New York: In the face of falling ratings, the CNN host Larry King announced on Tuesday evening, that he would end his long-running talk show, "Larry King Live," this fall.
Jonathan Klein, president of CNN's domestic channel, said that Mr. King, 76, was ending the show "on his own terms," just after his 25th anniversary. Mr. Klein said he would announce a new 9 pm program over the summer.
Mr. King will stay at CNN part time. In an announcement on his show, he said that he would host an undetermined number of specials "on major national and international subjects." "Larry King Live," the centerpiece of the CNN primetime schedule, has seen its ratings drop sharply in the recent years, particularly in the last six months, leading to widespread talk that Mr. King's current contract, which will expire in June 2011, could be his last. Asked by Bill Maher, his guest on his Tuesday night show, about the speculation in the media, Mr. King said "that had nothing to do with it." He said he approached CNN management about the change and they "graciously accepted."
