Ann Curry CNN Gig Update, 'Too Expensive,' Says Source
CNN will not recruit Ann Curry because they think she is too expensive. The network's executives also feel that her bid to be let out of her NBC contract so she can work with her former boss, Jeff Zucker, who is now president at CNN, has gone "too far."
According to a report, Curry's salary request was too steep for Zucker who was brought to the struggling network help increase ratings and earnings for the famed cable network.
"Jeff won't pay $10 million for Ann," TV sources told Mail Online. "Jeff is a fan, but there is no anchor role for Ann at CNN, there's nowhere for her to go and she's much too expensive.
Curry asked NBC to sever her contract in December so she can move to CNN, but NBC has yet to grant her wish. She had hopes to join the network next month to begin working for Zucker, her former Today boss. Zucker reportedly wanted Curry to replace current CNN anchor Anderson Cooper for his current 8 p.m. EST time slot.
NBC executives reportedly would only consider releasing her if she would not appear on television for the next six months. Curry and her attorney did not slow down in her pursuit of the CNN gig. She was frustrated after the disastrous departure from the Today show that led to her being replaced by Savannah Guthrie. After her exit from the moring show segment, Curry was named NBC News' national and international correspondent and anchor, and Today anchor-at-large. She has had limited air time since she moved into her new role as NBC reportedly will not let Curry tape live interviews and will only run pre-taped segments of her.
"She's been pushing for live interviews, but NBC will only air her taped interviews, presumably so they can edit them," a source told The New York Post.
The Mail Online source said "there is a lot of resentment now at NBC that she had her moment, she had her pity party - but she's taken things too far. She needs to knuckle down, keep her head down and make some great TV."
For the moment, she's stuck at NBC, the source added.