CNN International starts using new Middle East studio in Abu Dhabi.

by Thinus Ferreira

CNN has started using a new studio at its broadcasting facility in Abu Dhabi, with the new space which is home to CNN International's (DStv 401) flagship current affairs programme, Connect the World with Becky Anderson since late-February.

The studio that has a 10 million pixels video wall and a suite of fully robotic cameras is located on Abu Dhabi's artificial Yas Island in the new Yas Creative Hub.

Abu Dhabi has been a key hub in CNN's global operation since 2009 when the network first opened its bureau in the Emirate, at twofour54's previous campus.  

It has been the base for Connect the World with Becky Anderson since 2014 and is also home to some of CNN’s feature programming, including Decoded and Marketplace Middle East.

Warner Bros. Discovery made no announcement about the new 80 square metre studio going into service, for media in South Africa, which falls within CNN's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

In a press release shared with other media, CNN says the new CNN bureau increases "the scale and scope of its operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)".

"As one of the network's key international production hubs, alongside Atlanta, New York, London, and Hong Kong, it also marks the latest of several major investments in technology and editorial production for CNN," the news network says.

Mike McCarthy, CNN International executive vice president and general manager, says "CNN Abu Dhabi is a vital part of our global newsgathering and programming operation.  This new investment underscores that importance, and we are excited to share what it will bring to our audiences around the world."

Becky Anderson, anchor & managing editor of CNN Abu Dhabi, says "This new facility really supercharges our operation in Abu Dhabi".

"Everything we have built here enhances our ability to tell stories from this region and beyond, from the state-of-the-art studio and production facilities, through to the workspace itself, which is geared towards collaborative, multi-platform content creation. We're also very happy to be part of the new creative community developing here in the Yas Creative Hub."

CNN International adds the new One World with Zain Asher on weekdays that will cover international news including showcasing stories from Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

CNN International (DStv 401) has added a new weekday show, One World, with Zain Asher that will cover world news with a focus on showcasing stories from the African continent.

One World with Zain Asher started on Monday 26 April on CNN International and is broadcast live on weekdays from 18:00 (South African time). 

The new programme block addition comes as CNN is slowly rebuilding the CNN International schedule after it changed during the run-up to last year's American presidential election and removed international shows to largely simulcast election programming from its domestic CNN feed.

One World at 18:00 will now compete with South Africa Tonight on eNCA (DStv 403), Full View on SABC News (DStv 404) and News @ Prime with Cathy Mohlahlana on Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405).

In addition to One World, Zain Asher who often substitutes for Quest Means Business, will continue to be the presenter of the long-running weekly business program Marketplace Africa on CNN International that explores the various macro-trends impacting the African region together with profile interviews of the African continent's key industries and corporations.

CNN International says that One World will follow the conversation beyond the news headlines in the United States, Asia and Europe and showcase stories from across Africa.

"The show will feature a roster of regular contributors and analysts with expertise across global affairs as well as an inside knowledge of the African continent to complement CNN's newsgathering on the ground."

"One World will offer viewers an approachable, inclusive space where diverse voices dissect not only the day’s top stories but more importantly the challenges and successes in Africa and beyond. Everyone watching this show will have a stake in the global conversation."

Zain Asher says "I'm Nigerian by blood, British by birth and American by residence, which gives me a unique perspective on the connective tissue that transcends cultures and continents".

Mike McCarthy, CNN International executive vice president and general manager, says "At CNN International we are always looking for new ways to offer our viewers a greater understanding of the world around us, which is why we are thrilled to announce the launch of One World with Zain Asher".

"Combining Zain’s unique background with the best of CNN’s enterprise reporting, One World will showcase diverse voices and vibrant cultures across all continents while covering the day's most important stories. It will be a bridge for viewers looking to engage on issues that connect us all, no matter where you’re watching."

Latest CNN International schedule change sees South African weekday anchor Robyn Curnow moved to weekends; International Desk and CNN Today replaced by two other programmes.

CNN International (DStv 401) has again changed the TV news channel's schedule, with the latest changes coming into effect on Monday 23 September that saw the cancellation of International Desk with  Robyn Curnow as well as CNN Today with Amara Walker and Michael Holmes, replaced with two other programmes.

South Africa's Robyn Curnow is bumped to weekends where she will now be anchoring CNN Newsroom with Robyn Curnow at some undisclosed time not provided by CNN International and not listed on MultiChoice's bad DStv electronic programme guide (EPG) that is once again not updated and stillold, and CNN Newsroom with Michael Holmes, also at some undisclosed time.

CNN International has now added The Brief with Bianca Nobilo on weeknights at 23:00 that will follow after The Lead with Jake Tapper, with the live show done from its London bureau. CNN says this half-hour show will cover the United Kingdom and beyond.

Replacing CNN Today is the 2-hour Your World Today with Isa Soares and Cyril Vanier at midnight, also done from London, that is "break down the day’s most important and talked-about stories around the world, giving context around the news that dominated the day for viewers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, while informing viewers in Asia about the stories that will help shape theirs".

CNN International is also giving more time to Connect the World with Becky Anderson with the show show done live from CNN Abu Dhabi that is adding another hour to become a 2-hour show at 16:00.

Mike McCarthy, the senior vice president of programming and general manager at CNN International, says "We are delighted to be launching these new shows – which will form a key part of our industry-leading European evening and Asia morning programming lineup – and renewing our commitment to the Middle East with the expansion of Connect the World."

The new CNN International afternoon and prime time schedule is now:

14:00 CNN Newsroom with Max Foster (CNN London)

14:30 World Sport (CNN Atlanta)
15:00 First Move with Julia Chatterley (NYSE)
16:00 Connect the World with Becky Anderson (CNN Abu Dhabi)
18:00 The Express (NYSE)
19:00 Amanpour (CNN London)
20:00 Hala Gorani Tonight (CNN London)
21:00 Quest Means Business (CNN New York)
22:00 The Lead with Jake Tapper (CNN Washington)
23:00 The Brief with Bianca Nobilo (CNN London)
23:30 World Sport (CNN Atlanta)
00:00 Your World Today with Isa Soares and Cyril Vanier (CNN London, 2 hours)

Another prime time line-up rejig on CNN International from 10 September as Christiane Amanpour goes an hour and Julia Chatterley's business show, First Move, makes its debut.

CNN is overhauling its programming line-up for CNN International (DStv 401) in South Africa as well as the rest of the African continent and the Middle East, that will kick in from 10 September when Christiane Amanpour's reformatted hour-long show makes its debut.

The latest CNN schedule shuffle however still has no dedicated African news programme during prime time for African viewers in the way that other global news channels like BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256 / Openview 112 / Cell C black 501) has the daily Focus on Africa at 19:30, or CGTN (DStv 409 / StarSat 266 ) has the daily Africa Live at 19:00, covering Africa during prime time.

CNN that has agreed to a simulcast of Christiane Amanpour's current affairs programme in the United States on the PBS channel, decided to use the programme's expansion to an hour long show in America and the addition of contributors, to rejig and rebuild the programming schedule of CNN International around it.

From 10 September when the half hour Amanpour changes its name to Amanpour & Company in the United States, the hour long show will now start on weekdays at 19:00 on CNN International - an hour earlier.

As TVwithThinus previously reported, Amanpour & Company will add the four journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan as contributors, and will feature wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports".

This will be followed by Hala Gorani Tonight that from 10 September will move to an earlier timeslot of 20:00 instead of 21:00 on weekdays on CNN International.

Richard Quest's Quest Means Business is also moving an hour earlier from 10 September and will now run at 21:00 instead of 22:00 on weekdays, continuing with its often-irreverent analysis and interviews of the day's global and American business news.

The news channel from Turner Broadcasting that often abruptly interrupted scheduled shows on CNN International with The Lead with Jake Tapper is now giving the show a fixed timeslot on CNN International from 10 September and will be shown at 22:00.

The Lead with Jake Tapper will do commentary and analysis of the day's headlines from the United States, a show that doesn't really so much resonate with African viewers.

CNN Today, co-anchored by Amara Walker and Michael Holmes, is also moving an hour earlier and instead of midnight, will now start at 23:00 on CNN International from 10 September - still covering the day's global headlines from around the world.

State of America, the weekday talk show about Donald Trump's day that was recently dumped from the schedule and replaced by a nightly repeat of CNN Talk with Max Foster, will return as a weekly show on Fridays from 14 September, again anchored by the preppy Kate Bolduan, and now closing out the week at 23:00 on CNN International.

CNN International says CNN World Sport will break into programming with bulletins across the schedule".

The Africa-focused programming strands, Marketplace Africa, African Voices and Inside Africa remain on the schedule and will continue to be part of CNN International's schedule across the week, with news from across the African continent that will continue to feature in CNN International's main shows as and when it happens.

During the day on CNN International, CNN Talk with Max Foster will remain in its usual midday timeslot of 13:00.

In the afternoon on CNN International there will also be two changes. As previously reported, Bloomberg Television's Julia Chatterley is joining CNN International and her new business news show, First Move with Julia Chatterley, will now be seen at 15:00 in the afternoon.

Julia Chatterley will report from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and will cover the latest market moves in the United States and around the world.

Julia Chatterley will also appear in the recently introduced Quest Express with Richard Quest that remains in its 18:00 timeslot, but is apparently changing its programme title to The Express.

"With new shows and expanded programming, these changes will benefit our audiences enormously," says Mike McCarthy, the senior vice president and general manager of CNN International.

"Across business, current affairs, politics, culture and sport, CNN International viewers will get the complete picture, from around the world, in one place."


CNN International programme/timeslot changes from 10 September:
Now                                                                          10 September
15:00 CNN Money with Maggie Lake                     15:00 First Move with Julia Chatterley
16:00 International Desk
17:00 Connect the World with Becky Anderson
18:00 Quest Express                                                   18:00 The Express
19:00 Wolf                                                                     19:00 Amanpour
20:00 Amanpour / CNN Talk                                   20:00 Hala Gorani Tonight
21:00 Hala Gorani Tonight                                        21:00 Quest Means Business
22:00 Quest Means Business                                    22:00 The Lead with Jake Tapper
23:00 Amanpour (repeat)                                          23:00 CNN Today

CNNMoney International becoming the new CNN International multi-platform franchise hub for its financial and business news reporting.

More than a day late and a proverbial dollar short, the press release from CNN International (DStv 401) regarding CNNMoney's "aggressive global expansion" has finally landed in my inbox ...

... with Africa's media now also finally being informed about the change that already happened.

It comes more than a day after the United Kingdom and America were officially told and Africa once again got left by the wayside.

Why do people in media and in communications, communicate so badly about media to media? It's embarrassing.

"CNN Worldwide announced today ..." starts the press release that I got on Tuesday, although it was actually meant for yesterday, Monday, " "... the expansion of its CNNMoney brand internationally, across both TV and digital, to provide consumers around the world its industry-leading business and financial news and analysis" says CNN International.

"By uniting our portfolio of US and international business reporting under the CNNMoney brand, we now offer an even more compelling product to globally-minded consumers hungry for a smart, accessible business and financial news experience - everywhere in the world," says Mike McCarthy, CNN International's senior vice president and general manager.

Like I had to guess yesterday, the names of programming on CNN International are indeed changing - in fact, it already changed on Monday.

These include CNNMoney View with Nina dos Santos and CNNMoney with Maggie Lake.

CNN International didn't yet bother to actually tell MultiChoice, or MultiChoice didn't bother to update its programming, since the DStv electronic programme guide (EPG) still reflect the old names.

"Also joining the CNNMoney roster are John Defterios, emerging markets editor based in Abu Dhabi; Andrew Stevens, Asia Pacific editor based in Hong Kong, Eleni Giokos, Africa business correspondent based in Johannesburg; and Samuel Burke, CNNMoney business correspondent based in New York".

"The multi-platform editorial teams will be led by Penny Manis, director of global business news programming based in New York, and Mark Thompson, managing editor of CNNMoney International who is based in London".

"More business professionals come to CNN than any other international news brand for news and analysis about how geopolitical events and trends are impacting business, markets and personal wealth," says Antonio Canto, CNN International's vice president for advertising sales.

"The new CNNMoney International franchise will appeal to our African audience and advertisers as we extend our business coverage across TV, online,social and mobile, breaking down the world's most important business, financial and economic news, and getting analysis and perspective from the world's most important thinkers".

CNN International says CNNMoney will "also be the new digital home for our highly successful business feature content" that include African Start-Up, Marketplace Africa, Passion to Portfolio and Africa View.

CNN International snaps up Eleni Giokos as African business correspondent; will report on news and business, work across CNN's Africa programmes.

In a hiring coup, CNN International (DStv 401) has appointed the wanderlust reporter and anchor Eleni Giokos as an African business correspondent based in the news network's Johannesburg bureau.

Eleni Giokos who already did her first on-air interview for CNN Marketplace Africa on Friday joins CNN International after Bloomberg Television downsized this year and quietly shuttered its dedicated Africa business coverage.

Eleni Giokos joined Bloomberg TV Africa from eNCA (DStv 403) exactly two years ago as senior anchor and financial journalist anchoring two programmes for the channel just as she was about to anchor a new business show on eNCA. Before eNCA she anchored on and was a business reporter for CNBC Africa (DStv 410).

Eleni Giokos' addition to CNN International's Africa team bolsters the already formidable, and phenomenal, line-up of on-air talent of the TV news channel.

Eleni Giokos is now part of the CNN International Africa group that includes names like the extremely knowledgeable and experienced Robyn Kriel who also left eNCA earlier this year to join CNN International, David McKenzie who returned to Africa from covering China for CNN International a few month ago, and Soni Methu coming into her own as the presenter of the weekly Inside Africa magazine show.

No longer based in South Africa, but anchoring daily for CNN International is the excellent Robyn Curnow, hailing from South Africa.

According to CNN International, Eleni Giokos, who has an honours degree in journalism and media studies from the University of Witwatersrand, will take on a range of responsibilities for the network.

Besides reporting on news and business stories, Eleni Giokos will work across CNN International's African feature programmes, including Marketplace Africa and African Voices.

"Eleni is an enormously talented and versatile broadcaster," says Mike McCarthy, the senior vice president for programming at CNN International.

"She has interviewed world leaders, covered major breaking news stories, and presented network feature programmes. Her appointment underlines our commitment to African stories and African audiences. We're delighted to have her here at CNN."