WMAQ, the NBC O&O in Chicago, has announced a shake-up to its weekend anchor lineup beginning next month.
Anthony Ponce has officially been named weekend morning co-anchor. Ponce has been filling in alongside Kim Vatis since Stefan Holt’s promotion in February.
Dick Johnson, who currently anchors the Sunday evening newscasts, will add the Saturday evening newscasts to his anchoring duties, replacing Lisa Parker. She will return to reporting full-time and will fill in as an anchor as needed, according to a WMAQ statement.
“Dick Johnson’s anchoring of both Saturday and Sunday will allow for more consistency in our weekend newscasts and he will continue to fill-in during the week,” WMAQ station manger and VP of news Frank Whittaker said in a statement. “Lisa Parker has proven to be the preeminent consumer reporter in town, and we are excited to get back to her beat full-time.”
The changes will take effect May 5.