KCBS, KCAL exchange prime time, morning news teams in big shakeup

Local sister stations KCBS Channel 2 and KCAL Channel 9 announced a major shakeup of their anchor lineups, including a switch between prime time and morning news teams.

Rick Garcia, Sharon Tay and meteorologist Evelyn Taft, who currently helm KCAL’s weeknight 8 and 10 newscasts, will move to KCBS Nov. 18 to anchor that station’s 4:30-7 a.m. and 11-11:30 a.m. newscasts.

On the same date, the current KCBS morning anchor team of Kent Shocknek and Suzie Suh will join meteorologist Rich Fields on KCAL’s weeknight news at 8 and 10.

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KCBS-KCAL President and General Manager Steve Mauldin said in a statement that he is confident that Garcia, Tay and Taft will “help us grow our audience [in daytime] in the same way they’ve given us a big lift during prime time.”

The new morning team will be joined by Stephanie Simmons, who will continue as KCBS’ morning traffic reporter.

Maudlin also praised veteran anchor Shocknek and Suh, saying they will “uphold KCAL’s tremendous primetime news legacy.”

Pat Harvey and Paul Magers, KCBS’ weekeday 5 and 11 p.m. anchor team, will take on the added responsibility of anchoring the weekday 6 p.m. newscast, which is currently anchored by Garcia, starting Nov. 18.

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