Chris Wragge is going back to WCBS.
The station announced today that Wragge, who left in December to become the new co-host of CBS’s “The Early Show,” will co-anchor its 6 p.m. newscast alongside Dana Tyler beginning September 6th.
In a press release, WCBS president and general manager Peter Dunn said that Wragge would continue his “day job” at “The Early Show”–at least for the time being.
“We are very happy to welcome Chris back to CBS 2,” Dunn said. “It’s great that we have been able to work out an arrangement with our colleagues at CBS News that will allow Chris to resume working for both our station and the network in a way that benefits all of us. We look forward to having him continue to be a valuable and versatile member of our team.”
Wragge was part of a major overhaul at “The Early Show,” which was first announced late last year. Wragge, along with Erica Hill, replaced “Early” duo Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez in January.
>Update: A WCBS spokesperson tells FisbowlNY that Don Dahler, the current 6 p.m. co-anchor, “continues to be a valued member of our team.” “We are in discussions with Don regarding his future with us,” the spokesperson said.
Here’s the full press release…
CHRIS WRAGGE TO RETURN TO WCBS-TV AS CO-ANCHOR OF CBS 2 NEWS AT 6 P.M.
Versatile Broadcaster Will Continue to Co-Anchor CBS News’ “The Early Show”
Chris Wragge will return to CBS 2 New York as co-anchor of the station’s weeknight 6 p.m. newscasts, beginning Tuesday, September 6, it was announced today by Peter Dunn, President, CBS Television Stations, and President and General Manager, WCBS-TV.
In addition to partnering with Dana Tyler to anchor the station’s 6 p.m. newscasts, Wragge will continue his “day job” as co-anchor of CBS News’ “The Early Show.”
Prior to leaving CBS 2 last December, Wragge served as co-anchor of the station’s weeknight 5 and 11 p.m. newscasts, co-anchor of the Saturday edition of “The Early Show” and as a frequent substitute co-anchor of the weekday edition of “The Early Show.”
“We are very happy to welcome Chris back to CBS 2,” Dunn said. “It’s great that we have been able to work out an arrangement with our colleagues at CBS News that will allow Chris to resume working for both our station and the network in a way that benefits all of us. We look forward to having him continue to be a valuable and versatile member of our team.”
“Chris is a talented broadcaster with a great work ethic. We are pleased that he will be reuniting with his friends and colleagues at CBS 2,” added David Friend, Senior Vice President, News, CBS Television Stations and News Director, CBS 2.
Wragge joined WCBS-TV in 2004 as the station’s 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. sports anchor.
In November 2006, he made the transition to news anchor and reported on major events such as the 2008 presidential election, the Miracle on the Hudson landing of U.S. Airways flight 1549, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to New York and the Brooklyn Tornado. Wragge also covered the scandal that led to the resignation of Governor Eliot Spitzer, the East Side crane collapse, the national recession and the rebuilding of the World Trade Center.
Wragge is the recipient of 14 Emmys, including three wins in the Best News Anchor category. In addition, he and his CBS News colleagues won an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for “CBS Reports: Children of the Recession.”
Prior to joining CBS, Wragge worked for NBC Sports. His assignments included covering the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, four years as sideline reporter for NBA game broadcasts and two years covering the WNBA. He also covered the PGA Tour for five years, Notre Dame Football, and the PBR. Additionally, he anchored NBC’s Sportsdesk reports from 2002-04.
Previously, Wragge spent four years as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight.
Wragge’s broadcasting career also includes positions with KPRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Houston, Texas, WVIT-TV in Hartford, Connecticut and WMUR-TV in Manchester, New Hampshire. He also has been a host for HGTV, DIY and the Travel Channel.