CNN silences ‘TalkBack Live’

CNN’s afternoon “TalkBack Live” will talk no more.

The 9-year-old program from the mall on the ground floor of CNN’s Atlanta headquarters, hosted by Arthel Neville, was abruptly canceled Friday. It will be replaced by a third hour of the newsier “Live From.... “

Although its ratings were strong, “TalkBack Live” was an anomaly on the CNN schedule, with its studio audience and frequent panels of shouting talk radio hosts.

Under new CNN News Group President Jim Walton, CNN has been moving quickly to excise some of the talk show and louder elements of its presentation and present a more consistent news-oriented schedule.

As part of the change, the expanded “Live From ...” will get a new co-host, with Miles O’Brien, who handled anchoring duties the day of the Columbia shuttle disaster, joining Kyra Phillips.