Magers will join KCBS as anchor

Veteran TV news anchor Paul Magers, who helped lead his station’s ratings reversal in Minneapolis, will join KCBS-TV Channel 2 later this year as its principal male anchor.

Magers, who has been anchor at KARE since 1983, will anchor KCBS’ 11 p.m. newscast and another early evening newscast to be determined, said Don Corsini, vice president and general manager of KCBS.

Magers, who is under contract to KARE until December, will be paired with Laura Diaz in the 11 p.m. newscast, replacing Harold Greene.

Greene will remain at the station “in a prominent role,” and will anchor at least two daily newscasts, Corsini said.

As for Magers, Corsini called him “one of the most successful and sought-after anchors in the country. He has a wealth of knowledge. We know that he will become a major presence here in Southern California.”

He added, “Paul is part of a team that engineered one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the history of local television news. [KARE] was a non-factor when he first arrived, but Paul and his colleagues worked hard to be the best and built the region’s premier news organization. We look forward to having him play a similar role as we continue the process of building.”

KCBS, which is under the same ownership and management as KCAL Channel 9, is ranked far behind its rivals KABC and KNBC, and has struggled for decades in the ratings cellar, with an almost continuous turnover of management, anchors and prominent reporters.

KCBS last year hired Diaz away from KABC in a highly publicized move, and though ratings have improved, Corsini has said one of his priorities is “to get back in the game at 11 p.m.”

Magers is expected to be a major factor in the station’s rebuilding.

In addition to anchoring the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts at KARE, Magers has moderated political debates and participated in community events, including a 1997 telethon to raise money for flood relief in Minnesota.

He also has served as a substitute anchor on the weekend editions of NBC’s “Today” show.