CBS News has replaced the executive producer of Katie Couric’s evening newscast after the show failed to rise from last place among the three largest U.S. broadcasting networks.
CBS ousted Rome Hartman, who had been producer of the show since November 2005, starting under Couric’s predecessor, Bob Schieffer. The network installed Rick Kaplan, formerly of MSNBC and CNN, starting Thursday, according to an e-mailed statement.
“The CBS Evening News” under Couric trails NBC’s Brian Williams and ABC’s Charles Gibson after her initial shows last September placed her in the top spot. NBC, also grappling with sliding viewership, replaced its nightly news executive producer last week. Audiences have been dwindling at the networks as more viewers get their news from cable TV and the Internet.
“It’s just very difficult to gain traction in getting viewers,” said Brad Adgate, director of research with media-buying company Horizon Media Inc. in New York. “It has little to do with Katie Couric but more about the state of network TV news.”
CBS chief executive Leslie Moonves lured Couric from NBC’s “Today” show. She attracted 7.5 million viewers last week, trailing NBC’s 9.6 million and ABC’s 9.4 million, according to Nielsen Media.
