CNN International cuts down on its live programming done from London; shows like CNN Talk axed.

CNN International (DStv 401) is cutting down on its live programming done from London in the United Kingdom, meaning an hour and a half less programming that's produced from London and with at least 13 staffers getting fired.

TVNewser on Tuesday reported that the TV news channel is making changes to its London operation "in an effort to CNN International" which means cutting 90 minutes of CNN International programming done from London.

CNN International will be simulcasting another 90 minutes from the feed of CNN in the United States. According to TVNewser, some jobs in London will be moved to Atlanta in America.

Going forward, CNN International will broadcast more simulcast feeds from America, as well as more repeats of Christiane Amanpour's programme Amanpour and other programmes originating from CNN International's Abu Dhabi bureau.

The Guardian reports that staffers - including some managers whose shows were affected - were given no advance warning of CNN's announcement that was made on Tuesday in London by Jeff Zucker, CNN boss, at a meeting at CNN's London office.

The CNN London staff cuts come after the long-serving CNN International boss, Tony Maddox, earlier this month unexpectedly announced that he was leaving CNN.

London-based shows like the talk show CNN Talk is apparently being cut and cancelled completely as CNN is refocusing its London office to produce for its online offering.

CNN's parent company Time Warner was recently taken over by AT&T and renamed WarnerMedia.

In a statement to The Guardian CNN said "In the coming months, CNN International will be consolidating key parts of its production model centrally in Atlanta, in much the same way as we currently do with large parts of our programming for CNN US. This means that some jobs will shift from London to Atlanta, but overall headcount will be unchanged".

CNN International extends its show, CNN Talk with Max Foster, to a weekday strand that will now be broadcast 5 days a week from 12 March.

CNN International (DStv 401) is turning its CNN Talk with Max Foster show into a weekday strand, extending it to a 5-day strand from Monday 12 March.

The panel show that is broadcast on CNN International and live streams on Facebook simultaneously started in May 2017 and will now become a weekday show at 13:00 for South African viewers between 12 and 23 March, and at 14:00 (SA/Africa time) from 26 March.

The topics and subjects on CNN Talk are either globalist or otherwise very British and Eurocentric in nature, CNN International would do well to replace CNN Talk with Max Foster at some point in the future, or in addition, add a programming strand like CNN Talk Africa that would be more suitable for African viewers.

CNN Talk isn't bad but it's not very relevant for African and South African viewers, covering topics like Brexit, gun control, international terrorism, Donald Trump's presidency and the #MeToo movement and sexual harassment.

The show has covered the British royal engagement from outside Buckingham Palace and the Parsons bomb attack in London, but not a lot has been said about issues affecting Africa so much.

Max Foster's panelists include columnist Ayesha Hazarika, the British radio presenter Iain Dale and columnist Liam Halligan. Other people like CNN correspondents and experts sometimes join the show as guests like for instance CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Nima Elbagir and Fred Pleitgen.

"From the very beginning this show has struck a chord with audiences," says Gill Penlington, the senior director for news and events programming at CNN International about CNN Talk.

"The level of engagement we've seen has been phenomenal. Having a daily edition of the programme will allow us to get into a wider range of topics through the week and broaden what is already a diverse and highly flexible agenda."

CNN International expands its TV-Facebook hybrid show, CNN Talk with Max Foster, to twice a week from Monday.

CNN International (DStv 401) is expanding its weekly CNN Talk on Fridays to a twice-weekly show from Monday, adding a Monday episode.

CNN Talk with Max Foster will now run on Mondays and Fridays.

CNN Talk will be broadcast at 13:00 (South African time) on Mondays and Fridays on CNN International.

CNN Talk is CNN International's first fully integrated TV and digital show that is simulcast on TV and on social media, incorporating real time viewer comments throughout the show and allowing the audience to drive the discussion.

CNN International says CNN Talk has been successful with CNN’s Facebook audience, often reaching over a million Facebook viewers, and with a predominantly young viewership - it's most watched in the 25 to 45 age bracket.

The addition of the CNN Talk Monday show will allow Max Foster and his regular panel of commentators to look ahead to the stories likely to dominate the week's news, with Friday's programme that will continue to focus on the hot topic news story.