Christiane Amanpour

CNN reported today that renowned international correspondent Christiane Amanpour will be returning to CNN with a weekday program on its International network, while continuing at ABC News as a global affairs anchor.

The network’s worldwide President Jim Walton announced in an e-mail message to CNN staff yesterday that Amanpour will begin hosting a program on CNN International in 2012 as part of a “unique arrangement” with ABC News.

“Christiane Amanpour has been synonymous with international reporting and with CNN for many years,” Walton said in a statement.

“We could not be happier that through this unique arrangement with ABC News, her experience and global perspective are returning to a nightly news broadcast for our international audience.”

The American Broadcast Company had announced in 2010 that it had snagged “CNN’s brightest star” when the veteran reporter agreed to come on board with them as the host of “This Week” a politically-centered show, formerly hosted by George Stephanopoulos. It was a deviation from what the star reporter is known for, reporting on global issues.

This”unique arrangement” makes it possible for Amanpour to leave ABC’s “This Week” and return to CNN, a news organisation she has become so synonymous with, and get back into the field of international reporting.

She said in a statement that she was “thrilled and honored” by the opportunity to host multiple specials for primetime ABC News and return to CNN.

Regarding her time on “This Week”, Amanpour said: “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.”

However, she is “looking forward to getting back into the field to report stories on global issues that matter greatly to the American people,” Amanpour said. “At the same time, I will be broadcasting once again to hundreds of millions of people across the world with a weekday show on CNN International.”

Former “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos will return to the program on 8 January, while continuing his role as an anchor for “Good Morning America,” ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider said.

“Christiane has had an absolutely remarkable year at ABC News, with world-beating exclusives,” ABC News President Ben Sherwood said in a statement. “We’re thrilled that she will be able to get back out in the field, bringing these important global stories back to our audiences, particularly primetime.”

The award-winning Amanpour, who has spent 25 years reporting from around the globe for CNN, was most recently the chief international correspondent for the network and anchor of “Amanpour”, a daily interview program that aired on CNN International between September 2009 and April 2010.

Most recently, she was CNN’s chief international correspondent and anchored “Amanpour,” a 30-minute daily interview program that aired on CNN International from September 2009 to April 2010.