Acosta is the first big name to exit CNN in the changes being implemented by CEO Mark Thompson. Thompson last week also told staff that the company intends to lay off a couple hundred employees in a pivot to digital, with a new streaming service in the works.

Jim Acosta, the well-known news anchor who joined CNN in 2007, is reportedly leaving the network. This comes after his name was officially removed from the programming schedule. The Status newsletter reported on Monday that Jim's departure was expected following last week's announcement that his 10am show would be replaced by The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown in a recent reshuffle at the network.

The network is moving Wolf Blitzer, a well-known CNN anchor, into his time slot, along with a co-anchor, Pamela Brown. Mr. Acosta’s show is third place in his time slot for total viewers, behind both MSNBC and Fox News, though he has outperformed his MSNBC competitor in the key demographic for advertisers.