Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN in June 2027 after 43‑year tenure

Amanpour will scale back her daily show to weekly in early 2027 and end her Saturday program before departing the network.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 19 Oct 2026 19:55:51 GMT

Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, announced on Monday that she will leave the network in June 2027, ending a 43‑year career at the cable news outlet.

What happened

Amanpour, 68, said in a memo to colleagues that she will step away from her eponymous daily program at the end of 2026 and continue her Saturday show, “The Amanpour Hour,” until May 2027. The program will then conclude, and she will exit CNN at the end of June 2027.

What the reports add

The Los Angeles Times reported that Amanpour will “step away from her eponymous daily CNN program at the end of the year” and continue her Saturday show until May before exiting the following month. NBC News added that the daily show will be scaled back to a weekly format in early 2027, with the final episode of the Saturday program slated for May 2027. The New York Post quoted Amanpour’s statement that she will “stick around until next June” and expressed speculation that her departure may be linked to concerns over the new owner, Skydance.

What was said

Mark Thompson, CNN’s chief executive, told newsroom employees, “After more than 43 years at CNN, Christiane has decided that the time is right to begin a new chapter,” and added that the program will conclude in May and she will leave at the end of June. Thompson said the decision was discussed over several months and described it as “the right time for her, both personally and professionally.”

Amanpour’s own memo said, “After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” The New York Post quoted her further saying she “looks forward to interesting new projects down the line, and will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism.”

How it came about

The departure follows the closing of the $111 billion Paramount‑Skydance merger with Warner Bros. Discovery on 6 October 2026, which placed CNN under new ownership alongside CBS News. Earlier this month, CNN chief Mark Thompson met with Skydance co‑chair David Ellison to discuss his continued role at the network (Felo). The merger has prompted staff concerns, as noted in a September 24 report on Kara Swisher’s exit over editorial‑direction worries (Felo).

Key facts

Christiane Amanpour will leave CNN in June 2027 after 43 years. (latimes.com)
Her daily show will shift to a weekly format in early 2027. (nbcnews.com)
The Saturday program "The Amanpour Hour" will end in May 2027. (latimes.com)
The departure follows the Paramount‑Skydance merger that placed CNN under new ownership. (nypost.com)

Background

<a href="/news/christiane-amanpour-cnn-departure">Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN in June 2027 after 43‑year tenure</a> reported the scaling back of her show and the network’s support for her decision.

Timeline

Why it matters

Amanpour’s exit marks the loss of a flagship journalist as CNN transitions under new Skydance ownership, potentially reshaping its international news strategy.

What happens next

CNN will continue with a weekly version of Amanpour’s show in early 2027 and will operate under the editorial oversight board required by the merger agreement.