Viewers of Los Angeles CBS owned stations KCBS and KCAL might think their sleep patterns have been disrupted starting November 18. The stations are swapping anchor teams across channels and time slots.
Current KCAL evening anchor team Sharon Tay, Rick Garcia and meteorologist Evelyn Taft will move to KCBS to anchor the CBS station’s morning and 11:00 a.m. newscasts. The only member of the current KCBS morning news team to stick around will be traffic reporter Stephanie Simmons.
While current KCBS morning team of Kent Shockneck and Suzie Suh will join meteorologist Rich Fields in Tay and Garcia’s old slot on independent station KCAL at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.
Chief meteorologist Josh Rubenstein, who currently works the AM news with Shockneck and Suh will also move to KCAL but he will work the Noon, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. newscasts.
“Sharon, Rick and Evelyn are a proven winning combination,” president and GM of KCBS and KCAL Steve Mauldin said in a statement. “We are confident in their ability to help us grow our audience during the morning news daypart in the same way they’ve given us a big lift during primetime.”
Garcia’s move to KCAL will also be covered by Pat Harvey and Paul Magers who will join weathercaster Jackie Johnson and sportscaster Jim Hill on the KCBS 6:00 p.m. newscasts.
“The decision we made in April 2010 to bring Pat and Jackie over from KCAL to partner with Paul and Jim been great for us,” said Mauldin. “Our late news ratings have increased by double digits and we’re excited to give Southern Californians even more opportunities to get their daily news, weather and sports from this outstanding team.”