The New York Observer

Topic [B]? The Daily Beast Prepares for Chat Shows and Cable Spots

Tina Brown is planning to launch an online talk show for The Daily Beast, according to former Newsweek staffers apprised of the company’s plans. The Newsweek Daily Beast company recently hired several network television producers, including Kathy O’Hearn, who ditched an executive producer position at CNN almost immediately postmerger, and Susie Banikarim, poached from Diane Sawyer.

Ms. O’Hearn was the executive producer and creator of Topic [A], Ms. Brown’s last foray into televised talk, launched after Hearst shut down Ms. Brown’s Talk magazine. According to a television source, it was Ms. Brown herself who pulled the plug on the Sunday night CNBC show, in order to meet the deadline for her Princess Diana biography and because CNBC’s investment—the show aired after a block of infomercials—didn’t match her editorial ambitions. 
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