CNN is shaking up its early mornings — tapping “CNN Headline Express” anchor Brad Smith to temporarily helm the network’s 5 a.m. ET hour as the cable giant leans harder into its streaming-first strategy.
Smith, who currently fronts the network’s FAST-channel news roundup “CNN Headline Express,” will begin anchoring the crack-of-dawn slot on an interim basis, the Status newsletter first reported Wednesday.
FAST, short for “free ad-supported streaming television,” refers to internet-delivered TV channels that mimic traditional cable programming but are free to viewers and funded entirely through advertising.
Major FAST platforms include Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus and Amazon Freevee, which offer around-the-clock news, movies, sports and entertainment channels without a subscription fee.
A CNN spokesperson contacted by The Post confirmed the morning programming change.
The move marks another push by CNN to integrate its free ad-supported streaming television product with its traditional linear channel founded by the late Ted Turner.
Under the arrangement, Smith’s program will first air live on CNN’s main cable network at 5 a.m. ET before replaying on the network’s FAST channels at 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Smith joined CNN last year after stints at Yahoo Finance and Cheddar, where he built a rep as a fast-paced business and breaking-news anchor.
CNN officially launched “CNN Headline Express” last year as part of a broader overhaul of its streaming offerings, pitching the show as a quick-hit mix of national and international headlines, business, sports, entertainment and culture.
The network has increasingly leaned on FAST programming as executives search for younger viewers and new advertising revenue streams amid the decline of traditional cable subscriptions.
CNN parent Warner Bros. Discovery has made streaming expansion a priority while facing pressure on the linear TV side of the business.
The early-morning slot has long been a key battleground for cable news networks, serving as a lead-in to flagship morning programming and a testing ground for emerging talent.
It was not immediately clear how long Smith would remain in the role on an interim basis or whether CNN plans to make the move permanent.
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