Why CNN's 'arrest' screw-up is particularly hard on CNN

CNN had a rough day Wednesday, first reporting that a suspect had been a arrested in relation to the Boston Marathon bombings, then backtracking. It culminated in Chris Cuomo asking for a "reset" on live TV.

Of course, all this comes as the network is in the middle of a reset of its own, with new CNN head Jeff Zucker shuffling up the on-air talent and schedule with hopes of drawing in more viewers. This week Zucker said CNN had become equivalent to "a spare tire in the trunk. You only take it out when you really need it."

That's what makes Wednesday's mix-up so damaging.

As news critic Andrew Tyndall told The Hollywood Reporter, “The game plan for CNN is to wait until a major story happens and then strut their stuff. Anybody can make a mistake. But when CNN makes a mistake, it matters more to them because this is the one time that they can get eyeballs to sample them.”

@eScarry