Erin Burnett

Anchor, CNN's 'Erin Burnett OutFront'

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/27/2012 12:01:00 AM

All eyes are on CNN’s primetime lineup, and as its newest addition, Erin Burnett is in the spotlight to deliver. Her 7 p.m. program—a mix of issues and interviews—has not done much to move the needle. And though an election year has helped, the network’s overall primetime ratings are not getting much better. But CNN execs seem to like Burnett. And as a former CNBC stalwart, she has business chops to lean on when things like the debt ceiling and Greece’s austerity measures are in the news (as they often seem to be these days).

CNN chief Ken Jautz says he is done making changes to prime for now, but with Anderson Cooper still at 8 and 10 p.m., there is room for Burnett to be groomed for a more high-profile time period. And if not: Hey, we hear Keith Olbermann may soon be a free agent.