Viewers would rather get their news from local anchors in New York than the cable news networks, a report by trade association TVB indicates.

The report says New York’s early and late evening newscasts combined to outdraw the five highest-rated cable networks by 18 percent.

The data is conclusive in highlighting the enormous audience reach and composition balance advantages local broadcast TV news provides advertisers compared [to] national cable primetime news networks,” TVB president Steve Lanzano told Broadcasting & Cable.

The report, which examined Nielsen figures of nightly programming on CNN, Fox News Channel, CNBC, MSNBC, and HLN, says those networks contribute to only three to eight percent of the total evening news audience.

View from the anchor desk

It’s closing in on a year since WABC/Channel 7 moved to new studios at the other side of its Upper West Side building. FishbowlNY was granted access recently to tour the operation with video and photos.

Regular viewers already know the new look is fan-friendly. Taking a page from the network morning news’ playbook, the studio is at street level on the corner of Columbus Avenue and West 66th Street. A window gives passersby a look of the studio, even when live on-air. The talent can also see foot and vehicular traffic. When needed, though, the black curtain can be drawn for intimacy.

But wanting the daytime, New York City feel during the live newscast was a key ingredient to breaking ground. Therefore, at times, sunlight reflects directly onto the anchors. The veteran anchors, though, have not been distracted as they keep their focus on the camera and teleprompter. While locked into the live newscast, that doesn’t mean they loosen the occasional knot in the tie. For example, a couple of months ago a touch of Hollywood came to WABC, and lead anchor Bill Ritter tweeted his followers.

“woody harrelson just came by our studio window to wave hello. c’mon… how cool is that?”

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TVNewser: After 14 years at CNN, Kyra Phillips has moved down the hall to HLN. She’ll anchor the cable channel’s convention coverage starting next week.

FishbowlLA: The Katie Couric World Tour continues with a trip to Twitter’s new headquarters in San Francisco. Her new daytime talk show debuts next month.

GalleyCat: A new book (left) exploring the Osama bin Laden raid from the first-hand perspective of a Navy SEAL on the mission,  has topped Amazon’s best-seller list. The book will be published on 9/11.

Fareed Zakaria is staying out of trouble with on Time magazine. Zakaria received ridicule for plagiarizing a New Yorker article in his latest Time column.

But a Time spokesperson says in a statement that the Zakaria matter is over.

“We have completed a thorough review of each of Fareed Zakaria’s columns for Time, and we are entirely satisfied that the language in question in his recent column was an unintentional error and an isolated incident for which he has apologized. We look forward to having Fareed’s thoughtful and important voice back in the magazine with his next column in the issue that comes out on September 7.”

Zakaria also hosts a weekly show on CNN.

Photo: CNN.com

CNN Worldwide president Jim Walton is stepping down from the cable network at the end of the year.

Our sister site TVNewser reports Walton told the staff in a note this morning that CNN needs some “fresh thinking.”

Turner Broadcasting chairman Phil Kent is in charge finding Walton’s successor.

TVNewser has more details, including reaction from Kent.

An eclectic group of TV and radio pioneers has been selected as Giants of Broadcasting. This year’s class includes the late Don Cornelius, who was the revolutionary Soul Train host from 1971 to 1993.

• The man who gave Archie Bunker life, Norman Lear , is among the 2012 group. The producer-extraordinaire, Lear was behind some of television’s most endearing sitcoms, including All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, Good Times, and One Day at a Time. Lear, who turns 90 on July 27, has won four Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award.

• Ted Turner brought the idea of 24-hour news to people’s homes, and CNN was born in 1980.  The mogul also founded TNT (Turner Network Television) and TCM (Turner Classic Movies). He was named Time‘s Man of Year for 1991.

• Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer were the longtime PBS nightly news anchors. They were first to anchor a one-hour newscast in the U.S. and made of career at that rare feat. The MacNeil/Lehrer Report debuted in 1975. Eight years later, the tandem was expanded to 60 minutes. MacNeil, who earlier in his career worked for NBC News, retired in 1995.

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It’s a run for the ages. Sue Simmons closes the book on her storied 32 years as WNBC anchor. She’ll sit alongside her legendary partner Chuck Scarborough one final time tonight for the 11 o’clock newscast.

Throughout the day, WNBC is proud to point out that it’s featuring clips from Simmons’ illustrious past.

However there is, arguably, a bigger story.

While the station is planning one day of on-air tributes, beyond that there is not much more than a “no comment.” Actually, let’s call it what it is–a gag order.

Management is showing perfunctory fan fare, but when no current colleagues, especially one half of the famed anchor team, are permitted to speak about such a presence in New York, we’re left to scratch our heads.

In a terse statement, a WNBC spokesperson said, “Chuck is not available for interview.”

Even more shocking is that GM Michael Jack would not offer a comment as the face of WNBC.

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• TVSpy: It’s not everyday that a man devours another person’s face. It’s equally rare to find the cannibal attack pop up on the local news. But that’s what happened in Miami, as new video has surfaced of the ugly incident.

The Peabody Awards honors the best in electronic media. Winners for the 2011 awards were handed out this week at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

Among the 38 recipients were some of TV’s most familiar faces.

Stephen Colbert earned his second Peabody as host of the satire, Colbert Report.

Alex Trebek and Jeopardy! earned their first Peabody. The classic game show returned to the air with Trebek in 1984. (Watch the video below)

CNN was recognized with three trophies, including its coverage of the Arab Spring. Anderson Cooper was on hand to accept the honor.

PBS was selected for three awards, one given to the acclaimed series American Experience.

On a lighter note, NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation was victorious, along with the HBO medieval fantasy Game of Thrones. After the jump, watch a clip with actors from both shows.

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CNNMoney has launched an iPad app. The app features a simple layout and allows users to sort what news appeals to them the most. Those who use CNNMoney’s website to monitor stocks can access their information as well.

The app also carries content from CNNMoney’s site, so if you’re an avid reader, you won’t miss anything by using the app instead. Additionally, the app comes equipped with push notifications, though if you’re not particularly skilled at working the market, you might want to turn those off.

CNNMoney’s app is free and available in iTunes now.