The short-lived talk show, ‘King Charles’, hosted by Charles Barkley and Gayle King, has come to an unexpected end after just six months on CNN. Despite the initial excitement surrounding the show’s launch last November, it struggled to find an audience and gain momentum.
CNN had already announced that ‘King Charles’ would only run for a limited time, with its conclusion slated for early spring. However, the show faced tough competition from popular sitcom reruns like ‘Friends’ and the animated series ‘South Park’, which overshadowed it in terms of viewership.
Nielsen data further highlighted the show’s difficulties, revealing that ‘King Charles’ had the lowest-rated prime time weeknight series debut on CNN in the past decade. Despite the star power of Barkley and King, the show failed to connect with audiences, experiencing a 20 percent decline in viewership since its premiere.
Sources suggest that Barkley’s busy schedule as an NBA analyst posed a significant challenge to the show’s production. With his availability limited to Wednesdays only, the show struggled to adapt and respond to audience feedback.
Despite a promising start with 500,000 viewers for its first episode, ‘King Charles’ struggled to maintain its audience, averaging 459,000 viewers over 14 episodes. CNN acknowledged the end of the show’s limited run and praised its contribution to the network’s lineup and its appeal to a young, affluent, and diverse audience.
In an interview with DailyMail.com, Barkley expressed his admiration for King and stated that his decision to join the show was driven by his respect for her rather than a craving for more television exposure.
Although ‘King Charles’ faced disappointment, Barkley remains a prominent figure in sports broadcasting. He recently signed a lucrative 10-year deal with TNT to continue hosting ‘Inside the NBA’. This decision came after Barkley considered alternative opportunities, including the possibility of joining the Saudi-backed LIV Golf venture.
While the end of ‘King Charles’ marks a setback for Barkley and King, it serves as a reminder of the challenges in creating successful television programming, even with high-profile hosts. Moving forward, both Barkley and King are likely to explore new opportunities that capitalize on their individual strengths and appeal to a broader audience.
