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CNN to boost primetime Entertainment

September 24, 2014

By Chris Forrester

cnnNews broadcaster CNN is seeking to increase its non-news output dramatically from its current roster of two non-fiction series in primetime to 12 next year.

Jeff Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide, told journalists September 23rd that the evening series, including a travel and food show (Parts Unknown, hosted by Anthony Bourdain), have gone down well with viewers and advertisers. Zucker said: “I can envision we will move more and more to this storytelling genre in the years to come.”

Zucker said that the viewing age demographic at CNN had dropped to 59, the first time it had been below 60 since 2008, and its primetime viewing numbers (25-54) had risen 2 per cent over the past 5 years.

He stressed that CNN would not be abandoning its obligation towards news, especially important breaking news, but he was seeking to test new programming when news events were not bringing major audiences to CNN.

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