Chris Licht is jumping to CBS News as Vice President of Programming, effective June 6th. Licht is the co-creator and original executive producer of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“It would take something extraordinary to pull me away from the great ‘Morning Joe’ team,” said Licht. That “something extraordinary” is apparently being put in charge of all programming and development for CBS News broadcasts and platforms.
“Chris is one of the most talented producers in this business, and it is great for CBS News that he is joining us. He will be a significant partner in improving our existing broadcasts and developing new ones,” said CBS News Chairman and “60 Minutes” Executive Producer Jeff Fager.
“Chris is an innovator and we’re thrilled to have his talents here at CBS News. He’ll bring a fresh perspective to the news division which will excite colleagues and audiences—just as he did in cable news and local broadcasting,” added David Rhodes, President, CBS News.
Before Morning Joe, which launched in 2007, Licht partnered with Joe Scarborough on MSNBC’s “Scarborough Country” as senior producer and then was elevated to the position of executive producer.
Licht began his career at KNBC-TV Los Angeles, distinguishing himself early on during the OJ Simpson trial. Over the next seven years at KNBC, he moved up to special projects producer, coordinated the station’s Olympics coverage, and then produced the Channel 4 News at 11 up to #1 in the market. In 2001, NBC moved Licht to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he played an integral role on the transition team during the network’s purchase of KNTV. Following the transition, he remained as executive producer.
Licht’s first book, “What I Learned When I Almost Died,” based on his hospitalization with a brain hemorrhage last year, will be published by Simon & Schuster later this month.
