There is a lot of uncertainty at CNN amid the impending sale of its parent company, Warner Bros. But Anderson Cooper’s presence at the network remains ironclad.
Cooper, CNN’s most well-known anchor, recently re-signed with his longtime television home, according to Variety. While the deal’s specifics aren’t currently known, the ubiquitous anchor is expected to remain behind the desk for years to come.
While it may be difficult for viewers to imagine CNN without Cooper, where he’s worked since 2001, the shifting cable news landscape indicated the two sides could part ways. It’s a time of rapid change in the faltering industry: audiences are dwindling and getting older (CNN’s median viewer age is 67).
Most notably, MSNBC was rebranded last month as MS Now after Comcast had spun off its cable properties into a separate entity.
It was reported that Warner Bros. was set to spin off CNN and other legacy cable networks into a separate publicly traded company as part of its $82.7 billion deal with Netflix. But with Paramount now launching a “hostile” bid to acquire the major studio, CNN’s future remains in limbo.
That is, except for Cooper–at least contractually speaking.
Why Cooper’s Deal Goes Against Trends
As Variety mentions, a plethora of big name anchors have left their networks in recent years: Hoda Kotb, Neil Cavuto, Chris Wallace and many other mainstays. At MS Now, star anchor Rachel Maddow reportedly took a $5 million pay cut to remain in her perch. Former anchor Joy Reid was offered a pay cut around the same time, according to reports, but opted to leave instead.
In a 2024 memo, CNN boss Mark Thompson indicated he was looking to trim production costs and allocate more resources towards digital. Wallace was biggest name on the chopping block. The legendary anchor left CNN late last year rather than take a sizable decrease in pay. (Wallace was brought on to helm CNN’s now-defunct streaming service, which was axed when Discovery merged with Warner Media.)
Cooper was believed to earn $20 million annually under his previous deal, making him the highest-paid anchor at CNN.
What are Anderson Cooper’s Ratings?
Despite his primetime perch, the 58-year-old Cooper isn’t CNN’s most-watched personality. That distinction often falls to Erin Burnett, who hosts the 7:00 p.m. EST hour before Anderson Cooper 360°.
When it comes to the coveted 25-54-year-old demographic, Abby Phillip and her spirited roundtable show, News Night, takes the top spot. On a regular basis, the show produces viral exchanges between politically polarized personalities.
Overall, CNN’s primetime ratings were down 42% in the third quarter, per Nielsen.
The Paramount Factor
With Paramount’s 11th hour bid to acquire Warner Bros., CNN could undergo major programming changes in 2026. Paramount head David Ellison, a major ally of President Donald Trump, told the president he’d make “sweeping changes” at the oft-maligned network, reports the Wall Street Journal. (Trump has decried CNN as “fake news” for a decade.)
When Netflix’s deal was announced, and it was revealed that CNN would be siphoned off, there was a feeling of relief among staffers, per the New York Times. They feared that David Ellison would enact ideological shifts in CNN’s programming.
But now, that’s back on the table. In a statement, Warner Bros. said its board has received Paramount’s $108 billion offer and will review the terms. The $30-per-share cash offer is partially financed by Jared Kushner’s investment firm.
The Ellison family gained control of Paramount when Skydance Media’s merger with Paramount Global this past August. It acquired Paramount’s TV assets, led by CBS.
Interestingly, Bari Weiss, the controversial media entrepreneur whom David Ellison installed as CBS News’ editor-in chief, was believed to be interested in poaching Cooper for a revamped nightly news show.
