New WNT debuts soon

The new World News Tonight format with co-anchors Bob Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas debuts on ABC Tuesday, January 3. According to Variety, it won't be like CBS's failed two-anchor experiment that briefly paired Dan Rather with Connie Chung. Instead, the network plans on keeping one of the anchors in the field and another in the studio. The broadcast will be divided into four blocks, with one anchor taking the lead story and most of the first block.

Woodruff tells the Detroit Free Press that the format allows the anchors to be more like reporters. "I think we almost need a new word for it, other than anchor," he told the Free Press.

Variety also reports that by Thursday, January 5, WNT will be doing three live broadcasts, rather than refeeding for the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones.

Earlier: ABC names WNT anchors