CNN Unveils Lineup Changes

(From TVWeek.com -- By Michele Greppi)

Thirteen-year CNN veteran MILES O'BRIEN is leaving Atlanta and the anchor desk of LIVE FROM to co-anchor the news network's AMERICAN MORNING with SOLEDAD O'BRIEN in New York.

"In a morning television landscape littered with mindless entertainment, there will be one name you can rely on for no nonsense news -- O'BRIEN," said CNN/U.S. President JON KLEIN in making the announcement. The move also means that 10 year veteran BILL HEMMER will exit by June 17th.

CNN sources say Mr. Hemmer had spurned assignments as senior White House correspondent and national correspondent for the news network.

Meanwhile, award winning veteran network producers VICTOR NEUFELD and DAVID DOSS have been named senior executive producers of PAULA ZAHN NOW and ANDERSON COOPER 360, respectively.

Mr. Neufeld has spent the past two years at THE EARLY SHOW as senior executive producer MICHAEL BASS's executive producer after having been executive producer of ABC NEWS' 20/20 for 13 years, and senior executive producer of 20/20 and PRIMETIME THURSDAY from 2000 to 2003.

Mr. Doss spent four years as executive producer of PRIMETIME THURSDAY after having been executive producer of NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH TOM BROKAW for five years.

MARK NELSON, the current senior executive producer for PAULA ZAHN NOW, becomes senior executive producer for editorial content, and will report to Mr. Klein.

The end of CROSSFIRE as a separate show and the tearful exit of INSIDE POLITICS anchor JUDY WOODRUFF last Friday mark more steps on the way to the midsummer debut of THE SITUATION ROOM, a three hour WOLF BLITZER anchored program scheduled to focus on homeland security, politics and world and national affairs.

CNN political senior executive producer SAM FEIST will be executive producer of SITUATION.

For the interim, a series of CNN personalities will anchor a 90 minute INSIDE POLITICS.

Another weekday change took effect Monday with the simulcast of CNN INTERNATIONAL's YOUR WORLD TODAY from noon to 1 pm.