New Studio is Coming in Two Months!

I have been informed by a source at CBS 2 that the station will move everything to Studio 43 by the end of August! We first reported on information regarding the new studio in early May. Studio 43, which is located in the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street, is the current studio used by CBS Sports, including the NCAA College Basketball coverage during the month of March. It appears as if all newscasts will be moved into the new studio (it was originally reported that morning and noon newscasts would initially move, followed by the late afternoon and evening newscasts), as well as the newsroom! No word yet on if CBS Sports will continue to use the studio, and how much CBS 2 will modify it. More information on this developing story as soon as we learn more!

Kirstin Cole To Anchor CBS 2 Weekend News

Brian tells me that a post at his WCBS News NY club says that Kirsten Cole will soon be anchoring the weekend newscasts, as well as being a weekday general assignment reporter. On Friday, we reported that Kirsten Cole would soon be joining CBS 2. While we do not have more information at the moment, it does appear as if Amanda Grove will soon be leaving CBS 2 Weekend News. Another possibility is that a new weekend morning newscast is in the works, although this is probably not the case. We'll have more information as soon as we get it!

New Reporter: Kirstin Cole

Today's New York Post reports that Kirsten Cole will be joining CBS 2 as a reporter. She previously reported for WPIX-TV's WB11 Morning News since it began over a year ago. The article also mentions Annika Pergament, who had reported for CBS 2 News This Morning since late January. She is now temporarily reporting for NY1.
(Thanks to Brian and David for sending me this article!)

New Promos and a New Partner

Today CBS 2 started airing a new 30-second promo with Ernie Anastos explaining the CBS 2 Information Network. In it he moves around the partners' logos with his hands and says, "A lot of people have asked me, 'What is this CBS 2 Information Network?' Let me show you. Of course, it all starts with local news. Then, we add out partners. 10 separate newsrooms, all reporting on the stories they know best. Financial news. Health news. Music. Entertainment. You name it. It means that, now, New York's most informed sources come together in every CBS 2 newscast. See what's new in local news on the CBS 2 Information Network." One of the parters in the promo is New York Magazine, which appears to have recently joined the CBS 2 Information Network. There's another promo advertising a "Summer Fun" segment Friday on CBS 2 First News at 4:00 and CBS 2 Nightcast at 11:00, in partnership with New York Magazine.

There are at least three more new 5-second promos that began airing at the end of last week. In one, Ernie Anastos says, "See what's new in local news on the CBS 2 Information Network." Under his name it says "4, 5, & 11" when Ernie does the 4:00, 6:00, and 11:00 newscasts (not the 5:00). In another, Angela Rae says, "The CBS 2 Information Network. Nobody has our sources". And, Dana Tyler says, "Local news is just the beginning on the CBS 2 Information Network."

Albert Lewitinn Left On Friday

Since our first report about Executive Produer Albert Lewitinn leaving CBS 2 News This Morning, we have learned more information. Lewitinn's last day was actually Friday, June 1st. That was the day that he told his staff, "I am very proud to have been part of the CBS 2 team over the past 18 months." He will start his new position as Senior Producer of ABC's Good Morning America at the end of this month. So far, a replacement Executive Producer has not yet been named.

Morning Executive Producer is Leaving

I have been told that Albert-Phillip Lewitinn, who is the Executive Producer of CBS 2 News This Morning, will be leaving CBS 2 within the next few weeks. He will be headed to ABC's Good Morning Amercia as a producer. Lewitinn has been the morning newscast's executive producer since 1999 and has occasionally worked on CBS 2's number one noon newscast, CBS 2 News at Noon.

Rogers on the Road

This afternoon at 5:15, CBS 2 began to use a new animation and music for "Rogers On The Road". Today meteorologist David Rogers did the weather from the Rye Playland. It appears that this will be a summer feature that may either be every weekday or just Fridays.

CBS 2 News at 5:30's Open This Week

Friday, 6/1/01, 6:50pm CBS 2 News at 5:30's Open This Week
Every day this week at 5:30, CBS 2 has done something different for the open than the day before. On Monday, they used the same open as they have been for a few weeks (with Angela Rae, Todd McDermott, and David Rogers). Tuesday, the voice-over was redone to include Brett Haber. On Wednesday, they used the one without Brett. Then on Thursday, there was no opening at 5:30, and today they used the Brett Haber one again! Last month, CBS 2 kept switching between the "CBS 2 News" and "The News" openings, and finally made the choice to go with "CBS 2 News".

Tiki Barber Leaves CBS 2 News This Morning

Tiki Barber did his last sports report for CBS 2 this morning. At 6:28am, anchors Michael Pomeranz and Hazel Sanchez (who has been filling in for Lisa Hill all week long) and meteorologist Tony Pann asked Tiki some questions so that viewers could get to know him a little more. The questions included: his favorite invention (the cotton gin), the most influential person in his life (his mother), his mother's favorite son (his twin brother Ronde because he lives in Florida where it's much warmer and better to visit), the best moment in his life (marrying his wife Ginny), the best part of being an NFL star (the camaraderie between players when he wins a game and the love he gets from the city) and worst part of being an NFL star (the camaraderie you don't get when you lose a game), his favorite food (macaroni and cheese), his favorite weatherman (Tony Pann), and if he daydreamed about CBS 2 while playing in the Super Bowl last January (yes he did daydream about waking up at 4:00 in the morning every weekday for a few weeks).

Tiki Barber rejoined CBS 2 on April 30th after first joining CBS 2 March 2nd last year, and he left on June 23rd. He said that he wants to come back next year (after winning the Super Bowl!), but the plans do not appear to be definite yet. I'm sure that everyone wishes Tiki Barber a great 2001-2002 season with the New York Giants!