CNN Announces Names and Premiere Dates for New Morning Shows

The Hollywoodreporter.com reports that cable network CNN has announced the names and premire dates for its upcoming slate of new morning shows.

The network's morning fare will start with 'Early Start', airing 5:00 - 7:00 am beginning January 2, 2012. Ashleigh Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin will serve as hosts of the show.  Soledad O'Brien's new am series, 'Starting Point' will follow immediately after from 7:00 - 9:00 am. Both shows will air Monday through Friday.

CNN had revealed last October that its morning lineup was to undergo some major changes for the new year. It's current line up, 'American Morning Block' has not performed well in the ratings. Ashleigh Banfield will be joining the network after serving as a co-anchor on ABC News.  Zoraida Sambolin is a former anchorwoman from a Chicago news station.

Soledad O’Brien is an anchor and special correspondent for CNN/U.S. Since joining the network in 2003, O’Brien has reported breaking news from around the globe and has produced award-winning, record-breaking and critically acclaimed documentaries on the most important stories facing the world today. She also covers political news as part of CNN’s “Best Political Team on Television.”