Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Thursday, March 24th, 2022

Would pay for a news streamer that's like an alternate universe version of CNN?

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, March 24th, 2022. 

CNN+ ANNOUNCES DAILY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
The streaming news service CNN+ is set to launch on March 29th and today the company released its daily programming schedule:

• 7:00 AM EST: 5 Things with Kate Bolduan – Need to get up to speed quickly? CNN’s most popular newsletter and podcast is expanding to a new morning show hosted by CNN Anchor Kate Bolduan. 5 Things gives you the five stories you need to know to start your day. Grab a coffee and count down the top five essential stories of the morning with us.
  

• 8:00 AM EST: Go There – Go There takes you to the front lines of breaking news. Join the crew and go behind the scenes with CNN’s reporters and correspondents stationed around the world. We have cameras in every corner of the planet. This is your live, all-access pass to the most essential and visual news stories of the day. Currently available exclusively on CNN Digital properties, Go There’s award-winning reporting has been recognized across the industry and holds the title of the most watched news video on Facebook with live reporting from Wuhan, China in January 2020.
  

• 9:00 AM EST: Big Picture with Sara Sidner – Big Picture is an in-depth look at the most important and interesting story of the day, hosted by CNN’s Sara Sidner. Sidner hosts a deep-dive conversation featuring CNN’s award-winning reporters and expert guests. Zoom out and contemplate the broader scope of today’s top story and how various pieces of the puzzle connect.
  

• 11:00 AM EST: Reliable Sources Daily – From New York to Hollywood to Silicon Valley – CNN’s Chief Media Correspondent and Anchor Brian Stelter brings together all the headlines in the media on Reliable Sources Daily – a new expansion of his nightly e-newsletter, podcast and Sunday show on CNN. He’ll take a critical look at the media, how the news is made and why it matters to you. This show is your most reliable source in the quickly evolving world of media, business and entertainment.
   

• 4:00 PM EST: The Source with Kasie Hunt – Get a fresh take on politics with CNN Anchor and Chief National Affairs Analyst Kasie Hunt, as she travels around the nation’s capital to dissect the power structures behind policies impacting communities across the country. Join Hunt for exclusive, illuminating interviews, in-depth analysis and straightforward insights for both seasoned news junkies and political novices.
  

• 5:00 PM EST: The Global Brief with Bianca Nobilo – The Global Brief with Bianca Nobilo is an incisive look at the most important international news stories in the last 24 hours – providing unrivaled depth and quality for busy CNN+ viewers in a fast-moving world.
   

• 6:00 PM EST: Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? – Join CNN+ Anchor Chris Wallace, one of the most highly-respected journalists of our time, in candid conversations with prominent individuals across the spectrum of news, sports, entertainment, art and culture. Wallace moves outside of politics to include his wide range of interests – from interviews to conversations, and from headlines to smart, sensible, in-depth discussions. He seeks light, not heat. *New episodes Monday-Thursday
  
  

• 7:30 PM EST: The Newscast with Wolf Blitzer – CNN Anchor Wolf Blitzer gives it to you straight, hitting the headlines you need to know on this traditional evening newscast with a sleek, modern twist. The old-school nostalgic approach featuring original reporting from around the world, investigations and consumer focused stories that matter helps put the latest headlines in perspective

I can't really weigh in too much on this schedule prior to the launch. But I will say that I think the streamer is missing some low-hanging fruit when it comes to audience building. This lineup is very insider-oriented and it essentially is a lot like the lineup for CNN - just with some different faces. 

I would liked to have seen some sort of midday news show that focused more on outside the beltway stories - at least on slow news days. It's a niche that has an audience and linear news channels just don't bother pursuing it. Doing a show called "Flyover Country" with an anchor set in St. Louis or Minneapolis or Denver has an enormous amount of potential. And I feel that if you're trying to build a new platform - and charging a subscription fee - you should take some chances and possibly build out your audience.

For that matter, why not bring back Crossfire, with a Never Trumper serving as the conservative voice? It's a brand familiar to longtime cable news viewers and even if it doesn't work in the long-run, the reboot would certainly receive a lot of press attention.

And then there is the bigger philosophical programming question. It's clear from interviews that CNN's future Discovery Communications overlords believe the cable network should "return to its non-partisan journalistic roots." I happen to disagree with that assessment, but even if I thought that was a good idea, why take the same approach with CNN+? The main goal here is to drive subscribers and partisan opinion drives engagement. Which is one driver of sign-ups. I'm not suggesting that CNN+ should become Fox News+ or veer just as hard to the Left. But I am suggesting they could add some shows that tack outside the familiar. Have someone from CNN International do a show that focuses on international issues, especially when it comes to how the rest of the world views America. 

For that matter, do a show based in Canada or even Mexico City. CNN has the biggest group of international assets in the industry, so why not take advantage of them? Have one-off shows that represent different political points of view.

But clearly, that is not where CNN+ is headed. Check out this list of weekly shows, which is heavy with familiar faces doing one-on-one interviews:

• Anderson Cooper Full Circle – CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper hosts a twice-weekly show that features Cooper interviewing authors, entertainers, mindfulness experts and community leaders, while highlighting the stories happening outside of Washington. Previously available exclusively on CNN Digital properties, the show also answers viewer questions and shares uplifting stories submitted by fan *New episodes Tuesdays and Saturdays

• Boss Files with Poppy Harlow – What does it take to be the boss? CNN Anchor Poppy Harlow gets the answers from the biggest names in business. Sit in on intimate conversations and confessions from today’s most influential leaders and learn how personal and professional struggles helped them forge a path to success. *New episodes Mondays for first season

• Jake Tapper’s Book Club – Read between the lines with CNN Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper as he interviews a diverse roster of newsmaking authors and a few of his all-time favorites. Find out the story behind their bestselling and critically acclaimed books and add more to your reading list along the way. *New episodes Sundays

• Parental Guidance with Anderson Cooper – New dad, CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper gets parenting advice from experts as he navigates life as a working parent. Anderson confronts everyday challenges from sleep schedules to screen time to audience questions about relatable daily struggles. *New episodes Wednesdays

• No Mercy No Malice with Scott Galloway – Serial entrepreneur, bestselling author and business professor Scott Galloway isn’t afraid to make bold predictions and hold the powerful accountable. His unapologetic take is essential viewing for anyone interested in how business, tech and society intersect. Prepare to be enlightened and entertained. *New episodes Tuesdays

I am sure that some of the shows will be informative and entertaining. But is there anything here that says "hey, you should subscribe to see this!"

And that seems to me to be the biggest challenge for CNN+. Is the streamer capable of creating buzzworthy programming people will pay to see?

TWEET OF THE DAY

WHAT'S NEW FOR THURSDAY
Here's a quick rundown of all the new stuff premiering today on TV and streaming:

Atlanta Season Three Premiere (FX)
Halo Series Premiere (Paramount+)
Have You Seen This Man? (Hulu)
Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed (Discovery+)
Love Like The Falling Petals (Netflix)
One Perfect Shot Series Premiere (HBO Max)
Queenstars Series Premiere (HBO Max)
Starstruck (HBO Max)
Traffickers: Inside The Golden Triangle (HBO Max)
WWE Evil Series Premiere (Peacock)

Click Here to see the list of all of the upcoming premiere dates for the next few months.

SEE YOU FRIDAY! 

If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.