Clayson leaving ‘Early’
New York-Jane Clayson’s limbo on “The Early Show” is coming to an end in two weeks due to a new deal that will give her a broader playing field at CBS News and take her back to her reporting roots. Ms. Clayson, who has soldiered on gracefully as co-anchor to a string of guest anchors since Bryant Gumbel left the network in May, will be a “CBS Evening News” correspondent, specializing in showcase “Eye on America” pieces and occasionally appearing on other broadcasts, including “48 Hours Investigates.” She also will be a substitute anchor. She will anchor “Early” until Sept. 27 and will start her new assignment Sept. 30.
Fowler to WBBM
Chicago-Carol Fowler has exited WGN-TV, which produces the leading 9 o’clock newscast in Chicago, to become VP and news director at struggling Viacom-owned WBBM-TV, effective Monday. The surprise move reunites Ms. Fowler with new WBBM general manager Joe Ahern, who was running ABC-owned WLS-TV when Ms. Fowler was a producer there in the late `80s and early `90s. She moved to WGN in 1994 and was named news director in late 1999.
New Line titles in demand
New York-iN Demand and New Line Television have signed a new multiyear video-on-demand agreement that will cover all three films in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and five other recent theatrical features: “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” “Simone,” “John Q,” “I Am Sam” and “Blade II.” Financial terms of the nonexclusive deal were not disclosed.
Sullivan joins MSNBC
New York-Susan Sullivan joins MSNBC Monday in the newly created position of news director. Ms. Sullivan was news director at Fox-owned WNYW-TV in New York until becoming one of the first casualties of the formation of the WNYW-WWOR duopoly in July 2001.