Diane Sawyer Exits as ABC Evening Anchor

Diane Sawyer has signed off as anchor of ABC's "World News," telling viewers that it has been wonderful to be the "home port" of the network's news team each weeknight.

She will be replaced next week by David Muir. The 68-year-old Sawyer, one of television news' best-known personalities, has anchored ABC's flagship newscast since December 2009.

Sawyer isn't retiring. She said Wednesday that she'll move "down the hall and up the stairs" to a reporting job. She'll be expected to compete for big newsmaking interviews at the network, with more room to maneuver now that Barbara Walters isn't working regularly anymore.

For most of Sawyer's tenure, "World News" was second in the ratings to NBC's "Nightly News," anchored by Brian Williams.