By JERRY BARMASH
(@jerrybarmash)
Channel 4 is going bi-coastal with its new hire, Rob Schmitt (left) from CBS’ duopoly KCBS/KCAL in Los Angeles.
Schmitt, who makes his New York debut July 15, will anchor the weekday noon broadcast with a rotation of Erika Tarantal and Contessa Brewer.
Schmitt, who was with the CBS’ stations in L.A. since 2011, will also handle reporting for WNBC’s 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts.
It also frees up noon co-anchor Tom Llamas to expand his reporting duties with the station’s investigative unit—the I Team. Viewers will still see Llamas, who won an Emmy as New York’s top anchor, with Shiba Russell at 5 p.m.
“I’m incredibly excited,” Llamas tells Tuned In.
Llamas’ plate is even more full when you add his contributions to NBC News.
“It’s really a dream opportunity,” Llamas says. “I don’t know if any other television journalist on the planet has that type of opportunity. So I’m really looking forward to it.”