Koppel Responds
ABC executives have offered Nightline anchor, Ted Koppel's time slot to CBS's David Letterman. Koppel is finally talking about the story in The New York Times. He takes aim at anonymous executives who said Nightline was a money loser and has lost its relevance by saying the show is profitable and "It is at best, inappropriate and, at worst, malicious to describe what my colleagues and I are doing as lacking relevance." INSIDE EDITION has more on the story.
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In a Response, Koppel Writes That `Nightline' Still Fills a Need
ed Koppel has issued a carefully worded response to ABC's efforts to replace his news program, "Nightline," with a show starring David Letterman.
In an article published today in the Op- Ed page of The New York Times (news/quote), Mr. Koppel said that he hoped the program would not lose its time slot. But he hinted that if it did, it might find another home, but not necessarily at ABC.
"The eulogies have been wonderful but premature," he wrote. " `Nightline' (or some program with a striking similarity to `Nightline') ought to have a place in television's expanding universe, and I am confident that it will. I continue to hope that it will be at ABC, but that decision is beyond our control."
At one point, Mr. Koppel criticized executives for saying that the program was outdated. "It is, at best," he said, "inappropriate, and at worst, malicious to describe what my colleagues and I are doing as lacking relevance."
It was Mr. Koppel's first public comment on the corporate story since news of it broke on Friday. His response came as Robert A. Iger, the president of the Walt Disney Company (news/quote), the parent of ABC, flew to Washington to meet with Mr. Koppel.
Neither people at "Nightline" nor people at Disney would say what was discussed in the meeting, but it was assumed that Mr. Iger was trying to appease Mr. Koppel who, in the event that Mr. Letterman does not come to ABC, will, at least for the foreseeable future, remain an important part of the network's late-night schedule.
ABC Ted Koppel, in an Op-Ed article,
said that he understood why ABC
was pursuing David Letterman but
that the removal of "Nightline"
could have dire consequences. Oped: Network News Is Still
Serious Business (Mar. 5, 2002) Behind Letterman Turmoil, an
Icy Clash With His Boss
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People close to Mr. Koppel said that he decided to respond in an Op-Ed article because he wanted to choose each word precisely and considered that easier to do in writing than in interviews with the news media. They said Mr. Koppel would continue to avoid interviews.
The Op-Ed article took issue less with ABC's pursuit of Mr. Letterman than it did with the anonymous statements of corporate executives quoted as saying that "Nightline" had lost its relevance.
In fact, Mr. Koppel wrote that he understood the motivation behind Walt Disney's pursuit of Mr. Letterman. On the other hand, he said the removal of "Nightline" could have dire consequences.
"Disney has excellent business reasons to pursue the Letterman program," Mr. Koppel wrote. "But when `Nightline' is gone from the ABC schedule, and should the occasion arrive that our work might again seem relevant to the anonymous executive, it will not then be possible to reconstitute what is so easily destroyed."
The only visible sign of a campaign to save "Nightline" came in the form of an e- mail message to "Nightline" viewers from Leroy Sievers, the program's producer. Mr. Sievers reported receiving thousands of e-mail messages of support, and requested that they be sent directly to the network.
The ABC News division was otherwise on tenterhooks, impatiently awaiting word on a decision from Mr. Letterman, who is not expected to sign with a network until he returns from a weeklong vacation.
Indications by ABC executives that they would eventually replace "Nightline" with an entertainment program, regardless of the outcome of the talks with Mr. Letterman, have some in the news division worrying about the future of other news programs.
But those who were hoping Mr. Koppel would make an impassioned response in defense of quality journalism will probably be disappointed. The opinion article is, at times, understated and conciliatory.
He argues that "Nightline" may just be more important than ever given that the nation is, after all, still at war.
But he also acknowledged the realities of being part of a commercial network. "Particularly in these difficult economic times," Mr. Koppel wrote, "it is perfectly understandable that Disney would jump at the opportunity to increase earnings by replacing `Nightline' with the more profitable David Letterman show."
But he stressed that "Nightline" has been a successful business venture. Mr. Koppel wrote that it has generated at least half a billion dollars in its 22 years, a figure that generally squares with estimates from executives in the news division. But network executives have said an entertainment show would bring in far more.
It is unclear if Mr. Koppel's article will serve as a rallying cry to those well-known colleagues who were presumed to have been awaiting word from him before speaking out. Two colleagues at ABC News, Peter Jennings and Sam Donaldson, have made public statements of support. Two others have not: Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer. Neither of them would comment yesterday.
It is not as if Mr. Koppel would have nowhere else to go if he lost his time slot. ABC could offer him a time elsewhere on its schedule. Executives at CNN and NBC, which also owns MSNBC, expressed interest in Mr. Koppel if he were to become available.
TV Channel 4 Mon Mar 04 18:29:55 2002
> letterma kus kus kop will davreallyeave cbs what "E.T." Has learned about tv's
new late-night war. We'ltell you about dave's reported secret talks with abc, and
what this mes the long-running "nitlin"
ted koppel and theolks at "nightline" were totally blindsided.
> The stars speaks out on aport sity. Whatappened to kelsey wife? Her claims thashharassed by g as she tried to board a flight.
I staed sobbing and cryg,f but I'm sll really emotionally shaken by it.
>> And the comedian who was arrested, after he allegedly tried grab a security guard's gun!
>>An collins' wedding secrets. The "e.T. Insider" has the scoop straight from the blushing bride.
>>> Baby news from eddie murphy. X>> are you le a hands-onaddy changing diapers?
>> From new baby number five to his daughters' dating, eddie talks fatherhood with roshumba williams.
>>He's the doctor to the stars, who says his cosmetic procedure can get rid of your wrinkles without surgery. The before-and-after pictuver Y." No more crow's feet. No more frown lines. How it wor and how long it lasts.
>>> Lauren bh, theresident's niece, sexy inlack onhe cer of "w" magazine.
>>> Okaw, rather, jennings. Why the threnetwwk news anchors arteaming up.
>>> And get ready for thcroce hunter, on the
>> 3,0nds per square inch.
>> Announcer: This is "entertainment tonight," the most watched entertainment news program in the world.
>>A late-night tv controversy
our t hollywood story. Hello, eveone. I'm bob goen.
>> I'm mary hart.
>>> Is david lettermanwitching annels? &Is ted koppel on his way out? We have the latest details to the high-stakes war behind the scenes, "first up" tonight.
>> What are you guys doing with the map? What is this? It's moving day here at "the late show," have all your dishes and towels packed up and ready to go.
>> Reporter: Could this have been letterman's way of sending a message to his bosses at cbs friday night, just before heading off for vacation? When he gets back, "the late show" host is expected to decide whether or not he'll move his show to abc in the fall. Atthould almost certainly mean the cancellation of "nightline" with ted koppel.
>> Ted cop skpelt folks at "nightline" were totally blindsided by this.
>> Reporter: Top executives at abc have reportedly been holding secret talks with letterman, evens he continues negotiations with cbs. The president letterman's production company would only say -- "it would be inappropriate at this time to discuss any inquiries we may have received from other networks." Evenhf letterman stays at cbs, "nightline" y still be in trouble.
>> Advertisers look to letterman to bring in a younger audience. But think of about a $0 million decision. It's a big piece of business.
>> Reporter: If letterma decides to jump ship, it would almost certainly wouldn't be the first time.
>> This one caught cbs off guard too. They thought dave wasn't going anywhere. Now there's a possibilityhe might. I think they a working overtimekeepim.
> Elsewhere -- kelsey grammer and h we are set over what they conder to be mistreatment by airurecurecy. Mie reves to "E.T." How it drovher v tears.
>> I'm still really emotiollyille was traveling alone on S. A from l.A. To washington toee kelsey, who was hosting last night's n american celebration athord's theater," airing lat this spring on abc/
>> i went through .Three checkpoints, and at the last checkpoint i was harassed, verbally harassed. And I said that I was kelsey grammer wife, and they laughed in my face, and said i had to get to whiton for an event at the white house, and they laughedt me, 0d they accused me of being a liar. And they refused to let me on the plane.
>> Reporter: "E.T." Called u.S. Air for a comment, but they didot respond by the time of our deadline.
>> Finally after i started bbing ngyingying, they finally allowed me to get on the plane.
It's completely uncalled for, it's no answer to that kind of behavior, fnkly, and we're worried about mistreating people all over the world, d we behave like this in our own home. It's disgusting.
>> Reporter: Also this past weekend, stand-up comedian kevin meaney was arrested after a scuffle with security at the san francisco airport. Meany allegedly grabbed a national guard's loaded m-16 rifle, after airport authorities repeatedly asked him to svp videotaping checkpoint procedures. Meaney, who was jailed on sunday and later released on $,01000 bond, told "e.T." That media reports are incorrect. He was not reaching for the gun, but for his infant daughter who was nearby. Meany describes that experience as "frightening" and has retained a lawyer.
> Robert de niro speaks t on t growing controver rrounding the new documentary about the terrorist attacks. It's at the top of tonight's "e.T. Newslink." Denear's witnessed the tragedy. Now he's defending the cbs special about 9/11 which he host this sunday. It is based on footagshot that day by a team of french documentary filmmakers. The sh has been critiziced by some people who lost family members at the world trade center. They claim the broadcast will bring additional trauma.
>> I felt was imptant to do it anyway.
Reporter: T oscar rush has definitely bun for charzeli theron. Aring a versace gown, she hosted the academy of motion picture arts and sciences scientific and technical awards.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Rep?er: And eventually, charlize will find another dress.
>> "Moulin rouge."
>> Reporter: In another leg of the oscar rac the producing team of "moulin rouge," which was honored by the producers guild of america. Stl stl stl stilfaces "aaubeaubeaubend," produced by brian grazer for the academy award.
>> I really care about it,nd i nted to do as well as it can do.
>> Reporter: Tom hanks accepted the 3ild's award as of "band of heotrs," and dame julie anews honored film legend robert wise.
>> I want to thank leonard maltin. And our own film critic starred inth film festival. He was honored with the modern master award.
>>> And congratulations to anne heche and her husband coleman laffoon on the birth of their first child, homer. Everyone's doing great.
>>> Eddie murphy is also a proud new papa, thanks to 1-month-old bella zahra. But our roshumba williams found out that even though this is child number five with wife nicole, eddie won't be doing diaper duty.
>> Reporter: Are you a hands-on daddy, changing diapers up for 4:00 a.M. Feedings or --?
>> No, i'm not a diaper dad. I've never changed a diaper. People gonna say, "never change a diaper, you got five babies." Never changed a diaper. My wife does the diaper stuff, 'cause i knew I wouldn't do a good job at it, and who wants that?
>> Reporter: Eddie's wife nicole not only handles the diapers, but evidently the discipline as well. Da2just couldn't say no when his children visited the set of "showtime."
>> It's like they get to the set, and it's like, "hey, dad, can i have a soda? Can I have yodels? Can I have candy?" They come in there and eat junk food, watch cartoons in my trailer. I say, "you guys want to see is sho "not now, dad, i'm eating this yodel."
>> Repr:Ter: Soon, candy will be the least of eddie's worries, when it comes to his four daughters. What are you going to do when all these little girls grow up and start dating?
>> My oldest girl is 12. She just started putting little boys pictures up on the wall and stuff. They have sweet personalities, so i'm sure they'll bring home nice boys.F
>> you don't tell me what to do. I'm your partner.
>> You're nomy partner.
>> Reporter: "Showtime," which opens march 15th, pairs murphy with robert de niro and also rene russo. She's a former model, like eddie's wife, nicole. And I once joined nicole on the catwalk.
>> All you all are fine. So you've earned it with your fineness and charm and grace and talent. Roshumba, ladies and gentleman. Roshumba, y'all.
>> Thank you. Eddie told me that with four girls in the house, he's worried about ringing all the time, so he's decided each one gets her own phone line.
>> Announcer: Coming up in the "entertainment tonight cover story" --
>> hollywood's secret fountain of youth. The doctor who's seen madonna and cher shares how to remove wrinkles and crow's feet without surgery.
>>> Behind the scenes on the crocodile hunter's first film. And what his wife thinks about him risking life and limb.
>> When youee the 12-foot crocodile nearly tear steve's head off --
>>> why tv's top anchors are clowning around. *>>> And could nexteason be the st for "everybody loves raymond"?
>> I have one mo year on mcoract
>>> joan collins shares details of h two-week honeymoon.8
>> we've been off on an island in the middle of malaysia.
>> I've nevr had my own private island before.
>> Announcer: That's coming up, in the "E.T. Insider." <