CNN News Central is a live daytime news program broadcast on CNN. It premiered on April 3, 2023, with its afternoon edition following two weeks later on April 17, 2023. The show replaced CNN Newsroom, a rolling news block that had aired various editions since 2006. Its morning edition also simulcasts on sister network HLN.
The format departs from its single-anchor predecessor, keeping a full team of anchors on set throughout each block. The presentation borrows heavily from CNN’s election-night coverage, using video walls and on-screen graphics to visualize breaking stories. Correspondents report live from the field throughout each broadcast, reinforcing an emphasis on real-time newsgathering over scripted segments.
The morning edition’s start time moved from 9 a.m. to 7 a.m. in February 2024. That slot opened up after CNN canceled CNN This Morning. The earlier block is simulcast on sister network HLN and carried in part on CNN International. CNN expanded that global simulcast in early 2025, extending international coverage to the broadcast’s first ninety minutes.
John Berman, Kate Bolduan and Sara Sidner have anchored the morning edition together since its April 3, 2023 debut. Brianna Keilar and Boris Sanchez have co-anchored the Washington-based afternoon edition since its April 17, 2023 launch. Jim Sciutto co-anchored the afternoon block alongside them until leaving for CNN Newsroom on CNN Max in September 2023.
