|
|
re-upping at ABC
Nightly news anchor's ratings on rise versus NBC
By Jeff Bercovici
Sometimes winning can be as much about outlasting your competition, and that may well prove true for Peter Jennings, ABC's nightly news anchor, when it comes to overtaking NBC's top-rated evening news broadcast.
Jennings, who has been "World News Tonight's" lone anchor for nearly two decades, is reportedly close to renewing his contract with ABC. His current one is about to expire.
Officially, neither Jennings nor ABC is saying much, but the expectation is that the 64-year-old newsman will stick around at least through early 2005, allowing the Disney-owned network to take full advantage of Tom Brokaw's departure from "NBC Nightly News" following the 2004 presidential election.
Besides timing, the other big question surrounding Jennings' contract negotiations was pay. Earlier this year, it was widely reported that ABC, which has struggled mightily since the ratings decline of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," was hoping to convince Jennings to accept a reduction in his $10 million-a-year salary.
That apparently isn't going to happen, but nor does it look like ABC will have to give him a raise, which may have been its true intention in leaking the business about the pay cut.
At the time, news that ABC was hoping to cut Jennings' compensation was read by many as a sign of disrespect on the part of ABC and Disney executives for the network's news division.
This past spring also saw ABC attempt to lure David Letterman on board to host a new talk show that would have taken the place of "Nightline." The negotiations, which were ultimately unsuccessful, were conducted without "Nightline" anchor Ted Koppel's knowledge, resulting in a public outcry once they became known.
In a sign that Jennings has reached or is close to reaching a deal with ABC, the anchor will announce today a new six-part primetime series scheduled to air early next month.
Titled "In Search of America," the series, based on a book by Jennings and Todd Brewster, is a look at how the America of today measures up against the vision put forth by the founding fathers.
NBC put an end to years of speculation in May when it anointed Brian Williams as Brokaw's successor. Williams, who hosts a nightly news show on CNBC, is generally considered a strong replacement, but it's unlikely he'll be able to hold onto all of Brokaw's audience.
That means opportunity for "World News Tonight," which is tantalizingly close to catching up to No. 1-rated "NBC Nightly News." "World News Tonight" even beats out "Nightly News" in total viewers some weeks, but the NBC program consistently leads in viewers 18-49.
In the second quarter of this year, "Nightly News" averaged 9.22 million viewers versus 9.1 million for "World News Tonight" and 7.77 million for "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather."
Rather, at 70, is the oldest of the big three anchors, but he has said he has no desire to step down as of yet.
August 26, 2002© 2002 Media Life
-Jeff Bercovici is a staff writer for Media Life.
Send to a
Friend| Printer-Friendly Version
Cover Page | Contact
Us