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In a move that didn’t catch many by surprise, CNN has officially canceled its primetime talk show, “King Charles,” hosted by media personalities Charles Barkley and Gayle King. The announcement puts an end to a series that struggled to carve out a niche in the competitive cable news landscape.
“King Charles,” which aired its last episode just last week, was initially pitched as a bold venture. The show combined Barkley’s sharp wit and King’s journalistic expertise to tackle a mix of topics, from politics to pop culture. Despite the hosts’ charisma and chemistry, the program failed to resonate with a broad audience, often lagging behind in viewership ratings.
In early April, data showed that CNN’s ratings plummeted to a 33-year low, marking a significant downturn for the network that for nearly a decade, has positioned itself as a critical voice against former President Donald Trump. CNN’s struggle was evident not only in its viewership numbers but also in its performance within the coveted 25-54 age demographic, where it recorded its lowest-rated quarter since at least 1991.
From the outset, the series was described as a limited-run event. A CNN spokesperson reiterated this point, noting, “King Charles has come to the end of its limited run as we announced when it launched last fall. It was a great addition to CNN’s lineup, with the youngest, most affluent, and most diverse P2+ audience in its cable news time period.” This demographic achievement, however, wasn’t enough to secure a longer tenure for the show.
CNN has canceled Charles Barkley and Gayle King’s weekly show, ‘King Charles’, after just six months. pic.twitter.com/8UYJds5ELy
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 15, 2024
The show’s cancellation was hinted at several times by Barkley himself, who humorously remarked in an early episode, “We hope you all like the show. And we hope like hell y’all got Nielsen boxes,” referencing the Nielsen TV ratings system that often dictates the fate of television programming.
During the final episode, the co-hosts expressed gratitude towards their team and each other. “I have loved working with you and something tells me, Charles, this will not be the last time that we’re working together,” King said, to which Barkley jovially replied, “Call me Gayle.”
Their sign-off was bittersweet, with King telling viewers, “We will see you the next time whenever we see you. Thanks so much for being with us for the past six months. We had a blast.”
“Anybody who knows anything about television knows that these things take time,” Ryan Kadro, the senior vice president of content strategy at CNN, remarked during an interview. “It’s a young show and we’re really excited about its potential.”
The cancellation reflects broader challenges at CNN, which has been experimenting with its programming mix following the ouster of former CEO Chris Licht, who was instrumental in launching “King Charles.” Licht had envisioned the show as a platform for Barkley and King to provide fresh perspectives on weekly news events, but consistent viewer engagement was never achieved. Both hosts are set to continue their media careers on other platforms, with King co-hosting “CBS Mornings” and Barkley returning as a basketball analyst for TNT, also owned by CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.
As CNN turns the page on this chapter, the network’s strategy in filling the prime-time slot previously occupied by “King Charles” remains to be seen.