As WABC prepares for its post-Oprah life, the ABC flagship is making anchor changes to its late night newscast as well.
In an email obtained by TVSpy, VP & news director Kenny Plotnik announced 11pm co-anchor Liz Cho (right) will be the co-anchor of the new “Eyewitness News…First at 4” alongside David Novarro.
Sade Baderinwa, who currently co-anchors the 5pm with Diana Williams will now add 11pm duties next to Bill Ritter.
Cho continues at 6pm with Ritter.
“We are fortunate to have someone with Liz’s credentials and rapport with our viewers to tackle this important new assignment,” writes Plotnick. “And it will be exciting to watch David assume this new level of responsibility in his home town.”
Novarro returned to WABC last year after a stint in Chicago where he anchored at WFLD Fox Chicago. He’d spent 14 years at WABC in his first go-round.
Plotnick’s memo after the jump…
From: Plotnik, Kenny
To: #WABC-TV All Employees
Subject: “Eyewitness News—First at 4”, Eyewitness News at 5, 6 & 11PM
Ladies and Gentlemen…..Can you believe it? We’re just 5 weeks away from the start of a new chapter in the history of Eyewitness News. “Eyewitness News…First at 4” begins on May 26th and I’m so pleased to announce that Liz Cho and David Novarro will co-anchor our new broadcast, joining Eyewitness News Meteorologist Lee Goldberg.
It also gives me great pleasure to announce that Sade Baderinwa will join Bill Ritter as co-anchor of Eyewitness News at 11, effective May 9th.
Liz will continue to co-anchor the 6pm with Bill, and Sade will continue to co-anchor the 5pm with Diana Williams.
We are fortunate to have someone with Liz’s credentials and rapport with our viewers to tackle this important new assignment. And it will be exciting to watch David assume this new level of responsibility in his home town.
In Sade, we have a trusted member of our team who will provide a seamless transition at 11, and whose experience and proven talent will help that show continue its success.
Please join me in congratulating Liz, David, and Sade as they begin their new roles.
K
>Update: “I may be the luckiest guy in New York,” Ritter told TVSpy sister site FishbowlNY today. ”And for Liz what an opportunity, creating a new show for the time slot filled by Oprah Winfrey for 25 years. That’s a unique challenge and there is no better person at the station to lead us there.”