John King to Replace Lou Dobbs on CNN

John King is replacing Lou Dobbs on CNN.

John Klein, CNN president, said Thursday that veteran reporter King will move into the 7 p.m. EST (0000 GMT) slot that's been vacated by Lou Dobbs. King will host a show about politics beginning early next year.

That puts him in direct competition with MSNBC's Chris Matthews, whose "Hardball" is also about politics. Fox News Channel's Shepard Smith, who does a more general interest newscast, dominates the cable news ratings in that hour.

Dobbs announced abruptly Wednesday evening that Wednesday would be his last show on CNN. He said he wanted to pursue more advocacy journalism, a route that was no longer available to him on CNN.