Or a slight change in format...
Posted on 07/18/2007 9:29:56 AM PDT by hardback
If the events of the last two years had unfolded differently, Charles Gibson would already be three weeks into retirement, readying for a trip this fall with his wife to Australia.
Instead, the 64-year-old newsman is helming the year's top-rated network evening broadcast, whose steady audience gains have drawn attention from some unexpected quarters.
Perhaps the most startling came from Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, who remarked upon the recent success of "World News" before Gibson interviewed him via satellite from Baghdad last month.
"He said, 'Boy, those ratings are terrific,' " Gibson recalled. " 'You guys are kicking some butt!'
Petraeus isn't the only one who has taken note of ABC's turnaround. Nearly two years after the death of longtime anchor Peter Jennings the news division's flagship broadcast has rebounded with a speed that has startled even the top executives at ABC.
Since January, "World News" has averaged the largest network evening audience, beating the perennially first-place "NBC Nightly News." And the ABC newscast is tantalizingly close to stealing the crown for the season: As of last week, "World News" had drawn an average of 8.5 million viewers since September, compared with NBC's 8.6 million. ("CBS Evening News With Katie Couric" trails with 6.95 million.)
Much of the credit has gone to the genial anchor who seems delighted to find himself behind the desk every night.
"People should know how good these jobs are," said Gibson, grinning unabashedly. "They'd all be applying."
"Charlie is the real deal," said Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney-ABC Television Group. "I had a strong belief in Charlie, as did many people inside our company. Was the timing faster than what would be considered normal? Probably. But was the result surprising? No."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Just kidding.
It would be good news if we weren’t aware who he is competing against. Would we call it the least communist of the MSM?
A.K.A. He doesn't suck quite as badly.
Meanwhile, over at CBS, anchorperson Couric mulls over the `tube-top’ option.
Gibson beats the competition because he less arrogant than the very smug Brian Williams and the ultra-arrogant Katie Couric. ABC should not be gloating, it would be almost impossible to find someone more smug and arrogant than those two MSM poster children.
Imagine what their ratings would be if they OBJECTIVELY reported the news with no bias???
Well, Katie’s short skirts didn’t work so I guess bare midriffs are the next logical option... :)
A little cleavage never hurt, and a caption at bottom of the screen:
“My Eyes Are At The Top Of The Screen”
My theory is that Charlie is the least liberal of the ‘Big 3’ and is winning the battle because of it.
Or he just knows how to not show his favoritism.
I think you are right - I have heard Charlie go off after the last two elections. You definitely know he is a lib, but he’s not stupid. Why chase away viewers with overt bias? He can be like Peter Jennings, very sly in what he didn’t cover and how he phrased things.
Could be, or Charles is a very good actor. :)
chuckles is probably from the front end of the baby boom generation. the other two jackasses are clearly from smack dab in the middle of it.
LLS
The news that isn’t reported in this story is that the total viewership for all three networks evening news is down from the same period last year.
TWO REASONS that ABC is ahead of NBC and CBS.
NBC is now known as the CNN (extremely liberal biased) of the big 3 and people generally are avoiding news with blatant liberal bias - which is why folks are flocking to FOX.
CBS, Well rather was awful and Katie is worse, nuff said.
Are you kidding? Have you watched the terrorist supporters and America-bashers on NBC lately?
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