ABC's Jennings Facing Pay Cut?

Variety Via Yahoo!News ^ | April 25, 2002 | Craig Offman

[PJ-Comix]

NEW YORK (Variety) - ABC's "World News Tonight" host Peter Jennings may no longer be a $10 million man. Indeed, the veteran newsie, whose contract expires in August, could be facing a salary reduction.

"I've been hearing that Jennings is going to be offered a pay cut," a well-placed entertainment lawyer told Daily Variety. "The point is," he added, "that the share on such shows is lower, so why should the anchor make so much?"

An insider at the Disney-owned network said a pay freeze was more likely in store for Jennings.

Under that scenario, Jennings could take on more responsibilities or assignments to justify his salary. This summer, for example, he will be going on the road for a six-part series, an assignment that falls outside his regular demands at the newsdesk.

As it stands, fellow ABC News correspondents have been asked to accept 25% pay cuts, and the 63-year-old Jennings, who is negotiating his renewal with ABC News president David Westin and Walt Disney Co. president Robert Iger, apparently would be no exception.

With the drop in total audiences and rising median age of viewers of his newscast, Jennings may not have much leverage at the bargaining table. If Jennings wanted to hoof it, he'd likely face a pay reduction elsewhere.

"There ain't no place for him to go," said the entertainment lawyer. "The question is: Is ABC chasing him, or are they hoping he'll go away?"

Jennings recently won a Peabody Award for his coverage of events surrounding Sept. 11, and one wonders if ABC News could stomach another public fiasco surrounding one of its flagship journalists.

Last month, the Mouse House was caught red-faced when it was discovered that Disney bosses had made an end run around Westin, trying to replace Ted Koppel's "Nightline" with yakker David Letterman (news - Y! TV).

Westin, who would not comment on the Jennings speculation, recently said the network wants the anchor to remain, but did not mention specifics about his contract.

Meanwhile, NBC's Tom Brokaw, a bestselling author as well as the network's preeminent newsie, also is facing negotiations. Like Jennings, his contract expires in August.

Some suggest Brokaw may want to spend more time on his publishing career. Public office also has been mentioned as an option.

The NBC contract of his heir-apparent, Brian Williams, runs out at the end of the year. The contract of possible Jennings successor Charles Gibson expires this summer.

[PJ-Comix]

"LETTUCE ROLL!"

[demlosers]

Am I suppose to feel sorry for this guy?

[PJ-Comix]

Am I suppose to feel sorry for this guy?

Yes. I suggest that Jennings enlist the aid of those "living wage" folks at Harvard. I mean how can we expect an anchorman to live on a mere $7.5 million per year when he is used to $10 million?

[RightOnline]

Ten mill for that buffoon??????????? Shoot; that's $9,999,999.00 too much.

[chiefqc]

Tell this leach to get a real job and stop whining.

[looney tune]

Perhaps he could run for president of his beloved Palestine

[Looking4Truth]

In the interest of 'social justice' maybe Katie can share some of her huge salary with Canadian dropout Petie! After all, it's only 'fair'.

[The Scorpion King]

I hope this will reduce the amount of money that Jennings can afford to give the DNC!

[mc5cents]

They should pay that dufus in Canadian $. Pay him with those "Loonies". It fits.

[banjo joe]

ya think the lamestream media might be close to getting the idea? hmmmm... losing audiences. median demographics show only old farts who always watched this crap are the only ones watching now; and only because they grew up with nightly news and it's all they know. harumpf.

[uncbob]

10,000,000 for being a teleprompter reader

I am friends with one of the producers or what ever for the local CBS network.
He told me he is the one that has to get all the stories/news etc and then writes the script.
All the anchors do is read it.
He doesn't make near the money they do

He admits he is restrained on how he can write the news . If he wrote it they way he really saw some of it he would be out of a job

[bvw]

Ten million for being an established "personality", a face and a voice that public recognizes and trusts. That trust is founded on almost no actual substance, all appearance, but for marketing purposes it is paramount.

It's like having a live headless chicken at a State Fair. It draws the crowds. A hundred thousand dollar chicken sounds equally bizarre, but if you got it flaunt it. It is the franchise. It's the draw. It's what brings the gate.

[capt. norm]

The money is not as big a loss as the fact that everybody knows about it.

After all these years of airing other people's dirty laundry (with all due respect to Don Henley), his finally hits the air. Pete is learning that many things in life have a circular orbit or What goes around comes around.

[PJ-Comix]

median demographics show only old farts who always watched this crap are the only ones watching now; and only because they grew up with nightly news and it's all they know. harumpf.

I don't even see the purpose of the Nightly Network news anymore. The stories have already been covered on cable so by the time the overpaid anchors report the stories, they are already old news.

Better to turn to FOX News and get the latest news.

[friendly]

Q: What is the proper salary for a high school drop out from Canada who reads his DNC press releases from a teleprompter, and who so obviously dispises the United States and its citizens?

A: I hold up my hand to salute Mr. Jennings. I lower the two most lateral fingers on either side to perfect my salutation.

[bushfamfan]

I really want to know how American networks allow these Canadians to host American news programs? What is this? And it's not like Jennings is such an endearing presence. He's the epitome of snobbishness, humorless. And isn't he a high school/college dropout? And, more so, what is this with Canadians always talking of how proud they are and having to make their way to LIVE in the USA?? Funny how they never want to stay in Canada? I just can't stand the man and maybe he can actually use the money he made and move on back to Canada. Good riddance.

[RasterMaster]

Should be facing the Unemployment line.

[doofuss]

Harumpfh?

ROTFLMAO

A septuagenerian demographic.

[Rockitz]

All that hate mail to ABC is finally paying off. LOL

[Revolting cat!]

Use guys is crool! Mr Jennings earns his pay and more. Do you have any idea what his expenses might be? You may be paying a measly $2K a month mortgage and $5.99 for a KFC dinner. Mr Jennings pays, I'm guestimating now, $250,000 a month mortgage and he buys a Chicken-De-Luxe Dinner at the KFC for $8.99. It's all relative(or do I mean constant?) in that a 25% pay cut will affect him as much as it would affect you, you mean-spirited conservatives! I say we start a collection. Better yet, a telethon on Al Jazeerra for Peter Jennings?

[cubreporter]

I agree with you! Who in the heck cares anyway????? He, Rather and Brokaw are all on their way out. Their style of broadcasting is stale, old and passe...just like them. All the troubles in the country and the world and the fact Jennings might be having to take a pay cut is news or important? Disgusting but predictable!

[cubreporter]

I agree with you! Who in the heck cares anyway????? He, Rather and Brokaw are all on their way out. Their style of broadcasting is stale, old and passe...just like them. All the troubles in the country and the world and the fact Jennings might be having to take a pay cut is news or important? Disgusting but predictable!