Who says a little healthy competition isn’t good for the soul?
News anchor Connie Chung admits her surprise move to CNN Tuesday was motivated, in part, by the fierce competition she has with those other high-profile ABC newswomen–Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters.
Chung felt joining CNN would allow her more freedom to have her own show–something she could not have at ABC. Walters and Sawyer ended up taking most of the prime-time spots.
Still, Chung is uncomfortable talking about any friction between the women.
“We need to get away from the notion that, as a female, I was competing with Barbara and Diane because they’re women,” Chung said at a CNN press conference Tuesday. “That’s an antiquated idea.”
“I’ll still be competition with anyone trying to get a ‘get.’ That’s the way the business is today,” she added.
She also stated she had a few “gets” up her sleeve but would not reveal who they were. “There are a couple of people I know I can get.”
CNN execs have said Chung‘s show will be a mix of news and newsmaker interviews and will air at 8 p.m. weekdays sometime this spring. She will be in direct competition with Fox News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly and MSNBC’s Brian Williams.
“I enjoyed my time at ABC-but this is something I had to go for,” said Chung.
