John King replacing Dobbs show on CNN

NEW YORK -- 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 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.

Dobbs shocked his viewers Wednesday when he announced that he would be leaving the network effective immediately.

The longtime host of "Lou Dobbs Tonight" said on his show that it would be his last and that he was ready "to pursue new opportunities."

He said CNN had allowed him to be released from his contact, which was set for the end of 2011 and that he was considering a number of options.

"I will let you know when I set my course," he said.

The longest-running anchor on CNN's air, Dobbs was one of the nation's leading financial journalists before turning his program in a more opinionated direction. His persistent advocacy against illegal immigration angered many.

"I'm the last of the original anchors here on CNN and I'm proud to have had the privilege of helping to built the world's first news network."

CNN's average prime-time audience was third behind Fox and MSNBC during October, and it was even eclipsed by sister network HLN among younger viewers, according to the Nielsen Co.