The Huffington Post is reporting that CNN has announced the names of its new morning shows. The 5-to-7 a.m. show will be called Early Start. Soledad O'Brien's 7-to-9 a.m. program will be titled Starting Point:
CNN will debut its new morning show led by host Soledad O'Brien on January 2, 2012. The network made the announcement on Wednesday.
CNN announced in November that it had decided to dismantle its current morning show "American Morning," and divide the program into two separate shows: one from 5-7 a.m. and the other from 7-9 a.m.
Former MSNBC anchor Ashleigh Banfield was announced as co-host of the 5-7 a.m. program, along with former local Chicago newscaster, Zoraida Sambolin.
Former "American Morning" anchor Soledad O'Brien (she co-hosted from 2003-2007) was recruited back to mornings at CNN, where she will host the 7-9 a.m. show. The program will be, in CNN's words, a "conversational ensemble" show, with O'Brien at the center.
We welcome Soledad O'Brien back to CNN mornings. She will add a strong and important voice to a critical time slot.