might need plans to go away the community given his new relationship with a Hollywood expertise company, however this new deal had quelled that hypothesis.
Anderson Cooper squashes rumors that he’s leaving CNN
In latest weeks Anderson Cooper has signed a brand new contract with CNN, in keeping with numerous sources talking with Selection.
Whereas the community declined to make their executives obtainable for an announcement, it’s not stunning that CNN would need to retain Cooper given his presence on the community and his familiarity to viewers. The anchor is answerable for CNN’s annual New Yr’s Eve protection with Andy Cohen, a deep-dive weekend program referred to as “The Complete Story,” and his podcast referred to as “All There Is” that expands on the complexities of grief, loss, and reminiscence. There’s additionally the matter of the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, which the anchor sometimes covers given his experience in politics.
Rumors that Cooper could possibly be leaving the community, which he has labored for since 2001, started swirling in June this yr. On the time, he parted methods with United Expertise Company, which has represented him for a few years, and joined Artistic Artists Company headed by high Hollywood agent Bryan Lourd, who represents the likes of Scarlett Johansson and George Clooney.
Individuals conversant in the talks Cooper had with CNN say that Lourd had explored his new consumer shifting to different information networks. Particularly, Puck reported that Bari Weiss, the brand new editor-in-chief of CBS Information, was focusing on the anchor as a possible lead for “CBS Night Information” following the departures of veteran anchors Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson. Cooper’s supposed transfer from CNN to CBS wouldn’t have been too far misplaced given that he’s already a correspondent for 60 Minutes. He had appeared in numerous applications outdoors of CNN as nicely, together with being a visitor host for ABC morning present “Reside With Kelly and Mark” and filling in on the quiz present “Jeopardy!”
Greater than that, there have been reviews of Cooper being dissatisfied with CNN, with a report from The Nationwide Enquirer suggesting that he was annoyed along with his present’s declining scores and irritated over inner choices on the community. The primetime lineup for CNN has fallen significantly in viewership, based mostly on latest Nielsen information; within the third quarter, viewership fell by 42% whereas its viewers had declined sharply by 58% among the many key demographic of viewers aged 25 to 54.
In response, CNN has shifted its priorities and CEO Mark Thompson is trying to combine streaming and digital media with the community’s conventional linear programming. In late October 2025, it launched an All Entry subscription plan that prices $6.99 monthly or $69.99 per yr ($41.99 for the primary yr) and supplies unique movies, dwell protection, a catalog of movies, and limitless articles.
Nonetheless, if CNN was on the lookout for cuts, Cooper’s annual wage of $18 million on the community, which is reportedly 5 occasions greater than different primetime hosts with comparable scores, could be one of many first for Warner Bros. Discovery to contemplate scrapping.
Nonetheless, Selection reviews that CNN believed that Cooper’s picture was so synonymous with the community that it determined to retain him for an undisclosed size of time. Doing so would have blocked any potential deal that he might need had with one other channel.
