Zucker: Fox is for partyers
CNN HONCHO Jeff Zucker blasted Fox News Channel boss Roger Ailes Friday, branding the former Nixon consultant’s cable network as the Republican Party’s headquarters.
“I think we all know what’s s going on there,” Zucker (r.) told TV writers at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif. “The Republican Party is being run out of News Corp. headquarters [and] masquer- ading as a channel.”
He was responding to Ailes’ ’ recent crack that “CNN is out of the news business.”
The News’ David Hinckley reports that Zucker also shot down buzz that he’s interested in hiring lame-duck “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, who leaves his gig on Feb. 6, and former “Today” cohost Ann Curry.
Hiring Leno is “not a priority” and hiring Curry is not an issue, he said, because “as far as I know, she’s not available.”
In fact, said Zucker, who has added a number of feature elements since taking charge at CNN a year ago, “my No. 1 priority is remaining true to CNN’s coverage g of news and breaking news.”
CNN’s ratings have stayed fl flat since Zucker took over, and h he admitted “I’d like to see highe er numbers for all our shows.”
But cable news “is not a g growing niche,” he said, so the w way for CNN to grow is to add m more documentaries and ser ries with a news connection.
On speculation that Leno c could move to a late-night CNN show after departing NBC, Zucker said, “That’s not in the cards anytime soon.
“I have a long relationship with Jay, and he’s a terrific talent. But [late night] is not where our priorities are.”
As for Curry, who has been reported to be leaving NBC, Zucker said, “She’s under contract at NBC, so she’s not available. ... If she were available, she’s someone we’d look at.”
He joked, “Sometimes I feel like everyone I’ve ever known is being rumored to come to CNN.”