Amanpour Leaving 'This Week,' Launching CNNi Show

Will maintain presence at ABC; Stephanopoulos to again anchor 'This Week' as well as 'GMA'

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/13/2011 6:06:27 PM

Christiane Amanpour is stepping down as anchor of This Week at the end of the year, she announced in a statement Tuesday. She will host multiple primetime specials for ABC News and become a global affairs anchor for the network as well as launch a new weekday show on CNN International through a unique arrangement between the two networks.

George Stephanopoulos, who anchored This Week from 2002-09, will again become host of the program starting Jan. 8 while remaining anchor of Good Morning America. Jake Tapper, ABC News' senior White House correspondent will contribute to the program weekly and guest-host for Stephanopoulos as needed.

An ABC News spokesperson said Tuesday that This Week "will remain a Washington-based" program though GMA is based in New York.

"Christiane has had an absolutely remarkable year for ABC News with world-beating exclusives and we're looking forward to seeing her back out in the field with her unique brand of storytelling," said ABC News President Ben Sherwood in a statement.

Amanpour joined ABC from CNN in 2010 to host the Sunday morning public affairs show, but remained interested in foreign reporting (she was chief international correspondent at CNN). She was the face of much of ABC News' coverage from the protests in the Middle East during this year's Arab Spring, including landing an exclusive interview with former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.

CNN for its part has been increasing its focus on international news under the tenure of Ken Jautz (a former international correspondent himself), with managing editor Mark Whitaker saying at a recent CNN International taping that while the network can compete in politics and business news, "we can own international coverage."

"Christiane Amanpour has been synonymous with international reporting and with CNN for many years," said Jim Walton, CNN Worldwide president. "We could not be happier that through this unique arrangement with ABC News her experience and global perspective are returning to a nightly news broadcast for our international audience."

The New York Post first reported the story.

Full statement from Amanpour below:

This is an exciting and unique opportunity for me to take my love of storytelling to primetime at ABC News with multiple specials, as well as becoming a roving Global Affairs anchor across all ABC platforms.

I am looking forward to getting back into the field to report stories on global issues that matter greatly to the American people.  At the same time, I will be broadcasting once again to millions of people across the world with a weekday show on CNN International.



This role is groundbreaking, bold and very different!  I am thrilled and honored.



It's been an incredible experience to have had a ringside seat to democracy in action at This Week.  It's been an incredible honor to anchor such a prestigious program and I thank all of you who have helped me on that journey.