Vargas, Woodruff to Anchor 'World News Tonight'

ABC News today named Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff as the anchors of its evening flagship program "World News Tonight."

From the press release:

Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff were named co-anchors of an expanded version of ABC News’ flagship broadcast “World News Tonight,” News President David Westin announced today. Beginning Monday, January 2nd, when Vargas and Woodruff debut together as co-anchors, “World News Tonight” will become the first evening newscast to broadcast a live version to the West Coast each night. World News Tonight will also make various versions of its reports available over the Internet throughout the afternoon and evening.

“Elizabeth and Bob together will be the anchors for this new broadcast and digital age of World News Tonight. Their experience as journalists, their familiarity to our audiences, and their commitment to gathering and delivering the news anywhere, anytime and in every way make them the right team to take us forward for the next generation,” said Westin.

He continued: “World News Tonight has been and will continue to be the source for millions of Americans to get careful, comprehensive and insightful reporting of the news of the day. Now we will be providing that news live throughout the evening on television; now we will be making that news available to Americans throughout the afternoon and evening to those who want it over computers, mobile telephones, and the countless other digital means.”

Vargas, 42, will continue as co-anchor of "20/20" the network said. She and Woodruff, 43, will also host a live afternoon news show that will be distributed on the network's ABC News Now network which offers content to mobile phone subscribers and ABCNews.com.

The Woodruff-Vargas duo will be the first team since Dan Rather and Connie Chung were paired on the "CBS Evening News" in the late 90s. ABC's decision leaves CBS as the lone network which has not replaced its former mainstay anchor.

Drudge has the full news release.