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Maria Stephanos joins WCVB

The loser here, anchor-wise, is Heather Unruh. Just as she lost the 5pm and 530pm anchor shifts when WCVB promoted golden boy and girl JC Monahan and Phi Lipof, she now loses the 11pm. So it'll go like this:

4:30pm Heather and Ed
5:00pm JC and Phil
5:30pm JC and Phil
6:00pm Heather and Ed
6:30pm ABC World News
7:00pm Maria and Ed
10:00pm (ME TV only starting Feb 29th): Maria alone for one hour
11:00pm Maria and Ed

That's a lot of high priced talent. Whose contract is up first? Who is the first to go if ratings don't hold up? Speaking of anchors, we still don't know (as far as I know) who will replace Pam Cross on Saturday nights when she leaves in March.
 
Unruh is gaining additional reporter duties on the health beat. Whether that's a demotion or not is up for debate.
 
She's also being added to that new 4:30pm broadcast. Originally, it was just Ed Harding anchoring solo. I haven't seen the new 4:30 show. I'm never home at that time. So she loses a potentially prime-ish spot on the 11pm for a less than prime spot at 4:30. And they are adding her after the fact. She has to be looking over her shoulder at this point wondering if she'll be following Pam Cross, Susan Wornick, Liz Brunner, Natalie, and, going back aways, Heather Kahn right out the door.
 
Also, it's not the plan to solo Maria at 10:00. It could very well be that WCVB decides to team up Maria with Heather, or any other anchor like J.C., Phil, or Ed.
 
I'm just going by what's been mentioned in that story. It only mentioned Maria for the 10pm show.
 
On the WCVB web site story it said more than that. Stephanos will also co-anchor The 10 O’Clock News on MeTV Boston beginning on Monday, February, 29 at 10:00-11:00PM. MeTV Boston is WCVB’s second television channel and is available over the air on Channel 5.2 and on the following cable channels: Comcast 292/306, Verizon 461, RCN 29, Charter 184, Metrocast 295, BELD 75. Check local listings. Note the word "co-anchor".
 
Is it just me, or is this whole thing turning out to be a big fuss over very little? Maria's personality has been neutered by Channel 5's presentation style. Do they intend to really make the best possible use of Maria's assets or was this all about taking her off the market?
 
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