Mercado will take over the highly acclaimed 9 o'clock edition of 'Newsroom,' currently anchored by Mitzi Borromeo.
The news anchor is said to be eyeing an exit from the local CNN station to pursue an advanced degree.
Yang is the only journalist to ever secure a three-in-a-row win at the ATA, winning in the exact category from 2001 to 2003.
The morning program will be one of the first casualties from the ESPN deal.
"Kung gusto i-bounce back ni Pangulong Duterte 'yung kanyang approval rating, dapat makita niya talaga [kung] ano ang gusto ng ibat-ibang sectors."