The behind-the-scenes expose of Dan Rather’s scandalous George W. Bush story has landed another two additions to its expanding cast. Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter each bagged the news that Topher Grace (Spider-Man 3) and John Benjamin Hickey (HBO’s The Normal Heart) have signed on for Truth.
The true life story of CBS newscaster Dan Rather’s ruinous report has already attracted a strong cast. It’s not a surprise, either, with a scandal as juicy as the one in which Rather found himself. Based on the memoir by the anchor’s producer, Mary Mapes, the movie investigates what happened as Rather alleged that former President George W. Bush had been granted special preferential treatment during the Vietnam draft.
Grace will play one of the key figures behind Rather’s downfall, Mike Smith. He’s been described as “a researcher who helped figure out the truth behind the...
The true life story of CBS newscaster Dan Rather’s ruinous report has already attracted a strong cast. It’s not a surprise, either, with a scandal as juicy as the one in which Rather found himself. Based on the memoir by the anchor’s producer, Mary Mapes, the movie investigates what happened as Rather alleged that former President George W. Bush had been granted special preferential treatment during the Vietnam draft.
Grace will play one of the key figures behind Rather’s downfall, Mike Smith. He’s been described as “a researcher who helped figure out the truth behind the...
- 10/2/2014
- by Gem Seddon
- We Got This Covered
Harold Dow, a CBS News correspondent, has died. He was 62.
Dow died abruptly Saturday morning, Aug. 21, reports CBS News. Thus far, the cause of death has not been announced.
Dow was a correspondent for "48 Hours" since 1990 and also reported for "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" and "CBS News Sunday Morning." Over the course of his career, he won a Peabody Awards for a story on runaways. He's also racked up five Emmys for coverage that inlcudes the Lockerbie bombing and American troops in Bosnia.
He's also covered the Sept. 11 attacks and the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst.
"Harold Dow was a reporter for the ages. Insatiably curious, he was happiest when he was on the road deep into a story. He took pride in every story he did," says "48 Hours Mystery" Executive Producer Susan Zirinsky. "It was his humanity, which was felt by everyone he encountered, even in his toughest interviews,...
Dow died abruptly Saturday morning, Aug. 21, reports CBS News. Thus far, the cause of death has not been announced.
Dow was a correspondent for "48 Hours" since 1990 and also reported for "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" and "CBS News Sunday Morning." Over the course of his career, he won a Peabody Awards for a story on runaways. He's also racked up five Emmys for coverage that inlcudes the Lockerbie bombing and American troops in Bosnia.
He's also covered the Sept. 11 attacks and the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst.
"Harold Dow was a reporter for the ages. Insatiably curious, he was happiest when he was on the road deep into a story. He took pride in every story he did," says "48 Hours Mystery" Executive Producer Susan Zirinsky. "It was his humanity, which was felt by everyone he encountered, even in his toughest interviews,...
- 8/22/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Veteran news producer Tom Bettag joins CNN Worldwide as senior executive producer of "State of the Union with Candy Crowley" and "Reliable Sources."
Bettag will oversee the Sunday public affairs programming lineup, effective immediately.
Crowley took over the anchor chair on "State" this month as the program's length was cut down from four hours to one.
In Bettag's more than four decades in journalism, he has served as executive producer of "CBS Evening News With Dan Rather," of ABC's "Nightline With Ted Koppel" and of "Koppel on Discovery" on the Discovery Channel.
Bettag will oversee the Sunday public affairs programming lineup, effective immediately.
Crowley took over the anchor chair on "State" this month as the program's length was cut down from four hours to one.
In Bettag's more than four decades in journalism, he has served as executive producer of "CBS Evening News With Dan Rather," of ABC's "Nightline With Ted Koppel" and of "Koppel on Discovery" on the Discovery Channel.
- 2/12/2010
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dan Rather's back in the saddle again.
The former CBS Evening News anchor will be on the air Tuesday night at HDNet for at least two hours of coverage of the North Carolina and Indiana presidential primaries. The coverage, which will partly air in the Dan Rather Reports time slot, will be televised live in front of an audience at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
Guests include former U.S. Rep. Tony Coelho, D-Calif., political experts Donald Fowler and Peter Hart and media critic Tom Rosenstiel.
It's the fourth such nights of election coverage for Rather, who presided over two decades' worth as the CBS anchor. Without taking anything away from what the broadcast and cable nets do, Rather said that, by circumstance and design, HDNet is doing something different.
"If all we can do is do what the others do, there's no reason to do these programs," Rather said. "We're trying to take the audience inside the political process." So instead of video walls and short bursts of analysis between exit polls and election results, Rather and his team are going to have what he calls a "conversation" about the results and what they mean.
The former CBS Evening News anchor will be on the air Tuesday night at HDNet for at least two hours of coverage of the North Carolina and Indiana presidential primaries. The coverage, which will partly air in the Dan Rather Reports time slot, will be televised live in front of an audience at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
Guests include former U.S. Rep. Tony Coelho, D-Calif., political experts Donald Fowler and Peter Hart and media critic Tom Rosenstiel.
It's the fourth such nights of election coverage for Rather, who presided over two decades' worth as the CBS anchor. Without taking anything away from what the broadcast and cable nets do, Rather said that, by circumstance and design, HDNet is doing something different.
"If all we can do is do what the others do, there's no reason to do these programs," Rather said. "We're trying to take the audience inside the political process." So instead of video walls and short bursts of analysis between exit polls and election results, Rather and his team are going to have what he calls a "conversation" about the results and what they mean.
A Manhattan judge on Thursday dealt a blow to the $70 million lawsuit against CBS by former anchor Dan Rather.
It was a rare bit of good news this week for the embattled news division, which had to deflect news reports about a possible partnership with CNN and speculation that Rather's successor, Katie Couric, might be on her way out by year's end.
There was little smoke in the CBS-CNN partnership, but a Wall Street Journal report indicated what many have long suspected: Couric not only could depart CBS Evening News before her contract is up but also leave CBS entirely.
CBS denied this as well, though there's little doubt that the $15 million-a-year investment in Couric hasn't worked the way the network planned. While CBS officials have been supportive in public, there was a feeling inside the network halls even before this week that Couric has until the end of the year to improve her ratings.
In yet another tough break for Couric this week, her first stint as a presidential debate moderator is now in limbo.
It was a rare bit of good news this week for the embattled news division, which had to deflect news reports about a possible partnership with CNN and speculation that Rather's successor, Katie Couric, might be on her way out by year's end.
There was little smoke in the CBS-CNN partnership, but a Wall Street Journal report indicated what many have long suspected: Couric not only could depart CBS Evening News before her contract is up but also leave CBS entirely.
CBS denied this as well, though there's little doubt that the $15 million-a-year investment in Couric hasn't worked the way the network planned. While CBS officials have been supportive in public, there was a feeling inside the network halls even before this week that Couric has until the end of the year to improve her ratings.
In yet another tough break for Couric this week, her first stint as a presidential debate moderator is now in limbo.
- 4/10/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Maggie Rodriguez has been named co-anchor of The Early Show. She replaces Hannah Storm, who said last week that she plans to leave the show.
Rodriguez, who has been an anchor and reporter in Los Angeles and Miami, joined CBS this year as co-anchor of The Saturday Early Show. She will take over on The Early Show on Jan. 7.
CBS News said that negotiations with Storm are continuing to find her a new spot at the network.
Rodriguez will join Harry Smith and Julie Chen. Since joining CBS in June, she also has done stories for the CBS Evening News and Sunday Morning plus been a substitute anchor for the weekend evening newscast.
"In the past six months, Maggie has proved to be a remarkably good fit in morning news," CBS News president Sean McManus said. "Her tenacity as a journalist and her authenticity and warmth will serve Maggie and CBS News very well."...
Rodriguez, who has been an anchor and reporter in Los Angeles and Miami, joined CBS this year as co-anchor of The Saturday Early Show. She will take over on The Early Show on Jan. 7.
CBS News said that negotiations with Storm are continuing to find her a new spot at the network.
Rodriguez will join Harry Smith and Julie Chen. Since joining CBS in June, she also has done stories for the CBS Evening News and Sunday Morning plus been a substitute anchor for the weekend evening newscast.
"In the past six months, Maggie has proved to be a remarkably good fit in morning news," CBS News president Sean McManus said. "Her tenacity as a journalist and her authenticity and warmth will serve Maggie and CBS News very well."...
- 12/5/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- CBS filed a motion Thursday to dismiss the $70 million lawsuit filed against it by Dan Rather, calling the former CBS Evening News anchor's claims bizarre and untrue.
The 30-page motion seeks to dismiss Rather's lawsuit against CBS, former parent Viacom, CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves, Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone and onetime CBS News president Andrew Heyward. Rather alleged that he was scapegoated and put out to pasture following the "Memogate" scandal before the 2004 election.
"There was no such nefarious scheme, and Rather's allegations bear no resemblance to reality," CBS said in the filing. "CBS and its executives are not now, and never have been, out to get Dan Rather."
A CBS statement released later Thursday said Rather was one of the most important broadcast journalists ever and formerly "one of our most valued colleagues. That is why we at CBS are mystified and saddened by the baseless and self-serving allegations and distortions of fact raised in his lawsuit."...
The 30-page motion seeks to dismiss Rather's lawsuit against CBS, former parent Viacom, CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves, Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone and onetime CBS News president Andrew Heyward. Rather alleged that he was scapegoated and put out to pasture following the "Memogate" scandal before the 2004 election.
"There was no such nefarious scheme, and Rather's allegations bear no resemblance to reality," CBS said in the filing. "CBS and its executives are not now, and never have been, out to get Dan Rather."
A CBS statement released later Thursday said Rather was one of the most important broadcast journalists ever and formerly "one of our most valued colleagues. That is why we at CBS are mystified and saddened by the baseless and self-serving allegations and distortions of fact raised in his lawsuit."...
- 11/16/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather said Thursday night that he wouldn't take a purely financial settlement with the megabucks lawsuit against his former employer.
In an interview Thursday night on CNN's Larry King Live, Rather said that he was interested in finding out the truth about what he called the corporate and government pressures on investigative journalism in what became known as "Memogate". He said he would "absolutely not" take a purely financial package that doesn't cut to what he called the truth about what happened following the Sept. 8, 2004, report on 60 Minutes II on President Bush's military career that was later retracted.
Rather also said it wasn't about the $70 million in damages the lawsuit seeks, that most of any money received would go to organizations that promote investigative journalism.
"I'd like the legacy of this lawsuit not that I made tons of money out of it but that we kept the little flame, the flickering flame of hard-nosed investigative reporting alive," Rather said.
In an interview Thursday night on CNN's Larry King Live, Rather said that he was interested in finding out the truth about what he called the corporate and government pressures on investigative journalism in what became known as "Memogate". He said he would "absolutely not" take a purely financial package that doesn't cut to what he called the truth about what happened following the Sept. 8, 2004, report on 60 Minutes II on President Bush's military career that was later retracted.
Rather also said it wasn't about the $70 million in damages the lawsuit seeks, that most of any money received would go to organizations that promote investigative journalism.
"I'd like the legacy of this lawsuit not that I made tons of money out of it but that we kept the little flame, the flickering flame of hard-nosed investigative reporting alive," Rather said.
- 9/21/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- As if CBS hadn't been rattled enough by legal flaps from shock jocks Howard Stern and Don Imus, a languishing newscast with Katie Couric as well as the controversial just-launched reality show Kid Nation, the network has been slapped with a $70 million lawsuit from former anchor Dan Rather.
Rather, whose decades-long career at CBS came to an inglorious halt over his role in a report criticizing President Bush's Vietnam-era National Guard service, on Wednesday sued CBS, Viacom, its chairman Sumner Redstone, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves and former CBS News president Andrew Heyward.
The suit, filed in New York State Supreme Court, argues that CBS violated Rather's contract by giving him insufficient airtime on 60 Minutes after summarily dismissing him as anchor of CBS Evening News in March 2005.
The suit claims that Rather was made a scapegoat by CBS and Viacom for business interests after the September 2004 airing of the controversial 60 Minutes II report on President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard. The 32-page writ said the anchor was shunned and continually kept from defending himself from attacks inside and outside CBS. Rather claims that the independent panel investigating Memogate had close ties to President Bush's father and that he was compelled to apologize for the report, even though he wasn't directly involved in putting it together.
In the filing, Rather also describes how systematically, and painfully, he was sidelined by the CBS hierarchy while at 60 Minutes. He said he was "provided with very little staff support, very few of his suggested stories were approved, editing services were denied to him and the broadcasts of the few stories he was permitted to do was delayed and then played on carefully selected evenings when low viewership was anticipated."
Rather is seeking upward of $20 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages. He said in a statement that he would donate most of whatever he might be awarded "to causes that will further journalistic independence."
CBS responded quickly to the lawsuit with a terse statement: "These complaints are old news, and this lawsuit is without merit."
Word of the lawsuit had spread like wildfire over the Internet and the wires by midday Wednesday; entertainment lawyers spent their afternoon readying their instant analysis for the newsies and print reporters. Comments ranged across the board, with some arguing that Rather had gotten a raw deal and others that it was nothing more than sour grapes.
For CBS, however, no one thought Rather's move would bode well.
Rather, whose decades-long career at CBS came to an inglorious halt over his role in a report criticizing President Bush's Vietnam-era National Guard service, on Wednesday sued CBS, Viacom, its chairman Sumner Redstone, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves and former CBS News president Andrew Heyward.
The suit, filed in New York State Supreme Court, argues that CBS violated Rather's contract by giving him insufficient airtime on 60 Minutes after summarily dismissing him as anchor of CBS Evening News in March 2005.
The suit claims that Rather was made a scapegoat by CBS and Viacom for business interests after the September 2004 airing of the controversial 60 Minutes II report on President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard. The 32-page writ said the anchor was shunned and continually kept from defending himself from attacks inside and outside CBS. Rather claims that the independent panel investigating Memogate had close ties to President Bush's father and that he was compelled to apologize for the report, even though he wasn't directly involved in putting it together.
In the filing, Rather also describes how systematically, and painfully, he was sidelined by the CBS hierarchy while at 60 Minutes. He said he was "provided with very little staff support, very few of his suggested stories were approved, editing services were denied to him and the broadcasts of the few stories he was permitted to do was delayed and then played on carefully selected evenings when low viewership was anticipated."
Rather is seeking upward of $20 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages. He said in a statement that he would donate most of whatever he might be awarded "to causes that will further journalistic independence."
CBS responded quickly to the lawsuit with a terse statement: "These complaints are old news, and this lawsuit is without merit."
Word of the lawsuit had spread like wildfire over the Internet and the wires by midday Wednesday; entertainment lawyers spent their afternoon readying their instant analysis for the newsies and print reporters. Comments ranged across the board, with some arguing that Rather had gotten a raw deal and others that it was nothing more than sour grapes.
For CBS, however, no one thought Rather's move would bode well.
- 9/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric is on her way to Iraq and Syria for a 10-day trip that will see her report from the war zone ahead of a progress report by Gen. David Petraeus that could determine the course of the Iraq War.
It will be Couric's first trip to Iraq since she became anchor of the newscast a year ago next week. Her reports come in advance of the Sept. 15 deadline for the report by Petraeus on the progress of the U.S. military's shift in strategy that could influence American troop levels in Iraq.
CBS Evening News executive producer Rick Kaplan said he and Couric want to provide viewers a full picture of what's happening in Iraq through her reporting as well as that of CBS News foreign correspondent Lara Logan, who already is in Iraq.
"This Sept. 15 deadline is quite real for Congress and the military and the White House," Kaplan said before he and Couric departed with a small crew.
It will be Couric's first trip to Iraq since she became anchor of the newscast a year ago next week. Her reports come in advance of the Sept. 15 deadline for the report by Petraeus on the progress of the U.S. military's shift in strategy that could influence American troop levels in Iraq.
CBS Evening News executive producer Rick Kaplan said he and Couric want to provide viewers a full picture of what's happening in Iraq through her reporting as well as that of CBS News foreign correspondent Lara Logan, who already is in Iraq.
"This Sept. 15 deadline is quite real for Congress and the military and the White House," Kaplan said before he and Couric departed with a small crew.
- 8/29/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Two years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, the networks are planning a wide range of coverage to mark the anniversary and look in on the long recovery process.
ABC News said Thursday that it will air Katrina: Where Things Stand beginning Sunday. It will encompass all of the network's platforms, including Good Morning America, This Week With George Stephanopoulos and World News With Charles Gibson. "GMA" co-anchor Robin Roberts will report from Mississippi; Dan Harris, Jim Avila and other correspondents will report from elsewhere on the Gulf Coast.
NBC Nightly News will originate from New Orleans and Mississippi beginning Tuesday. Anchor Brian Williams, who is making his 14th trip since the storm that he rode out at the Superdome in New Orleans, will report from the region. Today also will originate from New Orleans on Wednesday. NBC has shown a large commitment to continuing to report the Katrina story.
CBS will have a four-part series anchored by Katie Couric on CBS Evening News along with pieces by Harry Smith on The Early Show and two separate hours this season on 48 Hours Mystery. One hour focuses on two murders in New Orleans after the storm and how the city is still a hotbed of homicide.
ABC News said Thursday that it will air Katrina: Where Things Stand beginning Sunday. It will encompass all of the network's platforms, including Good Morning America, This Week With George Stephanopoulos and World News With Charles Gibson. "GMA" co-anchor Robin Roberts will report from Mississippi; Dan Harris, Jim Avila and other correspondents will report from elsewhere on the Gulf Coast.
NBC Nightly News will originate from New Orleans and Mississippi beginning Tuesday. Anchor Brian Williams, who is making his 14th trip since the storm that he rode out at the Superdome in New Orleans, will report from the region. Today also will originate from New Orleans on Wednesday. NBC has shown a large commitment to continuing to report the Katrina story.
CBS will have a four-part series anchored by Katie Couric on CBS Evening News along with pieces by Harry Smith on The Early Show and two separate hours this season on 48 Hours Mystery. One hour focuses on two murders in New Orleans after the storm and how the city is still a hotbed of homicide.
- 8/24/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- CBS News said Thursday that it has hired ABC News investigative chief Christopher Isham as its bureau chief in Washington.
Isham will replace longtime CBS News D.C. bureau chief Janet Leissner, who will retire after a career that included nine years in that post. Isham will take over the D.C. bureau Sept. 4.
Isham is chief of investigative projects at ABC News, with production credits for World News, Nightline, "20/20" and Good Morning America as well as other platforms. His unit has created the investigative Web site the Blotter, which has broken a number of stories online. He joined ABC News as an associate producer in 1987 and also worked in the documentary unit at NBC News.
Leissner was a senior producer for "CBS Evening News With Dan Rather" from 1992-98 as well as senior producer for the late-night program America Tonight and a Washington-based producer for the CBS Evening News from 1984-90. She began her career as an associate producer at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in Washington.
Isham will replace longtime CBS News D.C. bureau chief Janet Leissner, who will retire after a career that included nine years in that post. Isham will take over the D.C. bureau Sept. 4.
Isham is chief of investigative projects at ABC News, with production credits for World News, Nightline, "20/20" and Good Morning America as well as other platforms. His unit has created the investigative Web site the Blotter, which has broken a number of stories online. He joined ABC News as an associate producer in 1987 and also worked in the documentary unit at NBC News.
Leissner was a senior producer for "CBS Evening News With Dan Rather" from 1992-98 as well as senior producer for the late-night program America Tonight and a Washington-based producer for the CBS Evening News from 1984-90. She began her career as an associate producer at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in Washington.
- 7/13/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- The newly appointed senior vp of CBS News says it's frustrating that "CBS Evening News" isn't doing better, but he believes the program is finally on the right track.
Network news veteran Paul Friedman officially was upped from vp to senior vp on Wednesday, effectively serving as CBS News/Sports President Sean McManus' No. 2 and working alongside senior vp Linda Mason. On the short list of things to improve at CBS News is the standing of "CBS Evening News With Katie Couric," which started with a lot of fanfare in September but has faltered. Last week's viewership was the lowest since at least 1987, probably longer.
"Obviously it's not the best news one could get on a Tuesday morning, but we know we're on the right track now, and we know most nights we're the best broadcast on in the evenings," said Friedman.
Viewership and the adults 25-54 demographic trails both of its rivals, traditional ratings champ "NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams" and the recent winner, "ABC World News With Charles Gibson." Friedman acknowledges that there were mistakes made in the early days of Couric's broadcast, chief among them the emphasis on softer news and features rather than the harder news that traditionally marked the broadcast under anchors Bob Schieffer, Dan Rather and, of course, Walter Cronkite.
Network news veteran Paul Friedman officially was upped from vp to senior vp on Wednesday, effectively serving as CBS News/Sports President Sean McManus' No. 2 and working alongside senior vp Linda Mason. On the short list of things to improve at CBS News is the standing of "CBS Evening News With Katie Couric," which started with a lot of fanfare in September but has faltered. Last week's viewership was the lowest since at least 1987, probably longer.
"Obviously it's not the best news one could get on a Tuesday morning, but we know we're on the right track now, and we know most nights we're the best broadcast on in the evenings," said Friedman.
Viewership and the adults 25-54 demographic trails both of its rivals, traditional ratings champ "NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams" and the recent winner, "ABC World News With Charles Gibson." Friedman acknowledges that there were mistakes made in the early days of Couric's broadcast, chief among them the emphasis on softer news and features rather than the harder news that traditionally marked the broadcast under anchors Bob Schieffer, Dan Rather and, of course, Walter Cronkite.
- 5/10/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- The CBS Evening News fell to historic lows in viewership last week, according to data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.
The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric averaged 6 million viewers for the week ending April 30, the lowest point since at least 1987, covering the tenures of Dan Rather, Bob Schieffer and Couric. It also was lower than Rather's period in the anchor chair during the height of the "memogate" scandal.
It was a week of lows, with NBC scraping the bottom in adults 25-54 with its lowest numbers in the demographic since at least 1987. ABC flirted with a record in adults 25-54 with its second-lowest on record, second only to Couric's first week as anchor.
But ABC won the week in viewership and adults 25-54, one of a recent string of victories against NBC in the evening news race. ABC World News With Charles Gibson averaged 8.1 million viewers and a 2.0 rating/9 share in the adults 25-54 demo.
The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric averaged 6 million viewers for the week ending April 30, the lowest point since at least 1987, covering the tenures of Dan Rather, Bob Schieffer and Couric. It also was lower than Rather's period in the anchor chair during the height of the "memogate" scandal.
It was a week of lows, with NBC scraping the bottom in adults 25-54 with its lowest numbers in the demographic since at least 1987. ABC flirted with a record in adults 25-54 with its second-lowest on record, second only to Couric's first week as anchor.
But ABC won the week in viewership and adults 25-54, one of a recent string of victories against NBC in the evening news race. ABC World News With Charles Gibson averaged 8.1 million viewers and a 2.0 rating/9 share in the adults 25-54 demo.
Deborah Norville has signed a multiyear deal with CBS Television Distribution to remain as anchor of the syndicated newsmagazine Inside Edition.
Norville joined Inside Edition in 1995 after more than a decade in the television news industry. She most recently had re-upped her contract in January 2005, signing a two-year deal at the time.
"When Deborah joined 'Inside Edition' 12 years ago, she reinvigorated the show with her sharp interview skills and strong news judgment," CBS Television Distribution CEO Roger King said. "I'm happy that she'll continue to be the face of the show for years to come."
Executive producer Charles Lachman added that Norville's "solid news background and willingness to get in the trenches are a huge part of this show's success."
For her part, Norville said she's "thrilled" to be staying at the show, saying it has "come to feel like home."
Norville also has worked at CBS News, where she anchored America Tonight and reported for 48 Hours, Street Stories and CBS Evening News. She also has hosted her own nationally syndicated radio show, Deborah Norville Radio Show, and was co-host of NBC's Today. Norville has won two national Emmys, a local Emmy and the American Women in Radio and Television's Gracie Award.
Norville joined Inside Edition in 1995 after more than a decade in the television news industry. She most recently had re-upped her contract in January 2005, signing a two-year deal at the time.
"When Deborah joined 'Inside Edition' 12 years ago, she reinvigorated the show with her sharp interview skills and strong news judgment," CBS Television Distribution CEO Roger King said. "I'm happy that she'll continue to be the face of the show for years to come."
Executive producer Charles Lachman added that Norville's "solid news background and willingness to get in the trenches are a huge part of this show's success."
For her part, Norville said she's "thrilled" to be staying at the show, saying it has "come to feel like home."
Norville also has worked at CBS News, where she anchored America Tonight and reported for 48 Hours, Street Stories and CBS Evening News. She also has hosted her own nationally syndicated radio show, Deborah Norville Radio Show, and was co-host of NBC's Today. Norville has won two national Emmys, a local Emmy and the American Women in Radio and Television's Gracie Award.
- 2/22/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- HDNet has tapped a 20-year veteran of CBS News as executive producer of its new Dan Rather Reports. R. Wayne Nelson will be responsible for development and production of the show, which will feature the former CBS Evening News anchor. It's scheduled to debut in October. Nelson was senior broadcast producer for the CBS Evening News and later became a producer for 60 Minutes. He started at CBS 20 years before that as a producer in the Dallas bureau. He has won three Emmys. After CBS he started a company called Parachute Productions, which created web videos and DVDs for companies and charities. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
NEW YORK -- CBS is expected to announce Tuesday that former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather will leave the company after 44 years at the network. Rather's contract runs through November but he is expected to leave the network immediately to pursue other opportunities. A news release most likely will be issued Tuesday morning. A special tribute to Rather's career is expected to appear on Tuesday night's CBS Evening News. Rather didn't respond to a request for interview Monday. The move was widely expected in the past few weeks after the 74-year-old had said that he would be leaving CBS after negotiations on a new contract hadn't guaranteed him anything but an office at the network.
- 6/19/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather may soon be leaving the network he has worked at for the past 44 years. An announcement from CBS News and Rather on his future could come as soon as next week, sources said. Rather's contract expires in November, but he may leave sooner than that. There have been negotiations but they apparently haven't borne fruit, and it has become increasingly clear in recent weeks that Rather won't be working at CBS News by the end of the year. CBS News declined comment Thursday. Since leaving the anchor desk in March 2005, Rather has been a correspondent for 60 Minutes.
- 6/15/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LAS VEGAS -- Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather said he's "pulling for" Katie Couric when she takes over his old job come September. His brief remarks in an interview after receiving a distinguished service award at the annual National Association of Broadcasters' convention at the Las Vegas Hilton marked Rather's first public comments on the topic since Couric was named to the post in a multimillion-dollar deal this month. "Katie is a really superb person, and she's a great pro," Rather said. "I'm pulling for her, and I hope she does well." NAB gave distinguished service awards to Rather, former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw and the late ABC World News Tonight anchor Peter Jennings at the confab's opening session.
- 4/24/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- CBS News chief White House correspondent John Roberts will join CNN on Feb. 20 as senior national correspondent. Roberts had been groomed as then-anchor Dan Rather's successor but was passed over several times after Rather left in March. CBS News president Sean McManus made it official during the Television Critics Assn.'s winter press tour when he said that Roberts wouldn't be the CBS Evening News anchor. In an interview Wednesday, Roberts said talks about the future began before the press tour. "We had a discussion about the future. It became clear they were looking in a different direction as far as the main anchor goes," he said. "After you're chief White House correspondent, there's not many other places where you can move to. There's '60 Minutes' and anchor positions, and there wasn't any open at CBS."...
NEW YORK -- After months of speculation and one of the hardest years of any show in TV journalism, 60 Minutes Wednesday has been canceled by CBS. The 6 1/2-year-old show had come under an unprecedented assault for its flawed report on President Bush's National Guard service in the early 1970s, which led to an independent investigation, the forced departure of five longtime employees and Dan Rather stepping down from his CBS Evening News anchor chair. But from the network's perspective, 60 Minutes Wednesday had an even bigger problem: ratings. "This was a ratings call, not a content call," CBS chief Leslie Moonves said. "I know that was a question." He added that the report scandal had nothing to do with the cancellation, saying, "If '60 Minutes Wednesday' had a 10 rating, it would be on the air." Ratings had fallen 14% across the board, dropping from 9.9 million viewers last season to 8.5 million this year. It also was the oldest-skewing show on the network. It and three other shows have been swept aside in a youth movement, leaving 60 Minutes as the oldest program on CBS' schedule next year.
- 5/18/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- The planned makeover of the CBS Evening News won't go on the air until at least the summer, the network's boss said Wednesday. In an appearance at the Association of National Advertisers' annual television-advertising conference Tuesday afternoon in Manhattan, CBS chief Leslie Moonves repeated the criteria guiding the development of the new show: making it more relevant and faster paced, with an ensemble approach. He declined to put a date on the debut of the revamped newscast. "We want to do it right," Moonves said.
- 3/24/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- A quick-thinking desk assistant and a little bit of luck helped the CBS Evening News to a scoop in Monday's multiple shooting at a rural Minnesota high school. News of the rampage by a student who killed nine at a tribal high school broke around 5:30 p.m. ET, about an hour before the evening newscasts go live. But the three network newsrooms kept getting conflicting information on casualties; one wire service report said one person had been slain. That, however tragic, wouldn't propel it to even a mention on the national newscast. "We didn't know much at all. There was no indication that it was the size that it turned into," said Jim Murphy, exec producer of the CBS Evening News. The Red Lake (Minn.) Indian Reservation tribal police weren't answering the phone, and the FBI still didn't know anything. But shortly before 6 p.m. a desk assistant reached tribal fire chief Roman Stately, who had just returned from the scene.
- 3/23/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Former CNBC host Gloria Borger will return to CBS News, this time as national political correspondent. Until recently, the Washington-based Borger had been co-host of CNBC's nightly Capital Report until the business-news channel canceled the show. She's no stranger to CBS News, having joined the network in 1997 as a regular panelist on Face the Nation. Her new job will begin April 4. She'll be involved in all of the newscasts, including the CBS Evening News, which is anchored by Face the Nation moderator Bob Schieffer. Schieffer said he is happy that Borger will be back at CBS News. Schieffer and CBS News president Andrew Heyward said Borger would strengthen the news division's reporting from Washington. Borger is also a contributing editor and columnist at U.S. News & World Report, which she joined in 1986. Borger graduated from Colgate University in 1974 and became a journalist in 1976 at the Washington Star. Two years later, she became a general-assignment reporter at Newsweek and later was promoted to chief congressional correspondent.
- 3/22/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- There's something for everyone in last week's nightly news ratings: a weekly win for NBC, a weekly win for ABC and a one-day victory for CBS. In a ratings week skewed by Wednesday's exit of Dan Rather, NBC remained on top in total viewers and household ratings. NBC Nightly News was seen by an average of 9.8 million viewers last week, according to Nielsen Media Research. That compared with ABC's World News Tonight, which averaged 9.6 million viewers, and the CBS Evening News' average of 8.1 million viewers. But for the second week, ABC claimed victory in the adults 25-54 demographic. ABC averaged a 2.8 rating/10 share in adults 25-54, edging NBC (2.7/10) and CBS (2.2/8). Dan Rather's last night as anchor -- in which he signed off using his 1980s-style "Courage" -- was seen by 10.4 million viewers March 9. That was the newscast's highest viewership since Jan. 1, 2004. But that paled in comparison to Tom Brokaw's last night in the NBC anchor chair Dec. 2, when 15.4 million viewers tuned in.
- 3/16/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NBC News anchor Brian Williams offered a mix of sympathy and criticism for his recently retired rival Dan Rather at the Hollywood Radio & Television Society Newsmaker luncheon Tuesday. In a wide-ranging discussion moderated by his boss, NBC Universal Television Group president Jeff Zucker, Williams held forth on everything from the rise of blogging to stepping up the intensity of overseas reporting. But he often returned to Rather, who retired from the CBS Evening News last week. Williams lamented how the controversy over errors in Rather's report on President Bush's National Guard record are overshadowing his otherwise distinguished career. "It breaks my heart," Williams said. "People take a long view of a career like Dan's, and (there's) one colossal, systemic failure we are now all obsessed with, this one event in his career."...
- 3/16/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Dan Rather's last newscast achieved something he hasn't been able to do in a while: vault the CBS Evening News into first place among the Big Three. Wednesday night's CBS Evening News came in first in a survey of 56 metered markets, according to Nielsen Media Research. CBS Evening News (7.3 rating/13 share) came out ahead of the NBC Nightly News (6.5/12) and ABC's World News Tonight (6.4/12). Other ratings information wasn't immediately available. But it was the first time since Monday, March 13, 2000, that the CBS Evening News had won the night.
- 3/10/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- When Dan Rather steps down as anchor of the CBS Evening News tonight, immediately at least he'll be remembered as much for the events of the past six months as the five decades of distinguished reporting that led up to what's known today as Memogate. But that doesn't take into account the 50-plus-year career as a broadcast journalist that has seen much triumph, associates and observers say. True, Rather's reputation has been badly strained by the 60 Minutes Wednesday report about President Bush's National Guard service in the 1970s that caused so much controversy in September and, after an independent panel's report, led to the ouster of four staffers at CBS News. In November, before the report was released, Rather decided to step down from the anchor desk, though he will remain at CBS News as a reporter for both editions of 60 Minutes. "It's a shame because, clearly, he'll be remembered for this," said Sam Roberts, a former CBS News executive who worked with Rather and is now a professor of broadcast journalism at the University of Miami. "But he should also be remembered for all the great work he did."...
NEW YORK -- To close 24 years in the anchor's chair of the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather went back to his much-ridiculed but heartfelt closing of the mid-1980s: "Courage." To some a symbol of journalism gone awry and to others a reporter's reporter, Rather returned in his final broadcast Wednesday night to familiar themes that have been woven through his journalism career. His final taped piece for the CBS Evening News revisited the heroes of a FDNY ladder company who waited with an injured woman instead of quickly evacuating themselves from one of the stricken twin towers. He then thanked CBS News colleagues and viewers, recalling that for a time he ended each broadcast with that single word and wanted to do so again. "To a nation still nursing a broken heart for what happened here in 2001, and especially to those who found themselves closest to the events of Sept. 11; to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in dangerous places; to those who have endured the tsunami and to all who have suffered natural disasters and who must now find the will to rebuild; to the oppressed and those whose lot it is to struggle in financial hardship or in failing health; to my fellow journalists, in places where reporting the truth means risking all; and to each of you: courage."...
NEW YORK -- At 11 p.m., the race between WABC and WNBC is razor thin, though WABC claimed the top spot in almost every measure during New York's February sweep. In the second sweep month since New York became a Local People Meter market, WABC carries total day in household rating and total viewers and adults 18-49. It also wins for its news throughout the day, though WNBC's 11 p.m. household rating is one-tenth of a point higher than WABC's, though WABC delivered a higher share. WABC didn't include Presidents Day in the Nielsen Media Research calculations, though WABC did. At 6:30 p.m., World News Tonight averaged a 7.2 rating/13 share in total viewers, with the NBC Nightly News coming in second place with a 2.5/8. There was more bad news for Dan Rather, who is finishing up his 24-year tenure behind the anchor desk. The CBS Evening News (0.4/2) trails Univision's WXTV (0.7/3) and the news demographic of adults 25-54. WXTV is tied for second place in adults 25-54 with WNBC.
NEW YORK -- Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer will replace Dan Rather as anchor of the CBS Evening News until a new format for the show is worked out, the network said Wednesday. Rather, who has helmed for nearly 24 years, will leave March 9. Schieffer will take over the next day, a Thursday. It wasn't clear how long Schieffer would be interim anchor, though CBS said it will be for a "short transition period until the new format of the broadcast is launched." Sources said Schieffer would be in the job for only three months or so to allow CBS time to put together a permanent show with multiple anchors.
NEW YORK -- On Tuesday, the day that Dan Rather returned to the CBS Evening News, he said CBS News staffers should take to heart an independent panel's report on the 60 Minutes Wednesday story questioning President Bush's military service. "We should take seriously the admonition of the report's authors to do our job well and carefully but also their parallel admonition not to be afraid to cover important and controversial issues," Rather wrote in a memo to CBS News employees. He noted with sadness that the investigation led to the dismissal of four CBS News employees: producer Mary Mapes, senior vp primetime Betsy West and 60 Minutes Wednesday executive producer Josh Howard and senior producer Mary Murphy. Rather continues to defend the piece, the panel's report said, and he told the investigators that he still believes the facts of the story to be true. He wouldn't have apologized for the piece, he told the panel, except that he is a team player and was asked to do so by CBS News president Andrew Heyward.
- 1/12/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- NBC Nightly News retained its lead in the latest week of ratings, but ABC's World News Tonight had its best showing against the Peacock since August. In his second full week in the anchor chair, Brian Williams continued to beat his two rivals in total viewers and in the adults 25-54 news demo. Nightly News averaged 10.3 million viewers for the week ending Dec. 17, according to data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. World News Tonight averaged 9.6 million viewers, while CBS Evening News continued to come in third with an average of 7.3 million viewers. ABC said it was the narrowest gap since the week of Aug. 2. Among adults 25-54, NBC continued to be on top with a 2.8 rating/11 share, compared with ABC's 2.6/10 and CBS' 2/7.
- 12/22/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Three days of Tom Brokaw and two days of Brian Williams added up to five days of supremacy for NBC Nightly News last week. According to data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research, NBC Nightly News averaged 12.4 million viewers for the week of Nov. 29-Dec. 3. That included a 15 million-plus viewership for Brokaw's final newscast Dec. 1 but also two days with Williams at the helm. For the same week, ABC's World News Tonight averaged 9.4 million viewers and CBS Evening News averaged 7.7 million viewers. NBC has been on top for 22 weeks in the evening news battle. Nightly News is up 10% in total viewers, ABC is down 11% and CBS is down 10%. NBC also won in household ratings and the key adults 25-54 demo.
- 12/8/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- In his first night in the anchor chair, Brian Williams picked up where Tom Brokaw left off. NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams averaged 11.7 million viewers Thursday night -- down from Brokaw's finale Wednesday but still well ahead of ABC and CBS, according to fast national data released Friday afternoon by Nielsen Media Research. World News Tonight, anchored by Peter Jennings, averaged 9.3 million viewers, and the Dan Rather-anchored CBS Evening News averaged 7.4 million viewers. NBC said Friday that its Thursday night total-viewer average was up 5% from its average of 11.1 million viewers for November, compared with ABC's average of 10 million (down 7%) and the CBS average of 7.7 million (down 3%).
- 12/6/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Tom Brokaw is finishing his time at the NBC News anchor desk on top. NBC Nightly News With Tom Brokaw was the most-watched network evening newscast for the eighth straight year. Nightly News logged wins in the week, quarter and the 2003-04 TV season (which ended last week for network newscasts and daytime programs) in total viewers and the key adults 25-54 demo, according to data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. For the season ending Sept. 19, Nightly News averaged 9.9 million viewers compared with ABC's World News Tonight's average of 9.2 million and CBS' Evening News average of 7.5 million viewers. It was the eighth straight year of total-viewer wins since the 1995-96 TV season, when ABC won. In the third quarter, NBC averaged 9 million viewers, compared with ABC's 8.1 million and CBS' 6.7 million.
- 9/22/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- CBS News fired back against critics of a 60 Minutes report that questioned President Bush's military record, saying it stood by its story and using five minutes of Friday's CBS Evening News to defend its coverage. In a statement earlier Friday, CBS News denied Internet reports that the network had launched an internal investigation. "We have complete confidence in our reporting and will continue to pursue the story," a CBS News statement said.
- 9/13/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Joan Snyder, a pioneering female writer, producer and correspondent for CBS News, died Thursday at Mount Sinai Hospital after a long illness. She was 69. Snyder had a nearly 30-year career at CBS News, where she wrote and produced for many of the network's stars, including Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and Charles Kuralt. In 1967, she was one of the first female TV journalists to travel with a camera crew, covering elections, political conventions and the space program. She became an on-air correspondent for the weekend CBS Evening News and, later, Sunday Morning. "She was one of the pioneer women reporters who opened new opportunities for women at CBS News and throughout American journalism in the 1960s and 1970s," Rather said in a statement. "She did it by hard work, talent and adherence to the highest standards."...
- 9/11/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Election coverage has helped the broadcast networks keep pace with news viewership from a year ago even though the country was becoming consumed with the impending war with Iraq in 2003. NBC Nightly News won the week ending Feb. 6 over ABC's World News Tonight by 752,000 viewers. The evening news audience dipped by 1% for the week compared to a year ago, according to Nielsen Media Research. NBC averaged 11.84 million viewers to 11.09 million for ABC, and 9.31 million for CBS Evening News. But in the demo, ratings overall fell by 8% as NBC and ABC declined by 12% apiece while CBS stayed 2% in the black. NBC won the week with a 3.4 rating, to 3.1 for ABC, and 2.7 for CBS. In contrast, primetime viewership at all three major cable news networks declined as CNN's audience fell by 29% to 19% for leader Fox News Channel and 2% for the lagging MSNBC.
- 2/11/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- The loss of adults on the nightly news programs continues to track those in primetime as the broadcast networks have slipped 6% this season in news among viewers 25-54 through the week ending Dec. 2, according to Nielsen Media Research. Among all viewers, the Big Three have slipped 5% in the newscasts this season. Last year's numbers were largely boosted by the sniper shootings and midterm elections. Last week, the networks averaged 30.41 million viewers, down only 1% from a year ago, as NBC defeated ABC by 730,000 viewers. Paralleling its primetime woes, NBC's Nightly News has suffered the biggest decline in the demo this season, 15%, to tie ABC's World News Tonight at a 2.8 rating/11 share, as ABC is down 3%. CBS' Evening News, which is flat in prime among adults, also is stable in news at a 2.1/8. Among all viewers, NBC continues to lead with 10.21 million viewers, a 3% drop, to 9.53 million for ABC, off 5%, and 7.8 million on CBS, an 8% decline.
- 12/10/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- CBS News has taken a different tack in the hiring of its latest correspondent, tapping former Channel One and MTV News staffer Serena Altschul as a contributor to its weekend news programming, the network said. Altschul, 33, will work for CBS News Sunday Morning and the weekend edition of CBS Evening News. Although she has limited experience in either local or network news beyond MTV, executives said Altschul would bring with her new ideas on how to attack traditional stories as well as a fresh perspective on developing stories relevant to a younger audience. "She's a bit different," said Marci McGinnis, senior vp news operations at CBS. "We think we can be a little more creative with pieces on those types of shows (the weekend programs)."...
- 12/5/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- The broadcast networks continued to lose younger viewers on their evening newscasts at a rate that doubled their overall 3% attrition from November 2002, according to the final figures from the November ratings period, which ended Nov. 26. NBC's Nightly News won the month as the only newscast not to lose viewers, although it took a beating among adults 25-54, and tied ABC News for first place in the demo, according to Nielsen Media Research. Overall, NBC averaged 10.9 million viewers, up 1% from a year ago to 10.13 million for ABC's World News Tonight, which fell by 4%. It marked NBC's widest margin of victory over ABC in three years, and the network has won 19 of the last 20 sweeps in overall viewership. CBS' Evening News declined by 7% to 8.26 million viewers, but was the only newscast to pick up among the 25-54 crowd, rising from a 2.2 to a 2.3 rating.
- 12/3/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The tributes flowed freely Monday night as the Museum of Television & Radio saluted a contemporary icon of broadcast journalism and three of the most successful sitcom writer-producers in recent memory during the MT&R's annual fund-raising gala. CBS' Dan Rather and the Friends creative brain trust of Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane were feted during the ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel, hosted by NBC's Jay Leno, for their contributions to the medium. Like a good news reporter, CBS' Rather kept his acceptance remarks short, sweet and to the point. The anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News thanked the crowd for implicitly recognizing "the importance of a free and independent American press" in honoring his work during the past five decades at CBS. Even as a handful of protesters gathered outside the hotel with placards accusing Rather of betraying a liberal bias in his work, the veteran newsman told the audience inside that his guiding philosophy in his work had always been "to be accurate and to be fair -- as much as humanly possible -- and when there's heat, face the furnace and take it."...
- 11/12/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- NBC's Nightly News edged out ABC's World News Tonight last week in the network news ratings race in both adults and total viewers. NBC drew an average of 9.3 million viewers in the for the week ending Oct. 10 compared to 9 million for ABC and 7.14 million for CBS' Evening News. NBC also nosed ahead of ABC among adults 25-54, with NBC's 2.7 average to ABC's 2.6; CBS' Evening News averaged a 1.9. ABC was the only network to gain ground in the 25-54 demo compared to the comparable week a year ago, rising 4% while Nightly News dropped 15% and Evening News dipped 1%. In total viewers, ABC was flat for the week compared to its year-ago mark. NBC was down 5% and CBS was down 10%. Season-to-date, NBC and ABC are tied in the adults 25-54 demo standings but NBC ranks No. 1 in total viewers by a thin 210,000-viewer margin.
- 10/15/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Veteran ABC News executive Victor Neufeld is leaving the network after 30 years to join CBS News' Early Show as the number two executive on the show, CBS announced Wednesday. Neufeld will report to Early Show senior executive producer Michael Bass. He succeeds Lynne Pitts on the eye network's morning news program; Pitts moved on to a post on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather last month. Neufeld has spent the past 3 1/2 years overseeing ABC's newsmagazines 20/20, and Primetime Thursday. He previously served 13 years as executive producer of 20/20. "I want to try something different," Neufeld said. " It's time to start a new chapter." He said he relished the challenge of trying to elevate Early Show, which lags its NBC and ABC competition.
- 8/21/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NBC Nightly News had its largest margin of victory over ABC's World News Tonight in five years, winning by 500,000 viewers for the month of May. It was also the peacock's best showing in May since 2000. On the flip side, CBS Evening News suffered its worst May among adults since at least 1987. Overall, evening newscast viewing fell by 3% to 25.69 million compared to May 2002, as NBC was flat, ABC lost 4% and CBS slipped 6%. Nightly News held its widest margin among adults 25-54 for a May ratings period since at least 1987, even though it basically tied with World News among adults and viewership last week. For the month, Nightly News averaged a 2.9 rating to 2.5 for World News in the demo as Evening News earned a 2.0. Separately, ABC announced that World News anchor Peter Jennings will host the show from Egypt and Jordan starting Monday in concert with the planned Middle East peace summit.
- 5/29/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
CBS News veteran Philip Scheffler is stepping down after 23 years as Don Hewitt's No. 2 at 60 Minutes, the network has announced. Scheffler, who will continue to consult for the news division, will be replaced as the newsmagazine's executive editor by longtime producer Josh Howard. Scheffler, who has spent his entire 52-year career at CBS News, was often overshadowed by Hewitt, the charismatic 60 Minutes creator who will step down as executive producer after the 2003-04 television season. Hewitt will be replaced by Jeff Fager, executive producer of 60 Minutes II. But Scheffler has overseen the production and editing of every 60 Minutes report since 1980. While Hewitt has always supervised the show's overall content and look, Scheffler solved day-to-day problems and was a vital sounding board for the correspondents and producers. Scheffler also earned a footnote in broadcast news history by creating what CBS News calls the first crude TelePrompTer. He used a typewriter with extra-large type and wide adding machine paper to scroll news copy off-camera for anchor Douglas Edwards, whose first-ever network newscast debuted in 1948. "Everybody should be as lucky as I've been to have had Phil Scheffler at my side," Hewitt said in a statement. "He's as good an editor as I've ever worked with, and I can't think of anyone better to uphold the high standards he set for us than Josh Howard." Howard joined 60 Minutes in 1989 after working as a segment producer on CBS Evening News.
NEW YORK -- Americans voted with their remotes in February, telling pundits, in effect, that rumors of the death of the nightly evening newscast have been greatly exaggerated. NBC News won the February race, but all three networks grew. With a possible war looming and the weather remaining cold and snowy in many parts of the country, news viewership rose 3% in February from last year, and 8% from February 2001. The picture is less clear among adults, with viewership up 3% from last year and 5% from two years ago. NBC's Nightly News outdrew ABC's World News Tonight by 390,000 viewers overall and 320,000 viewers among adults 25-54. NBC averaged 11.68 million viewers for the month, compared with 11.29 million for ABC and 9.48 million for CBS' Evening News.
ABC News last week slipped past archrival NBC to win the nightly newscast race as World News Tonight edged NBC Nightly News by 200,000 viewers and finished in a virtual tie in the key adult demo, according to Nielsen Media Research. "WNT" drew 11.6 million viewers, 13% more than the same week a year ago when NBC was riding the Winter Olympics to a big month across its entire schedule. With 11.4 million viewers, Nightly News dropped 5% while CBS Evening News grew by 8% to 9.67 million. Among adults 25-54, ABC jumped by 20% and NBC lost 6% to tie at a 3.6 rating. It marked ABC's best showing with viewers and adults since Nov. 26, 2001. So far in the first quarter, "WNT" is up 9% compared to a year ago among all viewers while Nightly News is up 3% and CBS is down by 3%. Overall, news viewing has climbed by 3% in the quarter so far compared to 2002.
- 2/26/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- NBC's Nightly News drew the most viewers of the three broadcast network newscasts in November, edging out ABC's World News Tonight, while winning across the major demos, according to Nielsen Media Research. Nightly News averaged 10.75 million viewers compared with 10.55 million for "WNT" and 8.85 million for CBS' Evening News. That constituted a 320,000-viewer turnaround for NBC, which was nipped by ABC last year 2001. Among adults 25-54, NBC averaged a 3.4, compared with a 3.0 for ABC and a 2.2 for CBS. Season to date, NBC holds a 383,000-viewer margin over ABC compared with last year, when it led by 147,000 viewers. "WNT" edged out Nightly News last week -- a four-day average because of the Thanksgiving holiday -- by about 30,000 viewers, while NBC nipped ABC among adults.
- 12/4/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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