CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour to leave after 43 years

Christiane Amanpour, one of the most recognised international correspondents of the past four decades, will sign off from CNN next year as the news channel comes under new ownership by David Ellison’s Skydance Corp.

Amanpour, 68, became famous through her on-the-ground reporting from major war zones and humanitarian crises, including the Gulf War and the Bosnian War in the 1990s. The Iranian-British journalist is the chief international anchor for CNN and host of CNN International’s nightly interview program, Amanpour. She also hosts a weekly program on CNN and a daily show on PBS.

Amanpour’s exit comes as a new era dawns at CNN as it comes under a new owner, Skydance. After a year-long process, Skydance-owned Paramount closed its $US110 billion ($158 billion) buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6. The merger unites under one roof two giants in TV news — CBS and CNN. Amanpour had expressed concern about the impending deal earlier this year.

“Clearly I’m concerned, and I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say about a corporate thing that’s under way, but I am obviously, as a person, as a journalist with a record, concerned, and I’m concerned based on what’s happened to the other things that [David Ellison, has] taken over already, like CBS News,” Amanpour said in a May speech.

She will end her daily shows across CNN and PBS at the end of this year and maintain the weekly show on CNN through May and continue a “smooth transition through June.”

“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” Amanpour said in a statement shared by CNN chief executive officer Mark Thompson to staff on Monday.

“Like so many CNNers who will hear the news today, I’m very sorry to see her go, but I’ve come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally,” Thompson said.

Skydance co-CEO Ellison asked Thompson to stay on as CNN gets absorbed into the newly formed company alongside CBS News. The two are discussing a new contract for Thompson, whose current deal expires next year.

Amanpour said she will continue her podcast, The Ex-Files along with former husband James Rubin, and look forward to “interesting new projects down the line.”

On a personal front. Amanpour has spoken openly about her 2021 diagnosis of ovarian cancer and its later recurrence, calling it “the invisible killer.” She has urged others to “get all the scans that you can.”

Bloomberg, AP, wires

The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.