Networks Pursue Superstar Anchors Gumbel and Sawyer

Bryant Gumbel’s NBC contract does not expire until January, and Diane Sawyer does not have a “window” in her ABC contract that allows her to negotiate formally with competitors until early 1997. But other networks already are pursuing the two superstar anchors, according to executives involved in the talks.

CBS, which is seeking to add more star anchors under news division President Andrew Heyward, is eager to sign both Sawyer and Gumbel. But, contrary to recent speculation that the network might try to make Sawyer the first woman to be solo anchor of one of the Big Three network newscasts, it is not eyeing her to replace Dan Rather on the “CBS Evening News.”

“We’re not planning to replace Dan with Diane or anybody else,” Heyward said in an interview Thursday. “We’re very happy with Dan, and we’ve been breaking a lot of stories on the broadcast in recent months. Diane and Bryant are both very talented anchors, but we’re not talking to them about the ‘CBS Evening News.’ ”

CBS is discussing creating a new syndicated show for Gumbel as well as having him host a new prime-time magazine, according to network sources. The network, under its new owner Westinghouse, has the largest number of owned-and-operated TV stations among broadcast groups and plans to expand its presence in the syndication market, where the host of a show usually shares in the revenues.

ABC, sources said, is discussing a new prime-time magazine and other news assignments for Gumbel, and Fox is also said to be making offers to him. Gumbel, who began as a sportscaster, also has a commitment to do more sports journalism for HBO, where he has anchored the “Real Sports” specials on the pay-cable network.

Gumbel--who has been hosting the “Today” show for nearly 15 years, longer than any other anchor--announced last spring that he would leave the morning program Jan. 3.

NBC, meanwhile, wants to keep Gumbel at the network. “We’re in discussions with him about a number of options that we hope will keep him here,” NBC spokeswoman Beth Comstock said Thursday.

The talks regarding Sawyer, given the later “window” in her contact, are not as far along as those with Gumbel.

CBS, sources said, is in the most serious discussions to sign Sawyer, who formerly worked at the network on the morning news and “60 Minutes.” The possibilities being talked about range from a new prime-time newsmagazine to other CBS News anchoring roles to what one source described as “new areas for CBS News that would grow the business.”

Sawyer, who makes a reported $7 million a year as anchor of ABC’s “PrimeTime Live” newsmagazine, could make headlines by leaving. But she has said that she is happy at ABC, and some sources speculate that she will re-sign there at an even higher salary.