The executive’s departure is expected to lead to changes in programming and possible layoffs of presenters and commentators
The announcement of Renata Afonso’s resignation took no one by surprise. The CEO of CNN Brasil was in a delicate situation and showed his intention to take another path.
His position worsened when the channel’s owner, billionaire Rubens Menin, hired a trusted friend, businessman João Camargo, as president (chairman of the board). He now he will accumulate the role of CEO.
The arrival of the new almighty led to the emptying of power by Renata, who had taken over in May 2021, after a successful management at TV Tem, a Globo affiliate in the interior of São Paulo.
In his 19 months in office, the CEO has not achieved a significant audience result. Launched in March 2020, CNN Brasil ended up being overtaken in Ibope by Jovem Pan News which opened in October 2021.
Initially seen as a channel of solidarity with Jair Bolsonaro for his owner’s declared support for the president, the broadcaster soon increased the pitch of criticism against the handling of the covid-19 pandemic.
He has become both an opponent of the government and the leader among the news channels, GloboNews, owned by the Marinho family. Running out, Jovem Pan News assumed himself as a spokesman for the radical right and Bolsonarismo. With that, he quickly attracted more audiences.
Renata Afonso’s main project was CNN Soft – a block of programs with light agendas (a part focused on entertainment), in contrast to hard news, hot news about politics, the economy and public safety.
From an editorial point of view, the idea was interesting, but, in practice, it did not work to generate more audience and increase revenue.
Other than falling behind its main competitors on Ibope, CNN Brasil has little impact on social media. Internet engagement has become a must for any television network. Online influence is a thermometer for the advertising market.
Recently, there has been more talk about the channel’s internal problems, such as the resignation of host Daniel Adjuto over an alleged disagreement with a colleague and the dismantling of the Rio editorial team, than about news content and other attractions.
It is important to underline the quality of CNN Brasil’s programming and the ability of its journalists. Among the broadcasters of the genre, it is the one that most practices balance in the coverage of the facts, with room for the necessary contradictory.
Meanwhile, GloboNews is progressive (with a blatant anti-Bolsonarist discourse and little plurality) and Jovem Pan News continues to preach conservatism and anti-left.
The departure of Renata Afonso strengthens the authority of João Camargo and indicates probable changes in the channel. Behind the scenes there are fears of a wave of layoffs of video professionals and an editorial shift to the right to clash with JP News.
It is known that one of the missions of the new CEO is to increase television revenue. CNN Brasil is not profitable yet. With a fortune of nearly 2 billion reais, Rubens Menin seems intent on continuing to invest as long as there is a prospect of higher medium-term financial returns.
The dismissal of Renata Afonso affects the representative of the Brazilian communication elite. She was the only woman, and the only openly gay person, to run a major television station in the country.
Globo, Record, SBT, Band, RedeTV!, TV Brasil, GloboNews and Jovem Pan News have apparently heterosexual men as CEOs or presidents.
Prior to working for CNN Brasil and TV Tem, Renata Afonso held management positions at RedeTV!, HBO Latin America, Grupo Bandeirantes and MTV. At the beginning of her career she was a journalist and television presenter.
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Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
