Chung Exiting Abc To Host Own Cnn Show

CNN is at it again. The cable news network has lured ABC News anchor Connie Chung by offering the veteran newswoman her own primetime show, sources said.

While CNN declined comment, ABC News seemed to confirm the story when its president, David Westin, issued a statement congratulating Chung on her new job.

According to executives familiar with the deal, Chung will move to CNN this month and will host her own daily news show at 8 p.m. EST.

CNN chairman Walter Isaacson plans to make the announcement at a news conference here today.

Chung was a senior anchor at ABC News, co-hosting its weekly newsmagazine "20/20."

Chung's exact CNN salary is not known, but according to sources close to the negotiations, Chung will become CNN's second highest-paid on-air talent behind Larry King, who last week signed a new three-year deal for an estimated $7 million-$7.5 million a year.

Three-time Emmy winner Chung is the latest high-profile news talent CNN has signed in the past year. In April, CNN hired former ABC News correspondent Aaron Brown, who hosts CNN's 10 p.m. news slot.

Chung's hire also is the latest round in the ongoing on-air talent war between CNN and Fox News Channel. Fox last month stole away CNN stalwart Greta Van Susteren — who hosted "The Point" at 8 p.m. — to anchor a primetime news show.

A source familiar with the deal said CNN lured Chung over with the promise of her own primetime show, something ABC News couldn't give her. "Obviously, that opportunity was not happening at ABC," the source said.

ABC officials showed no rancor at Chung's exit.

"Connie has been a valued member of the ABC News family," Westin said in the statement. "This is a very important opportunity for her to have her own program. We wish her nothing but great success and happiness in her new job."

News industry sources said ABC was not that unhappy over Chung's exit, noting that ABC did not fight to keep her.

Chung made headlines during the summer by beating Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer to an exclusive interview with U.S. Rep. Gary Condit, D-Calif. Chung has been compared to Walters and Sawyers throughout her ABC tenure.

"Given the subsequent events and the priorities in which news events now appear, having your reputation attached to snaring a Gary Condit interview is not a plus; it is actually a black mark," said Andrew Tyndall, whose company publishers the Tyndall Report, which monitors network newscasts.

Tyndall also scratched his head over why CNN would give millions of dollars to another high-powered big-name anchor.

"They don't have any sign of having a plan," Tyndall said.

Andrew Grossman contributed to this report.