CNN Task Force Mulls Programming for Women : Television: Female executives and producers are also looking into the possibility of forming a women’s cable network.

CNN has quietly formed an internal task force of female executives and producers to look into ways to strengthen programming of special interest to women and, possibly, into prospects for a new, separate cable network aimed at women.

Although the talks are informal and only beginning, sources at the network said that the results could range from a greater reflection of women’s interests on existing CNN programs to creating new shows in the mold of “Crier & Co.,” a talk show featuring CNN anchor Catherine Crier and a group of female pundits.

Spinning off a separate channel of programming in the future also is an idea that will be discussed. CNN executives will present their ideas to CNN founder Ted Turner by the end of the year, sources said.

“Turner Broadcasting is exploring a wide range of improved women’s programming for CNN and the other Turner networks,” CNN President Tom Johnson confirmed in an interview. “We have established a task force. We are looking at ways to improve women’s programming on CNN, and there may be other opportunities for us in the future.”

CNN executives emphasized that they were not talking about altering CNN’s news identity or adding old-fashioned, stereotypical “women’s” stories such as fashion to the mix.

“In no way is this an attempt to ‘soften’ the identity of CNN,” said Gail Evans, the CNN vice president who is in charge of the task force. “We’re really just beginning to talk about this, but the whole idea is to look into whether there are new approaches to the news and new ways of reflecting the diversity of women’s voices.”

Evans, who created “Crier & Co.,” cited that show as one example of the kind of news programming she was talking about.

“Instead of having all male panelists, or having one woman among a group of men, the way other (such) talk shows do, on ‘Crier & Co.’ we’ve had a group of women discussing the Persian Gulf War and other important issues of the day. On one level, that’s not revolutionary--but, on another level, it is, because such a conversation so rarely takes place on TV.”

CNN says that among people 18 and older, its audience currently consists of 53% men and 47% women.