After seemingly being in the Witness Protection Program at NBC, Josh Elliott is getting what he hopes will be a higher profile gig. The New York Post’s Page Six first reported that Elliott has signed a deal and CBS has now confirmed that he will become the lead anchor for CBS News’ over the top digital channel, CBSN.
Elliott joined NBC in 2014 to much fanfare after being lured from ABC’s Good Morning America seemingly to be groomed to take over for Matt Lauer on the Today show or Bob Costas on the Olympics, but after several behind-the-scenes machinations that led to the firing of now-Fox Sports executive Jamie Horowitz, Elliott’s role at NBC diminished to the point where he practically disappeared. Just before last Christmas, Elliott and his agents negotiated an early exit from the Peacock allowing him to become a free agent.
According to Page Six, CBS reached out to Elliott in an effort to bring in younger talent, but is being told he’s not being groomed to be a morning show host:
A source said, “Josh will be the lead anchor for CBSN, and will work across the digital network. It’s an exciting hire for CBS because they don’t have a lot of young, male, energetic talent coming up through the ranks.”
The source added, “Josh isn’t being billed as an heir apparent to Charlie Rose, but there is a lot of opportunity for him at CBS.”
CBSN is an over the top digital network that runs 24/7 online and is available on mobile, tablet and set-top platforms. It has utilized Jeff Glor as main anchor who has manned its primetime evening newscasts, but with Elliott, CBSN can now promote him as its face of the channel.
In its official press release, CBS News says signing Elliott was a big move:
“CBSN is the future of news, and we are thrilled to have Josh on our team,” said David Rhodes, President of CBS News. “Josh will bring tremendous passion to anchoring, reporting and connecting with this new and fast-growing audience.”
Elliott is quoted as being thrilled to be joining CBS:
“I am deeply honored to be joining CBS News, and truly excited to be a part of the broadening horizon of CBSN, for which the possibilities are thankfully endless,” said Elliott. “Because it will always be about the stories we tell, the chance to do what I so enjoy doing at a place that values its journalism above all else is a gift for which I’m very grateful.”
It appears that Elliott won’t have a role with CBS Sports and will focus on news.
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