CBS News hires former ABC News producer to try to move out of third place

The buzz has grown since CBS News hired Steven Baker as a consultant for its daily news programs. The move aims to pull the network's morning and evening shows out of third place in the ratings.

The arrival of Steven Baker

Steven Baker joined CBS News as a consultant. Previously, he served as executive producer on Nightline and worked with James Goldston in a nonfiction division.

CBS News President Tom Cibrowski told staff in a meeting that Baker will work directly with him as a consultant and advisor on the daily programs. The expectation is that Baker will bring energy, ideas, and act as a partner for program leaders such as Jon Tower and Kim Harvey.

The history of betting on former competitors' talent

Baker's arrival reinforces the presence of former ABC News professionals on CBS's staff. Tom Cibrowski himself is a former senior executive at ABC News, as are Matt Guttman and Wendy Fisher, who also hold prominent roles at the network.

The audience challenge on television

The network's main challenge today is generating more TV viewership, not the quality of news gathering. The morning show averaged 1.6 million viewers in the third quarter, while the evening newscast posted overall numbers significantly below those left by former anchor Norah O'Donnell.

Recent innovations in the lineup

To attract new audiences, the network has been testing innovations in its recent schedule. On the evening newscast, new segments such as "The Big Question" and "The Good Stuff" were introduced as content pieces also suitable for digital platforms.

With information from Variety.