Fox’s Kiran Chetry will take over CNN’s American Morntake

WASHINGTON, DC: South Asian television journalist and former Fox News anchor Kiran Chetry took over CNN’s top-rated American Morning on Monday along with co-anchor John Roberts, CNN’s senior national correspondent, who regularly substitute-anchored Anderson Cooper 360 and Paula Zahn Now, two of CNN’s most-watched evening shows. American Morning was earlier hosted by Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien.

Listed third in Maxim Magazine’s 2006 list of TV’s 10 Sexiest News Anchors, Chetry was with Fox News since 2001, when she joined as general reporter. She became a rotating anchor at Fox and Friends, one of America’s most-watched morning shows. In 2005, she became the full-time host of the weekend version of the same programme.

“We’ve watched her light up the screen for years,” said CNN US President Jonathan Klein, “and we are thrilled that she was able to join our team. She’s a breath of fresh air and brings a delight to work with, and it’s no wonder she’s already been embraced by CNN viewers.” For her part, the 32-year-old Chetry said: “CNN is the gold standard when it comes to journalism, and I am thrilled to be part of the team.”

Chetry’s joining CNN was not without controversy, though. Fox refused to renew her contract, which was scheduled to end in the first few months of 2007 after a spat over a clause that Chetry wanted to include. Fox maintained that the clause she wanted to include would have meant that her co-anchor Gretchen Carlson would have been fired. Chetry said through her agent that Fox’s claim is “absolutely false”. 

The Fox News letter firing Chetry was leaked to some media outlets who then promptly put it online. 

Chetry’s American Morning slot begins at 6 am Eastern running for three hours, and is the only morning show on US cable news that focuses purely on news. At present, it is the second most watched morning news show on cable averaging 3.72 lakh viewers daily after Fox and Friends which averages 7.69 lakh viewers every day.