Nightline

Nightline is a late-night hard news program broadcast by ABC in the United States, and has a franchised formula to other networks and stations elsewhere in the world. It airs five nights a week (weeknights), usually for 30 minutes. Ted Koppel has served as main anchor since March 1980. Koppel usually anchors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, while Chris Bury anchors on Mondays and Fridays.

Threats of cancellation

Rumors have spread for many years about the show's cancellation. Many believe that a talk-show format would receive better ratings for the network, which has struggled in late-night ratings over the past few years. However, this was not always the case. During the so-called "late show wars" of 1993, when The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show were battling it out for viewers, Nightline would often place second and occasionally be in first place.

Related Topics:
1993 - The Late Show with David Letterman - The Tonight Show - Nightline

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In 2002, ABC attempted to hire David Letterman from CBS, a move that would likely have forced Nightlines cancellation. However, Letterman opted to re-sign with CBS.

Related Topics:
2002 - David Letterman - CBS

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It has been announced that although his contract ends in December, Koppel will anchor his final Nightline broadcast on 22 November 2005. He had announced in March 2005 that he was leaving the show at the end of his contract. Koppel has considerably reduced his hosting duties at the show beginning in 2002.

Related Topics:
22 November - 2005 - March 2005 - 2002

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