Too many “anchors away!” at ABC.
A Disney shareholder on Tuesday asked CEO Bob Iger if ABC News is simply a “training ground” for CNN.
The shareholder complained about the large number of ABC News staffers joining the Time Warner-owned 24-hour news outlet.
Among those who have exited ABC for CNN in recent months: Bill Weir, Chris Cuomo, John Berman and Jake Tapper.
Others who have left ABC News include Katie Couric, for Yahoo!, and Sam Champion, the “Good Morning America” weatherman, for The Weather Channel.
What is Disney doing to keep its talent? Iger was asked.
“There’s a deep bench at ABC News,” said Iger, adding that while some people have left his network for CNN, “in some cases we were trying to make way for a new generation, a new crop of talent.”
Iger singled out ABC News reporter David Muir, who is rumored to be a contender to replace Diane Sawyer, should she step down at “World News.”
While ABC News has signed new deals for some of its stars at “GMA,” executives are still negotiating with Lara Spencer and Josh Elliott.
ABC News chief Ben Sherwood is widely seen as doing a good job of running the unit. The departures may be a matter of real estate — cable outlets have more hours to fill — or reporters’ belief that ABC News is covering less hard news than it used to.
Another shareholder ripped ABC for devoting “eight words over seven months” to President Obama’s statement that those who wanted to keep their insurance would still be able to.