Anderson Cooper to CBS?
The New York Times’ Brian Stelter writes about Anderson Cooper meeting with CBS Execs as an update to this Stelter/Bill Carter story on Broadcast News and Cable News…
The meeting took place months ago, well before Mr. Cooper was dispatched to cover the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January.
The silver-haired Mr. Cooper has worked at CNN since 2001, and has anchored the channel’s 10 and 11 p.m. hours since 2005.
It is unclear whether Mr. Cooper was (or is) being considered by CBS executives as a replacement for Ms. Couric, the anchor of the “CBS Evening News.” Her five-year contract ends in mid-2011.
Representatives for CBS and CNN had no comment on the report Sunday evening. One of the TV veterans informed of the meeting noted that it is not uncommon for TV stars to meet with executives at other networks, particularly ahead of a contract renegotiation.
Update: TVNewser has CNN trying to tamp down the story…
A CNN spokesperson tells us, “Reports that Cooper has recently met with CBS News re: an anchor position are false. He is not engaged in any additional conversations with them beyond those necessary for his continuing role on ’60 Minutes.’”
March 1, 2010 at 12:04 am
Dear CBS,
You can have him!
Sincerely,
A disgruntled CNN viewer
March 1, 2010 at 1:18 am
He’ll keep ‘em honest.
March 1, 2010 at 5:47 am
That AC might be thinking of moving to CBS is what I’ve believed and commented on here for awhile now.
He will probably be the eventual replacement for Couric but not in the current negotiations. I see him as a better fit as a CBS morning show host for the next few years with lots of time off for an increased role at “60 Minutes” to keep his hard news credentials current.
Eventually, it would also not surprise me to see CBS (Viacom) actually acquire the CNN networks from Time Warner. This would allow them to cut costs by using the same talent in both networks much as NBC/MSNBC/CNBC does.
ABC may find they are forced to create a cable news network just to stay in the game. They are likely to lose a lot of their best talent in this current cost cutting frenzy.
March 1, 2010 at 6:27 am
CNN diluted the product when they made AC360 two hours. So, he might as well pack all his stuff and leave.
Plus it ought to be mighty funny seeing what CNN decides to put in his place.
March 1, 2010 at 6:48 am
If AC already has a presence on 60 Minutes, why is it such a big deal that he was seen meeting w/CBS execs? And if the meeting took place months ago, why is it news today?
March 1, 2010 at 7:19 am
^I don’t think the the meeting is a big deal. Spud is just reporting a story as he would any other possible talent move at a cable news network.
If AC did move to CBS that would be a big deal so rumors of such a move are relevant to this blog.
As to the timing, although the meetings took place months ago the story is out today so I don’t see how you could say it’s not current news.
Maybe if he was thinking of joining FNC it would be more newsworthy and certainly more distressing to both AC fans and FNC followers.
March 1, 2010 at 9:13 am
No, fritz, many of us Fox Fans actually like AC. And if he took Katie Curic’s job, maybe I’d actually watch the “evening news” for once in my life.
March 1, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Wouldn’t bother me if he went to FNC. Well, it would if he brought Kathy Griffin with him…
March 1, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Why would anyone watch the “evening news”? I can get that lousy headline service on my radio on the way to the market.