CBS Cuts Off Bush's Address (Rather Pre-empted again)

RatherBiased.com ^ | 2003-12-14

[RatherBiased.com]

2003-12-14 12:19:16 ET

• Football Cuts Into Rather's Coverage. Rather had another bizarre moment after a break

  in CBS's coverage of the speech of President Bush on the capture of Saddam Hussein.

  In the middle of speaking, the president's words were cut off.

  He was interrupted by a live shot of the St. Louis Rams football field, which ran for six seconds. The game had yet to start, and the stadium was only partially filled. Background noise could be heard, and through it all, the bottom of the screen said: "CBS News Special Report: Saddam Hussein Captured."

  When it became clear after six seconds that something was wrong, the feed went back to Rather. Before he spoke, two news women behind the scenes exclaimed--half-whispering, half-shouting--in cross talk where only one could be understood, "We lost it!"

  The flustered Rather told viewers, "Unfortunately, we have lost the audio and video from."

  Interrupting Rather was Bush, as someone decided to bring back the White House feed.

  "--congratulate."

  But Rather had to finish his sentence: ".from the White House. We pick it up now."

  At the end of the presidential address, the anchor was embarrassed: "We do apologize for the technical difficulty, uh, that we had."

  He ended the coverage, as he was forced to make room for football:

  "This has been CBS News continuing live coverage of the capture of Saddam Hussein. Dan Rather in New York. Right now we're turning things over to our friends at CBS Sports for NFL Today. But we'll be back with updates throughout the afternoon."

  What made the whole television event even more peculiar was that the CBS feed switched to the St. Louis Rams, an NFC team. The Rams were scheduled to play the Seattle Seahawks, another NFC opponent. But CBS Sports is not allowed to carry games featuring two NFC opponents, only AFC. The game was set for the Fox network. What CBS was doing with a Fox game is not clear.

  But one thing is clear: Rather was dogged by the sports division yet again, in one of the most news-making events of the year. On September 11, 1987--yes, September 11--he walked off the set after a tennis match ran late and cut into the start of his 6:30 program. The CBS screen went black for six minutes as minions frantically searched for the anchor, who finally made his way back to the chair.

  Rather didn't walk out today, but this time he most likely let out his anger at clumsy technicians.

2003-12-14 08:58:52 ET

• CBS Reporter Worries About Falling Gunfire. Long known as one of CBS's most negative reporters in Iraq, correspondent Kimberly Dozier continued her behavior, worrying that Iraqis may be killed by ammunition fired by ecstatic Iraqis:

  "I imagine tonight across Baghdad that we might see a lot more of this celebratory gunfire when the sons of Saddam were killed, Ouday and Qusay, several people were injured and killed by falling gunfire when celebrations broke out throughout the city. So we'll wait, watch and listen."

[Richard Kimball]

That's it. I'm sending Dan a sympathy card. Peter Jennings probably needs one, also.