CBS rolls out a four-anchor assault on other networks
The complicated issue of chemistry between anchors can make or break a news morning show as CBS has found so they're trying something different -- one man and three women are the four co-anchors of the newest "Early Show" -- according to this New York Times story (registration required):
"The Early Show" has long trailed the other networks' morning shows in the ratings. CBS executives determined that the failure of the previous "Early Show" co-hosts, Bryant Gumbel and Jane Clayson, was proof that the network should find an alternative to the traditional morning-show format of male-female anchor couples.
Platonic friendship, or the illusion of it, has always been the secret of successful morning television shows. Ms. Couric and Matt Lauer seem like best buddies on "Today," Ms. Sawyer and Charles Gibson come across as elegant partners on "Good Morning America."
..."The Early Show" is watched on average by 2.6 million people. ("Good Morning America" is watched by 4.6 million, while "Today" is watched by more than 6 million.) One sign that its more successful rivals are not yet feeling threatened was that Ms. Sawyer did not appear yesterday because she was on assignment.