CNN host Ashleigh Banfield is moving to HLN to take over Nancy Grace's 8 p.m. slot.
Her new show will debut October 17 after Grace's departure. Grace announced she was leaving in late June after 11 years at the network.
"She will bring her legal experience and views to HLN prime, tackling the day's most pressing social and legal issues mixed with her own passionate point of view and spirited conversation," HLN chief Ken Jautz wrote in a note to staff, obtained by TVNewser.
Banfield's "Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield" currently airs at noon for an hour each day on CNN. The Canadian native worked at MSNBC for four years before joining Court TV in 2005. She also worked for a time as an ABC News correspondent. She joined CNN in 2011 in mornings before moving to mid-days in 2013.
Grace's show was based at CNN Center in Atlanta. I am awaiting confirmation but presumably, Banfield will remain in New York. If that's the case, it would be part of the gradual reduction in Atlanta-based hours at HLN. Recently, HLN added a show based in Los Angeles hosted by former CNN "New Day" host Michaela Pereira after Robin Meade's Atlanta-based morning show.
Since 2014, none of CNN's weekday show anchors are located in Atlanta. (Some production is still done here.)
By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Thursday, August 18, 2016
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