Whispers of Licht exit begin

IS he Licht already? Less than a year after he took over CNN, Page Six hears that there’s chatter in the network’s halls that Chris Licht will be gone by Labor Day. But other insiders say he might stick around — because such a quick about-face would be embarrassing for CNN’s corporate boss David Zaslav, who took a big risk on the untested Licht.

Licht — who’s proved a phenom at several shows but has no experience at the top of a network — took over from Jeff Zucker last May after Zucker’s sex scandal.

Licht steamed into the role, casting off marquee names, overseeing layoffs, shifting network star Don Lemon from his prime-time show to co-hosting the morning show and shutting down streamer CNN+. But ratings have plummeted and “CNN This Morning,” which should be in his wheelhouse as a morning TV guru, has seen on-set confrontations and a scandal after Lemon called Nikki Haley “past her prime.” He’s also sent eyebrows skyward with news that NBA legend and TNT sportscaster Charles Barkley is being courted to host in prime time.

Network insiders last week sounded a note of frustration.

“He’s constantly with an entourage,” said one. “You see him rush by with his lackeys, but he doesn’t stop to talk with us regular folk.

The joke is that he’s never alone. Does he go to the bathroom alone?”

Meanwhile, we hear there’s also frustration that Licht seems to look to similarly struggling CBS for his inspiration. He’s picked up execs and talent from the perennially third-place broadcaster and he’s in talks to put Gayle King in a prime-time rotation, even though she’s failed to bolster CBS’ morning show.

A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery called claims that Zaslav is stuck with Licht because firing him would be embarrassing “total BS.” They added, “Chris has Zaslav’s full support. Zaslav is always publicly supportive of Chris.”