Amanpour out, Stephanopoulos back in at ABC’s ‘This Week’

Amanpour out, Stephanopoulos back in at ABC’s ‘This Week’

Christiane Amanpour, who was hired away from CNN by ABC News in 2010 to replace George Stephanopoulos as the host of "This Week," is stepping down from her perch at the network's ratings-challenged Sunday morning talk show. Amanpour will return to CNN International, where she'll host a daily daytime show; Stephanopoulos will return as host of "This Week," and remain a co-host of ABC's "Good Morning America."

However, Amanpour will remain with ABC News (which is also a content partner with Yahoo! News). She'll host a series of primetime specials for ABC, with the title of "international news anchor."

Amanpour has a formidable résumé of covering international news, but her background didn't seem to translate for "This Week," a show traditionally driven by American politics.

"I am looking forward to getting back into the field to report stories on global issues that matter greatly to the American people," Amanpour said in a statement. "At the same time, I will be broadcasting once again to hundreds of millions of people across the world with a weekday show."

CNN Worldwide head Jim Walton--who called the arrangement with ABC News "unique"--wrote in a memo to staffers: "We could not be happier than to welcome back to the CNN organization the leading international journalist working in television news, who also happens to be our longtime colleague and friend."

Amanpour's ouster had been rumored for weeks in the New York Post's Page Six column. Many speculated that ABC News' chief White House correspondent Jake Tapper, who had filled in as host of "This Week" before Amanpour arrived, would be given the role, but ABC said Tuesday Stephanopoulos would step in. (Tapper will be featured on "This Week" as a regular contributor, according to ABC.)

Amanpour added: "It's been an incredible experience to have had a ringside seat to democracy in action at 'This Week.' It's been an incredible honor to anchor such a prestigious program and I thank all of you who have helped me on that journey."