CBS evaluates the post-Rather 'Evening News'

CBS won't be rushed to replace the veteran anchor.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Dan Rather's exit as "CBS Evening News" anchorman is giving executives the chance to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the news operation, CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves said Tuesday.
Rather announced last week that he would leave the third-rated evening news broadcast in March. Moonves said he expected the network to decide on a replacement after the first of the year.
"We're spending a lot of time looking at it and looking at the future of news," Moonves said. He said the evening newscast was in no danger of being eliminated.
Rather might even be replaced by more than one anchor, he said.
In a conference call with reporters where he wanted to boast about CBS' victory in the prime-time ratings "sweeps," Moonves seemed almost exasperated by a run of questions about the news opening. But he couldn't resist a quip.
"We're almost starting from ground zero," he said. "Anything can happen. We may bring in the cast of 'Friends.'"
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