‘Paula is one of the few women in the business who’s been given the chance to anchor a dinnertime newscast’

– Zahn’s agent Richard Leibner

FORMER CBS wakeup-show host Paula Zahn is joining Fox News Channel on March 1.

Zahn will anchor FNC’s nightly news progam, “The Fox Report” (7-8 p.m.), and will also host one hour of “Fox News Now,” the network’s daytime newscast.

“The Fox Report” is currently co-hosted by Jon Scott and Jane Skinner.

Zahn is the latest broadcast news person to jump to cable.

Three days ago, her former partner on ”CBS This 117 . 0009.01Morning,” Harry Smith, quit CBS to become the host of “Biography” on cable channel A&E.

Zahn joins a number of other former broadcast news veterans at FNC, including Britt Hume, Catherine Crier and Bill O’Reilly.

Zahn’s agent, Richard Leibner of N.S. Bienstock, Inc., said Zahn had more than a year left on her CBS contract, but left the network on good terms.

“It was absolutely amicable with CBS,” he said. “Once [Fox News chief] Roger Ailes made the opportunity available, [CBS News chief] Andrew Hey117 . 0000.00ward didn’t stand in her way.

“Paula is one of the few women in the business who’s ever been given the chance to anchor a dinnertime newscast,” he said.

“I am very happy to be part of the 24-hour breaking news business, doing what I like the most, live television,” Zahn said. “I am excited about joining Fox News at a time when it is experiencing such spectacular growth.”

Said Ailes: “Paula Zahn is known in the news business as a top interviewer and anchor – and we are pleased to bring her expertise and skills to Fox 117 . 0000.00News.”

Zahn most recently anchored the “CBS Evening News Saturday Edition” and served as Dan Rather’s backup anchor on the “CBS Evening News.”

Prior to that, she spent six years co-hosting “CBS This Morning” with Smith from 1990-96. She was also a regular contributor to “48 Hours,” “CBS News Sunday Morning” and other CBS specials and documentaries.

She also co-hosted the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France with Tim McCarver.117 . 0000.00 00000