It's official ...(Brief article)

Charles Crowson has been named the new anchor on "Today's THV This Morning," starting Aug. 3. Crowson, currently a general assignment reporter, will take B.J. Sams' spot after Sams, a 55-year TV veteran, retires July 31. Crowson will anchor alongside Alyson Courtney and Tom Brannon. Melissa Dunbar-Gates will become the morning reporter.

The change comes at a time slot in which KATV and KTHV-TV, Channel 11, are battling for the top rating spot. KATV nudged KTHV at 5 a.m. in the May Nielsen Media Research numbers, and the pair tied at 6 a.m.

KATV's "Channel 7 News Daybreak" scored a 4 rating for market households in May, compared with KTHV's 3. For adults 25-54, KATV scored a 3, and the CBS affiliate got a 2. At 6 a.m., KATV and KTHV both scored 7 household ratings for the market. Both also scored 5 ratings for adults 25-54.

And while KTHV is changing its lineup now, KATV began changing last August. The station moved Anne Pressly to the morning last August, and she was murdered in October.

Returning to business after such a traumatic incident has taken time, Randy Dixon, KATV's news director, said.

However, meteorologist Barry Brandt has since moved to the mornings, starting this spring. He joined Beth Hunt and Melinda Mayo.

"I think we have a winning combination and it's going to show. People like Beth, [Melinda] and Barry, and hopefully it'll show up in the ratings," Dixon said.

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