Even by CNN simulcasting standards, they're outdoing themselves this hour.
The breaking news about Harry & Meghan is big no doubt but it seems an odd story to go into simulcasting mode over. And with it being a big breaking story about the UK and Canada and having next to no relevance to the US, it's of course CNN Domestic that take the lead. It must be CNN policy for Domestic to take the lead on breaking stories these days, otherwise if you're not simulcasting CNNI on a story like this when will you?
And I know simulcasting is at times warranted but the extent to which CNN do is beyond a joke at this stage - yes it's been a busy last few months newswise but it's at the stage where it's more of a surprise when CNNI do stick to their schedule.
But if you think about it, the reason they simulcast an international story is because domestic want to cover it in breaking news mode as well and it's the most effective way to share resources- either on the ground or expertise etc. The reason they use domestic anchors is because domestic is their priority channel and they want presenters that are familiar to the US audience, most of which are also familiar to CNNI viewers anyway incidentally, but would not necessarily be the case the other way round.
BBC World do just the same, if they need to simulcast they will do a generic BBC News bulletin but in majority of cases News Channel will take the lead, sometimes joined by a World anchor if the situation warrants it.
I think criticism of the domestic simulcasting is over the top, by and large I enjoy it, and the reason I watch CNN is for the US perspective, otherwise why not watch Sky.
I get where you're coming from and you've made your point well (particularly when it comes to sharing resources)but it's the sheer number of simulcasts that's the main issue from my end. It's been a busy few months of news but it's at the stage where multiple times per week is the norm. It happens so often that while it almost certainly isn't the case it feels like they don't trust the International anchor to cover a rolling story.
As you say others like the BBC do simulcast at times but that's only a few times per year not per week/month like it is on CNN.
In addition, there are plenty of US simulcasts already in the schedule - New Day, Early Start, Cuomo Primetime, AC360 and Don Lemon's show are all simulcast so plenty of shows global viewers can watch if they wanted a US perspective without additional simulcasts.
I don't feel it works as well too on CNN as BBC - BBC News & World News at the end of the day are quite similar in terms of their tone so simulcasts aren't so jarring. Whereas for me at least there's a noticable difference in tone between CNNUS & CNNI - CNNUS has a much more ESPN 'talking heads'/over-the-top type feel to it these days whereas International is still relatively toned down and has the feel of a proper news channel (despite its numerous taped programs). A Boulduan or Blitzer show is very different from say Hala or Becky's show - as was shown back when CNNI used to have Wolf & State of America on nightly. Plus on US political news, even as somebody who's a political junkie CNNUS does seem to assume a strong base of knowledge of US politics that I doubt many International viewers have.
As you say though at least if it is an international story it does mean that when they simulcast, CNN's largely excellent global correspondents are heavily featured.