Save Koppel! Nightline shake-up in the works

[dewaldd]

ABC removed their neocon PNAC story from the website...now they are trying to get rid of Koppel...They want to shup up one of the few voices of dissent left in the mainstream media.

Contact ABC: [e-mail], [e-mail]
and especially call them: [phone]

mail: 77 W 66th St
New York, NY 10023
(I couldn't get their mailing address because I got a machine; this is what the white pages gives)


http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/34451.htm

TED'S DAYS NUMBERED?

By DON KAPLAN

November 19, 2004 --

'NIGHTLINE," ABC's late- night news show, is about to undergo a massive shakeup that could mean the end of anchor Ted Koppel.

Insiders say that among the changes under consideration are expanding the show to one hour and making it a live broadcast.

Koppel, whose deal with ABC is reported to be worth $10 million, is not a fan of working live.

In fact, his contract — which is said to expire next year — severely limits the network's ability to air the show live when he is in the anchor seat.

The changes appear to put Koppel and the network on a collision course.

Already the network has dropped "Nightline's" top executive, producer Leroy Sievers.

"The company has made it clear that it is considering fundamental changes to the format and direction the broadcast takes in the future," Sievers said in a statement. "We were unable to agree on those changes and are negotiating the terms of my departure."

Ratings for the show have been on the decline, off nearly 20 percent from two years ago. The common wisdom is that an entertainment program at 11:30 p.m. would get better ratings and make more money.

ABC officials yesterday fiercely denied they plan to kill the 25-year-old "Nightline."

"Were extremely excited about the future of 'Nightline,' " ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider said. "We're looking forward to its 25th anniversary and its next 25 years."

Three years ago, ABC quietly tried to end "Nightline" by luring David Letterman away from CBS for a new late night entertainment show at 11:30 p.m.

And insiders say that ABC has not abandoned its hope to launch an entertainment program to compete head-to-head against CBS and NBC's "Tonight Show."

ABC's current late night variety show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" begins at 12:05 a.m., but there has been talk of shifting it to an earlier time slot — a move Kimmel himself has admitted he hopes might happen someday.

[Pirate Smile]

1. A lot of places don't show Nightline against Dave or Jay anyway.

They didn't in Kansas City and they don't where I am in Iowa either.

[BJ]

2. The network Mickey built hides dark secrets.

[KurtNYC]

3. Side note - Nightline was created to oust Jimmy Carter

They started the program during the Iranian hostage crisis and beat up Carter nightly. They put a bug on the screen with how many days the hostages had been held, etc.

Wasn't Koppel part of the show then?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

10. True. I won't miss him.

[BlueStatesForever]

4. Koppel is a blatant right-winger

Can't do worse with someone else.

[Algorem]

5. Will it be Bill KristolNightline?

The George Will Of The People Report?They could just put it on later and call it Koppel Late.

[w4rma]

6. Nightline is too late. ABC would be wise to move their news to 10:00, to

compete with FOX (I maintain that more folks watch FOX News because of the time, rather than the slant) and move Nightline to 10:45 which will get folks watching Nightline before they tune to other station's regular news programs, then they will probably stick with Nightline, instead. Then they can put up their entertainment program at 11:30.

[Paradise]

7. done! n/t

[Rambis]

8. Buh bye Ted!

I support no media because they do not support me.

[The Flaming Red Head]

9. Since when is Koppel a voice of the left? help Bev instead.

I'd rather save our right to vote and help Bev

[JaneEyrez]

11. Could you believe...

how that story right before the election about the Nightline correspondent who went to Vietnam to check out John Kerry's Silver Star incident just sank into oblivion? There were vitually no follow-up in the media at all. I remember thinking then that we were seriously screwed if the media could ignore that the Swift Boat Liars could be proven to be liars with a political agenda.

[Skidmore]

12. You know that over the past few days, several of the pundit

class, including Coulter and that Family Research Council/Group, have started screaming that the FCC needs to revoke the licenses of the network who violate decency standards--whatever they are now. These people are trying to SHUT DOWN the public networks, which they cannot totally control.

[readmylips]

13. Pompous ass Koppal...good riddens...

now he can go and ask bush #1 if he is stupider than his son.

[Eloriel]

14. Not me -- no way

I don't care who or what they put on instead. I almost never watch it and the reason for that is the rightward slant. So what if they go even further to the right? The internet will continue to blossom as people seek out REAL news. Screw Koppel and the horse he rode in on. Maybe it'll take a chunk out of his arrogance. (Or maybe not.)

I actually think all these broadcasters would do well to have a year -- or forever -- off. Get out into the real world, learn about the internet, and google, and alternative media, and blogs, and the people who are not served by their propagandistic garbage.