Posted on 05/22/2006 8:12:20 AM PDT by abb
"World News Tonight" drops to third in the ratings, the latest blow to a team in transition.
NEW YORK — It was just one week.
But when ABC's "World News Tonight" — whose viewership already has dropped by nearly 1 million people in the last year — slipped behind the perennially third-ranked "CBS Evening News" in the ratings last week, it was more than just a blow to morale.
It was, according to some inside the network, a sobering and frustrating reminder of the internal tug-of-war that has stalled the newscast's efforts to recast itself after the death of anchor Peter Jennings and the serious wounds suffered by one of his successors in Iraq nearly four months ago.
Bob Woodruff is undergoing rehabilitation and is determined to return to the job, but it remains unclear when he will be able to do so. Initially, news officials said they were developing an interim plan for the program. But despite widespread expectations that the network was on the verge of announcing a new partner for Elizabeth Vargas weeks ago — with "Good Morning America" co-anchor Charles Gibson increasingly seen as the likely candidate — nothing has happened.
The main sticking point, according to people familiar with the situation, has been a reluctance to upend the second-place morning show, which some executives believe has a shot at taking on NBC's "Today" after Katie Couric leaves at the end of this month. ABC's dilemma has spotlighted a reality with which every network news division must grapple: Morning shows bring in substantially more ad revenue than the evening news programs, even though the latter are viewed as the flagship broadcasts.
ABC News spokeswoman Cathie Levine declined to comment on any internal discussions. "When we have an announcement to make, we'll make it," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
I remember the Camel News Caravan with John Cameron Swayze. 15 minutes long, he memorized his script and there were Camel cig logos all over the set. Now THAT was entertainment! - and some news.
I didnt know that Woodruff guy was the anchor of ABC nightly news. I thought he was a reporter.
"We, then watched commercials for denture cream, a Lark Scooter, and Medicare part D in succession."
Two out the above three, makes the target audience 65 years at least.
Proud of you! Jan
If I make a mistake, posted something that was wrong, like I did, and someone catches it and freepmails or posts the reality like Miss Marple did, I have no problem to:
1. To ask the mods to remove my reply and let them know why.
2. Then admit, I made a mistake.
Jan thanks for the kind words.
Any commercial with Wilford Brimley fills the bill too.
Yep! Good old Wilford. At least he is not obnoxious like so many of those who do commercials for those of us over the age of 65.
"I get my testing supplies delivered right to my door from Liberty Medical."
He was slotted to be co-host with Elizabeth Vargas, and was wrapping up a special report from Iraq (before starting in as anchor) when he was injured.
BTTT
TV ignores the reality that people are not inherently couch potatoes; given a chance, they talk back and interact. People have little in common except their prurient interests and morbid fears and anxieties. Necessarily aiming its fare at this lowest-common-denominator target, television gets worse and worse every year.
I have an easy fix for them: Find some old liberal dinosaur, and pay him $20 million per year. It works every time, doesn't it?
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