After Kate Merrill and Liam Martin left the WBZ morning show, the CBS Boston TV station has announced that Paula Ebben will be moving to the mornings.
Ebben, a longtime evening anchor, has been named co-anchor of “WBZ News Mornings” alongside co-anchor Chris Tanaka — ahead of a revamped morning show later this summer. Her first day in the mornings will be Monday, June 17.
“We are thrilled to have Paula join the morning show as co-anchor,” said Justin Draper, president and general manager of WBZ-TV. “She is a lifelong New Englander and has been with WBZ for 21 years.
“She knows the region, the people and the local issues our communities face,” Draper added. “She joins at a perfect time where the revitalized format of the morning show aims to enhance the viewer experience with a more interactive and dynamic approach, and we are confident that Paula and Chris will deliver.”
Ebben has been anchoring evening newscasts at the station for more than a decade. This new assignment is a return to a familiar timeslot for Ebben, who previously anchored WBZ’s morning news from 2004 to 2013.
The new morning show will feature “more frequent weather updates with differentiated content to keep viewers informed and prepared for the day ahead,” according to the station.
The revamped show will also bring original segments such as “Question Everything” to the morning lineup. The show will feature a new segment inspired by CBS Mornings “Talk of the Table” — with discussions on trending topics and local stories.
Levan Reid will also expand his “Levan Out Live” segment, taking viewers live on location to events and activities happening across the region.
Some personal Breaking News… @wbz pic.twitter.com/Z2t1qEP7UZ
— PAULA EBBEN (@PaulaEbben) June 13, 2024
Ebben’s move to the mornings comes after the stunning news that Kate Merrill abruptly left WBZ following more than 20 years with the CBS Boston TV station. Questions have lingered about her departure.
Merrill’s co-anchor on the morning show, Liam Martin, had also recently left WBZ and the TV industry. Martin said he wanted to have a better work-family balance, and he joined a Boston public relations agency.
