Disney Continues Pursuit of New ABC News Chief

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorTom Llamas, the popular former ABC News anchor, has joined NBC News as a primetime anchor for its NBC News Now live-streaming service.Llamas will work as a senior national correspondent and will also contribute reporting to the network’s flagship shows and breaking news and special events coverage.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorESPN recently tested a “BetCast” for NBA fans interested in sports wagering and a “KidsCast” of a Little League championship game aimed at the younger set.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorBaseball’s own cable network plans to test a new way of broadcasting the national pastime.When the Cleveland Indians take on the New York Yankee this Sunday at 1p.m. from Progressive Field, a group of former players and current broadcasters on MLB Network will describe the action in a different way.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorABC’s Oscar telecast may not draw as many viewers as it has in the past, but it will still air a full suite of commercials.The network has sold out all of its available advertising inventory for the annual awards event, Jerry Daniello, senior vice president, entertainment brand solutions, for Disney Advertising Sales, said in an interview. The company finalized its sales earlier this week, he said.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorIce-T drives an electric car. He has solar panels on his house.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorABC News will offer a portrait of the life of George Floyd in a two-hour “20/20” slated to air April 23 at 9 p.m.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorCNN viewers are going to have to get used to waking up with someone new in the morning.The WarnerMedia cable-news outlet on Monday launches its “New Day” a.m. franchise into a new era, with Brianna Keilar, who has gained notice over the past year with a take-no-prisoners demeanor on CNN’s afternoon schedule, joining the versatile anchor John Berman.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorABC is looking for a new producer to open the network for business each morning.The abrupt departure of Michael Corn, the seasoned news producer who has managed the network’s flagship A.M. franchise, “Good Morning America,” since 2014, means ABC News is suddenly working a little harder to keep the program on its current path.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorNeeraj Khemlani and Wendy McMahon have been named to lead a new unit that combines CBS News and CBS local stations.Khemlani, a senior executive at Hearst Newspapers, will be the next president of CBS News, charged with raising the competitive level of a news organization that is associated with giants of the format such as Edward R.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAfter a tough year, NBCUniversal’s news operations aim to honor people who provide inspiration.NBCU News Group will launch a new content franchise designed to call attention to influential individuals. “Inspiring America” includes an annual primetime TV event.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe recent procession of top news executives shifting positions at ABC News, MSNBC and CBS News gives many in the close-knit world of TV journalism cause for hand-wringing.In recent months, NBCUniversal named a new executive, Cesar Conde, to head all its news operations, replacing Andy Lack. Conde in turn named a new president at MSNBC, Rashida Jones.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorKimberly Godwin, a veteran of local and national TV-news operations, will be the next president of ABC News  — and the first Black executive to run a broadcast-network news operation.Disney on Wednesday confirmed that Godwin, who has been with CBS News since 2007, will take over the role most recently held by James Goldston.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorCBS News veteran Kim Godwin is expected to become the next president of ABC News, a move that would make her the first Black executive to lead a broadcast-network news division.Godwin has had an offer from Disney’s ABC for several weeks, according to a person familiar with the matter, but only in the last few days did CBS CEO George Cheeks agree to let the executive out of her contract.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorFox News Media named former U.S.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorJason White has worked to capture attention for Nike, Apple’s Beats and cannabis products. Now he’s bringing his marketing acumen to the world of TV.White has been named chief marketing officer for ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group, a heady job that involves touting MTV, Comedy Central and Smithsonian Channel among other popular media brands.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorJim Acosta’s mother recently sent him a text about his first stint as a weekend anchor for CNN. She loved his expression, perhaps with good reason.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorMorgan Radford will join Aaron Gilchrist as a co-anchor at live-streaming outlet NBC News Now, the latest example of NBC News adding resources to its streaming-video operations.Radford and Gilchrist will co-anchor the service between noon to 2 p.m. Her first appearance as co-anchor on the outlet came on Monday.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorEach weeknight, Fox News Channel’s primetime opinion hosts seek to own the libs. Greg Gutfeld says he wants to own some laughs.In an unorthodox maneuver, executives at the Fox Corp.-owned cable-news outlet will explore whether jokes and satire can capture a crowd after 11 p.m.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAnchor Bret Baier has renewed his contract with Fox News Channel, extending a pact that was last negotiated in 2019.The deal will keep Baier at the network for the next few years, and will maintain his roles as anchor and executive editor of the Fox Corp. network’s “Special Report” and as the outlet’s chief political anchor.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorFox Nation seems eager to expand its chief export.The streaming service, originally conceived as a place for “super fans” of Fox News Channel, has in recent months been filling its digital shelves with a show led by Nancy Grace; faith-based shows tied to Easter; and vintage movies and TV series.