By Serach Nissim
On Thursday, Jeffrey A. Zucker, the longtime executive heading CNN said that he expected to step down from his position at the end of 2021. Mr. Zucker, 55, took over CNN in 2013. With his relentless obsession to ratings, he enticed viewers by turning news stories into drama series. He played an important role in Donald J. Trump’s rise to presidency, and then turned on the president as a hostile foe.
As reported by the NY Times, in his three-decade career Mr. Zucker shaped the news and entertainment industries, intertwining them. In 1991, at age 26, Zucker began his journey, being named executive producer of NBC’s lucrative morning franchise, the “Today” show. He kept climbing to become chief executive at NBC Universal. Zucker was then picked to replace Jim Walton at CNN.
Under Zucker’s leadership, CNN has enjoyed a growth in profitability, making more than $1 billion annually over the past few years. CNN has seen a jump in viewership. Zucker’s announcement was made while his career is still in a high note. “I cannot imagine not being here right now,” Mr. Zucker told CNN employees on a call Thursday morning. He emphasized that he will wait out his contract, which is not up till the end of the year.
“The truth is, back in November and December I had basically decided that it was time to move on now,” Zucker said. “But since then I’ve had a change of heart. And I want to stay. Not forever, but for another year. And I feel really good about this decision.”
The far-away timeline for his departure also suggests that speculation will linger in regards to other options Mr. Zucker may undertake afterwards. Could he lead a buyout of CNN from AT&T? Might he replace Jason Kilar as head of AT&T’s news and entertainment division, WarnerMedia?
Mr. Zucker has survived two spells of cancer, open-heart surgery and other health woes, but those who know him don’t seem to think he’s ready to retire. “The story ain’t over till Jeff says it’s over,” said Ben Sherwood, a former head of Disney’s ABC Television Group and a longtime friend of Mr. Zucker’s. “A year is a very long time. More than a thousand news cycles, if not more. I would stay tuned.”
The sentiment was repeated by CNN anchor Don Lemon, who said, “I’m happy to get him for another year, which I will spend trying to convince him to stay longer. Stay tuned.”
