Shakeup at CBS4?

Published Jan 03 2006, 03:22 PM by webteam

Today's Inside Track is reporting that Josh Binswanger is out and familiar old warhorse (and I mean that in a good way) Jack Williams is in as the lead male anchor at the ratings troubled CBS4.

So far, there's been no station confirmation of the move. But it has long been speculated about and some shakeup -- other than the departure of lead meteorologist Ed Carroll -- was anticipated for a while. Binswanger was brought in to replace Joe Shortsleeve in the fall of 2004 by then general manager Ed Goldman, who has since left that station.

Assuming this report is true, it's asking an awful lot for an anchor switch to reverse the station's lagging ratings in a medium in which audience habits change at a glacial pace. But Binswanger -- who is reported to be a lively, funny and engaging fellow off camera -- never seemed to have much on-screen charisma. And the real story, of course, is the amazing comeback of Williams, the veteran anchor who was one half of the famous "Jack and Liz" team, and who in recent years was relegated to a lesser role in favor of younger, fresher faces. Hey, in television news, familiarity doesn't always breed contempt. Sometimes it breeds comfort.

In the meantime, this July 22 "Don't Quote Me" column did a pretty good job of predicting that Williams could soon be back in the saddle again.

Now it's up to CBS4 to make it official.