Expect a complete makeover of Channel 2′s anchor assignments shortly, according to a WESH insider. Included will be a solo anchor shift at 6 p.m. for Wendy Chioji, a return to the 11 p.m. show by Jim Payne and a more prominent evening role for morning weather guy Tony Mainolfi.
I haven’t received confirmation yet, but here’s what the insider says the new assignments are:
- 4-5 p.m. — Martha Sugalski and Chioji anchor
- 5-6 p.m. — Payne and Sugalski anchor
- 6-6:30 p.m. — Chioji anchors solo
- 11-11:35 p.m. — Payne and Sugalski anchor
Payne and Sugalski have been anchoring the 4 p.m. show, Chioji and Raoul Martinez have been doing the the 5 p.m. with Payne and Chioji at 6 p.m. and Sugalski and Chioji at 11.
The anchor reassignments are due in some part to the hasty assignment of Martinez to anchor WESH’s new 7-9 a.m. newscast on CW18 with Eryka Washington.
What Mainolfi’s move to evenings mean for meteorologist Amy Sweezey remains to be seen.
