CBS Cancels Wednesday '60 Minutes'

Yahoo News ^ | May 18, 2005 | DAVID BAUDER

[blogblogginaway]

NEW YORK - CBS said Wednesday it is cancelling the Wednesday edition of "60 Minutes," insisting the decision was made because of poor ratings and not last fall's ill-fated story about President Bush's military service

Dan Rather, the newsmagazine's lead correspondent, will contribute stories to the Sunday edition of "60 Minutes," said CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves.

"This was a ratings call, not a content call," Moonves said Wednesday.

The newsmagazine spinoff was where Rather reported last September that Bush skirted some duty while in the Texas Air National Guard and a commander felt pressure to sugarcoat an evaluation of him. An independent panel later concluded that documents used in the story could not be verified.

Moonves said that story didn't figure in the decision to cancel it, "not even slightly."

"60 Minutes" Wednesday has been sinking in the ratings, a decline accelerated by the success of the ABC drama "Lost" in the same time slot. The show also has one of the oldest audiences in prime-time television, considered a turn-off to advertisers.

Moonves said CBS News President Andrew Heyward was telling his staff of the decision on Wednesday and it was too soon to tell if any layoffs will result.

CBS will likely run news specials during the year in prime-time, he said.

The show was Rather's home base since he stepped down as anchor of the "CBS Evening News" in March. While he will report for "60 Minutes," it's not clear whether he will become one of the correspondents pictured every week at the beginning of the show.

[mtbopfuyn]

Woo Hoo! Now, if only they'd cancel Katie.

[InterceptPoint]

I'm curious how the ratings went after Memogate. If anyone has the data they should post it.

[OKIEDOC]

Why are your federal tax dollars being used to pay the ACLU to bring frivolous lawsuits against you.</p>

Your tax dollars pay their attorney fees.

It's time to repeal the law.

Check it out.

[drt1]

Boo Hoo - Poor Dan. And he just got a Peabody Award for trashing our efforts in Iraq (Abu Gharaib). Shows what the awards really mean. Wonder where Dan will hang out now?

[Pest]

"This was a ratings call, not a content call," Moonves said Wednesday.

Can't they see that their ratings are due to their content?

[RandallFlagg]

I wonder what they're saying at DU about this....

[CIDKauf]

Oh too bad...it couldn't possibly be because people have stopped watching...just like the movies that can't get good numbers...its not because people are tired of the "Hollywood" political party.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Dan Rather, the newsmagazine's lead correspondent, will contribute stories to the Sunday edition of "60 Minutes," said CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves.

They just can't bring themselves to cut their ties with this a$$clown. Rather is definitely still an "anchor".

[Nyboe]

LOL is that show still on the air ?!?

man I haven't watched network news in like a decade !

[theDentist]

Of course, poor content and a retracted story pushed the ratings further down, but there is no linkage. Wonder what Dan-o's gonna do now?

[Mr. K]

oopsie~! there goes Dan Rathers new assignment

[CGVet58]

this just made my day!!!

[mewzilla]

"This was a ratings call, not a content call," Moonves said Wednesday.

Like the two aren't related, brain trust.

[drt1]

Don't kid yourself. I'll be very surprised if he sees any more airtime. This is a gently inserted dagger by the master of this art, Moonves. Buh Bye Dan!

[Arrowhead1952]

Earlier theread with 70+ replies.

CBS Cancels Its Wednesday Edition of '60 Minutes'

[ConservativeMan55]

Mine too!

[raccoonradio]

They'll miss the show that, like the Natl. Guard memos, was "Fake, But Accurate"

[EQAndyBuzz]

"I wonder what they're saying at DU about this..."

HALIBURTON HALIBURTON HALIBURTON.. Bush Lied about WMD, Ashcroft is a Nazi... The usual.

[RandallFlagg]

I love watching the heroes of the left implode -then watching them cry.