Christiane Amanpour, CNN's chief international anchor and one of the network's most decorated journalists, is to leave the broadcaster after 43 years. She announced the decision in a statement, saying her flagship programme «Amanpour» will end in May and that she will depart the network at the end of June.
Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 as an assistant on the international assignment desk, when the channel was still in its early years. Over four decades she became one of the most recognisable faces in international broadcasting, reporting from conflict zones and conducting interviews with heads of state and government. Her departure marks the end of one of the longest and most prominent careers in television news.
She also hosts «Amanpour and Company» for PBS in the United States, a programme that will conclude at the end of this year. The announcement covers both of her current on-air roles, leaving her without a regular television platform from 2027 unless new arrangements are confirmed.
Her exit comes as CNN's ownership enters a new phase following the company's recent acquisition by David Ellison's Skydance Media. The departure is not thought to be linked to that deal, though it coincides with a period of change at the top of the organisation as the new proprietor sets out his plans for the business.
Amanpour built her reputation on foreign reporting, covering major conflicts and crises across the Middle East, the Balkans and beyond. She later moved into anchoring and interviewing, becoming a fixture of CNN's international coverage and a prominent voice on global affairs. Her programme has been a regular slot for long-form interviews with political leaders, diplomats and cultural figures.
The timing of the announcement gives CNN several months to plan the future of its international output. The network has not indicated who, if anyone, will take over her responsibilities or whether the «Amanpour» slot will be replaced. The loss of such an established figure is significant for a broadcaster seeking to define its identity under new ownership.
For British audiences, Amanpour's work has been a familiar presence on CNN's international service, which is widely available through pay-television and online platforms. Her interviews with UK political figures and her reporting on European and transatlantic affairs have featured regularly in the network's schedules.
Her departure follows a long period in which she combined roles at CNN and PBS, appearing on both sides of the Atlantic. The decision to wind down both programmes within months of each other suggests a deliberate break rather than a move between rival broadcasters, although no further plans have been disclosed.
CNN has not commented beyond confirming the statement. The end of her tenure will be closely watched in the media industry as a test of how the new ownership intends to shape the network's international journalism.