HLN has cancelled three shows as it prepares to unveil its new schedule and “re-position the brand,” the network announced on Monday.
In the first major change in new channel head Albie Hecht’s reign, a memo obtained by TheWrap said an unspecified number of staffers will be laid off: “While change is necessary to evolve HLN, it is also difficult,” Hecht wrote. “A handful of our family members will be impacted by today’s news.”
Those family members are the staffs of “Raising America,” “Now in America” and “Evening Express,” which have been cancelled.
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Not affected are “Morning Express,” “Jane Velez-Mitchell,” “Nancy Grace,” “Dr. Drew on Call” and “After Dark,” which will remain in their normal timeslots.
“News Now” will gain an hour, but anchor Mike Galanos will be joined by Susan Hendricks, Christi Paul and Lynn Berry.
ABC acquisition “What Would You Do?” returns to the schedule, airing weekdays at 5 p.m. The show has rotated around HLN’s schedule over the last few years.
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And “Showbiz Tonight” looks like the big winner here. It’s moving to 6 p.m. and broadcasting live from HLN’s newsroom, with repeats airing at noon and 11 p.m.
Though HLN remains in fourth place in cable news ratings, it made big gains in the third quarter in both dayside and primetime versus last year. In addition, it has the highest percentage of viewers in the 25-54 demo to total viewers of the other three networks.
The new lineup will begin Nov. 18.