The CNN primetime show “King Charles,” co-hosted by Charles Barkley and Gayle King, has concluded after a six-month run. Despite the high-profile status of its hosts, the show faced challenges in drawing viewers, marking a challenging phase for the network in its efforts to refresh its evening schedule.

Launched in November 2023, “King Charles” was CNN’s bold attempt to bring a new dynamic to its primetime slot. The show, which combined current events discussions with celebrity interviews, was co-hosted by NBA legend Charles Barkley and renowned journalist Gayle King. However, the show’s inaugural episode attracted only 501,000 viewers, the lowest for a CNN weeknight primetime series in over ten years, and the numbers barely improved thereafter.

The show aired on Wednesdays at 10 p.m., competing against Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” and MSNBC’s “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell.” Both these shows significantly surpassed “King Charles” in viewership, with “Gutfeld!” drawing 2.2 million viewers and “The Last Word” securing 1.5 million, against the average of 459,000 viewers that “King Charles” managed to retain across its 14 episodes, as per Nielsen ratings.

Unlike many shows in the genre, “King Charles” aimed to be non-political, focusing on general interest and entertainment. This format, however, required more traction to build a substantial audience. While the viewer demographic showed potential with a younger, more diverse group, it wasn’t enough to compensate for the low engagement.

Despite its lackluster performance, CNN had always envisioned “King Charles” as a limited series, slated to run until early spring. The schedule corresponded with the NBA playoffs, necessitating Barkley to divert his attention back to his role on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” which would have posed scheduling conflicts for the continuation of the show.

The performance of “King Charles” was part of a broader strategy by CNN’s new management to diversify content and experiment with new formats. This strategy has involved several changes in the lineup and the introduction of new shows as the network strives to recapture its position in the competitive landscape of cable news.

For fans of Barkley and King, the end of “King Charles” might not be the final collaboration between the duo. Both hosts have expressed interest in future joint ventures. In their final broadcast, King hinted at more collaborations, saying, “I have loved working with you. And something tells me, Charles, this will not…be the last time we’re working together.”