POLITICAL MEDIA: Amanpour leaves “This Week;” could major changes be coming to other Sunday talk tv shows?

Lead

POLITICO reports that Chritiane Amanpour is leaving ABC News as the host of “This Week.” The good news is that she will return to CNN in foreign reporting an arena she loves.

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Christiane Amanpour is leaving “This Week” and returning to her roots at CNN and in foreign reporting in a new arrangement that allows her to appear on both ABC News and CNN International, the two networks announced Monday.

George Stephanopoulos will replace her on “This Week,” while continuing his duties on “Good Morning America.” Jake Tapper will also have a “large role” in the Sunday show, as will other correspondents, according to ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider.

Amanpour will have a weekday show on CNN International. She will also continue at ABC News as a global affairs anchor across the networks’ platforms and as the host of multiple prime time specials.

Source:   POLITICO

MJB’s Take

Christiane was outstanding. We wish her well in her new assignment.

The fact that seasoned veteran George Stephanopoulos will be coming back should be a signal that the pros in political media project a rough and tumble Presidential race. In the fierce competition for Sunday talk tv viewers and ratings, George will be a standout. He will have a big draw.

Our friends at NBC News now have a clear shot at increasing its following from the huge female demographic which follows political news particularly on the Sunday talk tv shows.

NBC can get more of that demo by replacing David Gregory, who we feel should not have gotten the job in the first place, with Andrea Mitchell on “Meet the Press.”

And, Andrea, should you get the nod, please return the show to something akin to its original format in which viewers met the press, not the host!

More Coverage

• Christiane Amanpour out as host of “This Week”? Update: Stephanopoulos in? (hotair.com)
• Stephanopoulos to replace Amanpour at ‘This Week’ (sfgate.com)
• Amanpour to return to CNN (cnn.com)
• Amanpour Said to Be Leaving ‘This Week’ (mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Christiane Amanpour Out at ‘This Week’? (outsidethebeltway.com)
• Further Reports Indicate Christiane Amanpour Is Out At ‘This Week’ (outsidethebeltway.com)
• Is Christiane Amanpour on Her Way Out of This Week? (crooksandliars.com)
• New York Times: Christiane Amanpour Is Out As Host Of ABC’s This Week (mediaite.com)
• Twitter gaffe of the day (shortformblog.tumblr.com)