Now we’re talking … CBS chief Les Moonves has made comments hinting that when Dan Rather steps down as anchor of the CBS Evening News in March, Rather will be replaced by a group of anchors, likely reporting from different cities.

Moonves said

“Those days are over when you have that guy sitting behind the desk who everyone believes to the `nth’ degree,” Moonves told reporters. “It’s sort of an antiquated way of news telling and maybe there’s a new way of doing it.”

I think he’s getting the right idea. He also didn’t rule out a role for Jon Stewart, who works for Comedy Central, which is owned by Viacom, which also owns CBS.

I think it makes sense on a number of levels, not the least of which is that it stirs the pot a little. It’s not the easy decision that NBC made with Brian Williams. If CBS goes this direction, they’ll get at least a little pop in the ratings because of the curiosity factor.

I also think it acknowledges the reality of the marketplace. Cable news understood that the talk radio format is a viable television format as well. FOX, MSNBC, and CNN have all bought into that. I’m not saying CBS ought to go completely in that direction, but going with a multi-anchor format would at least provide a variety of opinions and perspectives. Ideally, this would mean higher accontability for everyone, which is something CBS sorely needs right now.

I’d look for CBS to tap Stewart, Anderson Cooper, and at least one other “dark horse” to join the usual suspects of John Roberts and other CBS mainstays to round out the crew.