CBS viewers in various parts of the United States will soon see an expansion of their morning news programming.

CBS News will on September 30 launch a live, third hour of its flagship “CBS Mornings” A.M. program , a move that will extend the show into the 9 a.m. hour. “ CBS Mornings Plus” will be co-anchored by Tony Dokoupil and Adriana Diaz , and will air weekdays on CBS-owned stations in in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit and Miami and simulcast on CBS News 24/7, CBS News’ free streaming news outlet.

“This expansion of ‘CBS Mornings’ shows a commitment to the brand, and I’m excited to see what this team can do with another hour of real estate to experiment with,” said Shawna Thomas, executive producer of “CBS Mornings” and the new extension. “People say all the time they wish we had another hour. Now it’s time for us to do something smart with the time that the audience will appreciate.

The new program will cover not only the day's top news stories, but also pop culture, entertainment, health, wellness and financial news. Dokoupil will continue as co-host of the first two hours of “CBS Mornings” alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson.

Launching a third hour might seem ambitious. After all, many CBS stations and affiliates already air a syndicated half-hour talk show hosted by Drew Barrymore after “CBS Mornings.” However, both NBC and ABC have expanded their flagship morning programs, “Today” and “Good Morning America.” NBC presents hours of “Today” that are much lighter in tone than the show’s flagship 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. broadcast. ABC runs a third hour of “GMA” in the early afternoon.

There are strong reasons for CBS to extend its morning news hours. The “CBS Mornings” concept is one that many advertisers recognize and the news hours are likely less expensive to produce than a talk show, game show, or soap opera. NBC has found success by broadcasting some hours of its NBC News Now live-streaming service in afternoons for stations that wish to include them in programs packaged as “NBC News Daily.”

“We are building on the success of ‘CBS Mornings’ and providing our audiences with more of the engaging storytelling and distinctive reporting that they have come to anticipate from CBS News in the mornings,” said Wendy McMahon, president and CEO, CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures.

Dokoupil, who joined CBS News in 2016, has served as a “CBS Mornings” co-host since 2019 and has participated in on-location coverage of breaking news stories, as well as conducting a variety of interviews with prominent figures. He has also worked for MSNBC and Newsweek and The Daily Beast. Diaz joined CBS News in 2012 and has worked as the anchor of the Saturday broadcast of “CBS Weekend News.” She speaks Spanish and advanced French and Mandarin.