Dunphy to Set Anchor at KCBS : Television: Veteran newsman immediately departs Channel 9 for his former home ground at Channel 2. He will appear on the 5 p.m. newscast in February.

Veteran television anchorman Jerry Dunphy has left KCAL-TV Channel 9 to return to his old stamping grounds at KCBS-TV Channel 2, where he will co-anchor the 5 p.m. newscast starting next month.

Dunphy, 73, whose easygoing manner and trademark greeting, “From the desert to the sea to all of Southern California, a good evening,” has made him a familiar fixture with local viewers for nearly 35 years, will be reunited with former KABC-TV Channel 7 anchor Ann Martin, who joined KCBS last May. Salary terms were not disclosed.

In an interview Wednesday, Dunphy noted that he began his local career at KCBS--then known as KNXT-TV--in 1960, where he anchored “The Big News,” considered the first hourlong newscast in the country. In 1975, he began a 14-year anchoring stint at KABC before moving to KCAL in 1989, where he co-anchored the 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.

“It’s wonderful to come back and be part of it all again,” Dunphy said. “The fact that the opportunity came up to return to these same chambers is just great.”

No specific air date was announced for Dunphy’s on-air start, but station executives said it would occur during the February sweeps.

Michael Tuck, who currently co-anchors the 5 p.m. newscast, will anchor the station’s 4 p.m. newscast when Dunphy starts and will continue to anchor the 11 p.m. newscast with Martin.

Countering the news of Dunphy’s departure from KCAL--which is effective immediately--was KCAL’s announcement that anchor Pat Harvey had been signed to a new multiyear contract. Harvey will continue to anchor the 9 p.m. news and will work on special series and projects for the three-hour “Prime 9” newscast.

KCAL officials said there were no immediate plans to hire a new anchor to replace Dunphy. “We have a solid group of anchors, and there are no plans at this time to change that as we move into a new era,” said station spokesperson Stacy Okonowsky.

Commenting on Dunphy’s departure, David Woodcock, president and general manager of KCAL, said in a statement, “Jerry is a wonderful person, and has been an icon in Los Angeles television for almost 35 years. We wish him and his family the very best.”

In a separate statement, KCAL News Director Bob Henry said, “Jerry has been a good friend to the station. We will miss him. However, as KCAL-TV ‘Prime 9 News’ celebrates its fifth anniversary this March, we will move forward.”

Dunphy called the parting “very amicable. I had a fine relationship with everyone there, the management and the reporters.”

With Dunphy’s hiring, KCBS is also moving forward with its strategy of hiring established local anchors and reporters to bolster its news operation, which has been plagued in the last several years by management turnover, low morale and sagging ratings.

In addition to Dunphy and Martin, the station in recent months lured political reporter Linda Breakstone away from KABC and hired veteran weatherman Dr. George Fischbeck.

“This is going to be a uniquely Southern California newscast,” said news director Larry Perret. “It’s a newscast that reflects the community. Viewers who tune us in won’t feel like they’ve been dropped in just any city in America.”

Added General Manager William Applegate: “We were anxious to have Jerry join us because he will add to the success of the station and the newscast. He will add credibility and authority to our newsroom.”