WASHINGTON (AFP) – US cable television network CNN axed a talk show on Wednesday hosted by Eliot Spitzer, the former New York governor whose promising political career was derailed by a prostitution scandal.
Spitzer's one-hour show, "In The Arena," was cancelled after just nine months. In February, Spitzer's co-host, conservative commentator Kathleen Parker, left the show, which had been suffering from consistently low ratings.
Ken Jautz, executive vice president for CNN/US, said the Atlanta-based network was in discussions with Spitzer "about an alternative role."
But Spitzer, in a statement released by CNN, indicated that his time at the 24-hour cable television network may be over.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at CNN," Spitzer said.
"We engaged serious people in conversations about national and global issues in a way that was informative and challenging," he said. I believe that we provided diverse and valuable perspectives during the show's tenure."
The CNN show was seen as a comeback vehicle for Spitzer, a Democrat who resigned as governor in March 2008 after it became known that he had solicited call girls from a prostitution outfit known as "Emperors Club VIP."
CNN said that beginning on August 8, star correspondent Anderson Cooper's nightly news show "AC360" is to replace Spitzer in the 8:00 pm (0000 GMT) slot on weeknights.
The network also said that Erin Burnett, formerly of business news network CNBC, would host a general news show that would air at 7:00 pm (2300 GMT) on weeknights.
