Next Wednesday, The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric will broadcast an updated version of that day’s broadcast in prime time, at 8pmET/PT. The NYTimes’ Jacques Steinberg reports “the one-night experiment will be a first.”
CBS News & Sports president Sean McManus says the prime time airing is intended not as a tryout for a new show but as a way to attract new viewers.
So, should we expect a traditional broadcast from Couric & company? McManus hints no. “So many of her talents and so much of what makes Katie a great broadcaster can’t be exhibited in the tight format between 6:30 and 7.”
And while Couric will be displacing “The New Adventures of Old Christine” on her network, she goes up against none other than “American Idol” on another.
The CBS News press release is after the jump…
THE “CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC” IN PRIMETIME
One Time Special Edition to be Broadcast at 8 PM on Wednesday, January 28
CBS News announced today a Special Edition of the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC will be broadcast in primetime on Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 (8:00-8:30 PM ET, PT) on the CBS Television Network. The one-time special primetime broadcast will be in addition to the regularly scheduled 6:30 PM newscast that evening and will include breaking news of the day and new reports from the broadcast’s signature franchise series.
“This is a unique opportunity to showcase the CBS Evening News and give viewers who might not be able to sample the broadcast the chance to see the outstanding work being done by Katie and the CBS News team,” said Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports.
“I am extremely proud of the tremendous work by Katie and our entire team and the primetime broadcast is yet another platform to bring our distinct reporting and franchise news series to a wider audience,” said Rick Kaplan, Executive Producer of the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC