CNN DENIES IT PLANS TO AIR REALITY SHOWS

CNN has denied a report that appeared in the New York Post on Monday claiming that it plans to launch a number of non-news reality shows. In a statement, the network acknowledged that it is considering “other nonfiction original series” for its weekend programming but said these would likely be travel and documentary series and the like rather than competition shows like Survivor or fly-on-the-wall celebrity features like Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Reporting on the struggling cable news network’s response to the Post item, today’s (Tuesday) New York Times noted that “CNN is clearly seeking new directions for its programs” but that no major overhaul is expected until a successor is found for Jim Walton, who announced last month that he will step down at the end of the year.