DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
CBS Corp. (CBS) is reshuffling the line-up on its market-lagging
morning news offering, "The Early Show," with its current cast
shifting to new roles starting Jan 3.
"The Early Show" has been a longtime No. 3 in the ratings among
the broadcast-network morning shows, getting about half the
audience of the leader "Today," which airs on NBC.
Erica Hill and Chris Wragge, co-anchors of "The Early Show"
Saturday edition since 2008, will take on those roles on the
weekday show starting Jan. 3, succeeding Harry Smith and Maggie
Rodriguez.
Smith, who has co-anchored the show for eight years, will shift
his focus to hard news with an expanded role as primary substitute
anchor on "The Evening News With Katie Couric," "Face the Nation"
and "Sunday Morning" while continuing to report for CBS's news
broadcasts.
Rodriguez' new post has yet to be determined, nor has that for
weekday weatherman Dave Price. He is being succeeded by Marysol
Castro, weather and feature correspondent at ABC News' weekend
edition of rival "Good Morning America" for the past six years.
Jeff Glor, also a Saturday edition veteran since 2009 and a
substitute anchor for "CBS Evening News" since March 2007, will be
the news anchor. Hill has been filling that post since January.
CBS shares were up 3.7% at $17 in recent trading. The stock is
up 21% this year as advertising has turned around this year, even
though the economy has remained sluggish.
-By Tess Stynes, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2481;
Tess.Stynes@dowjones.com