Business

CNN to tap new prexy

Time Warner head honcho Jeff Bewkes is close to naming a new chief for struggling CNN.

Bewkes, speaking during a call with analysts to discuss quarterly results, said that a replacement could be in place by the time outgoing President Jim Walton exits at year’s end. Speculation on who will fill the post continues to center on former NBC Universal boss Jeff Zucker.

During the call, Bewkes also conceded that CNN, whose ratings are regularly beaten by Fox News and MSNBC, has to figure out how to draw viewers in the absence of big news events. (News Corp. owns Fox and The Post.)

“CNN can do a better job attracting and retaining audience when news isn’t breaking,” he said.

Time Warner’s profit rose to $838 million, or 86 cents a share, from $822 million, or 78 cents, a year ago. The results beat analysts’ average estimate of 82 cents. Revenue fell 3 percent to $6.84 billion.