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Jeff Zucker Poaches One of Katie Couric’s Top Producers for CNN

Apr 15, 2013  •  Post A Comment

[Updated on 4-15-13 at 9:45 a.m. PT to reflect that this story was first reported by Brian Stelter of The New York Times, not The Hollywood Reporter.]

CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker has poached one of Katie Couric’s executive producers, after the producer was originally recruited to "Katie" by Zucker himself, according to Brian Stelter of The New York Times.

The executive producer is Michael Bass. Writes Stelter,"…Bass, a longtime deputy of Mr. Zucker’s dating from their days at ‘Today’ on NBC, left ‘Katie’ last Friday, [April 12, 2013] in the latest of several backstage changes there. At CNN, Mr. Bass will be a senior vice president, reporting to Mr. Zucker, according to people at the cable news channel and at ‘Katie’ who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced."

The Times story adds, "Mr. Bass will not be replaced immediately at ‘Katie,’ partly because the show added Ethan Nelson, another co-executive producer with a news background, two months ago. Mr. Nelson previously worked at ‘Good Morning America.’

"But people at ‘Katie’ and its distributor, the Walt Disney Company, say they expect a shake-up after the first season ends and before the second season begins. The executive who replaced Mr. Zucker just three months ago, Michael Morrison, has been marginalized, according to several staff members there, so much so that rumors are running rampant that he is about to be replaced."

The Times notes that spokespeople for CNN and, separately, ‘Katie," declined to comment.

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