Posted on 09/24/2004 4:24:13 PM PDT by Pikamax
Sep. 25, 2004
Affilliates sweating out Rather crisis
By AP NEW YORK -- In Kansas City, Mo., it's Kirk Black's job to answer for Dan Rather.
The station manager of KCTV, like his colleagues at many other CBS affiliates, is facing a flood of calls and e-mails from viewers angry at Dan Rather for relying on apparently fake documents to suggest President Bush's National Guard service record was less than stellar.
Whether Rather rides out this storm depends on many factors, including ratings, his specific culpability in the shaky Guard story, a potential successor and even, perhaps, the results of a presidential election.
The opinions of people like Black, whose stations give Rather his national platform, may be most crucial.
"He's part of the face of my television station," Black said, "and people who aren't in the business, they don't separate my local anchors from him. They just see it as CBS. It's very difficult as you talk to viewers and try to explain what your position is and that you had nothing to do with what happened."
Viewers of WIVB-TV in Buffalo, N.Y., are more understanding -- to a point.
"My experience has been, (people say) 'It's not you guys, I know. It's those guys in New York. But isn't there anything you can do?"' said Chris Musial, the interim station manager.
He's counted some 1,300 e-mails in the past week. Most are part of a national campaign against Rather from conservatives who have hated him since he covered the Nixon White House. Starting late last week, a backlash campaign in support of Rather had started.
What stings Musial are the messages from three local church groups who say they will no longer watch his station.
Bob Lee, chairman of CBS' local affiliate board and president and general manager of WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, Va., said he's never seen such a viewer response. Black said he could envision worse -- like if he cut off the end of a Kansas City Chiefs football game, but not much else.
There are more than 200 CBS affiliates and 16 additional stations, mostly in big cities, that are owned and operated by CBS. More than 1,000 radio stations air CBS News.
So far one radio station -- a conservative talk-radio station in Virginia -- has dropped CBS News because of the Guard controversy.
It's very doubtful that any TV stations will try to switch affiliations, primarily because CBS is the primetime ratings leader.
"Between CBS primetime and AFC football, you'd be hard-pressed to look for a stronger network," said Gary Gardner, vice president and general manager of WINK-TV in Fort Myers, Fla.
That doesn't mean there isn't deep concern over what's going on at CBS News.
"If there are enough people who watch and choose to turn away from CBS News because of their opinions of Dan, that would potentially force CBS News' hand," he said.
It's too soon to judge whether that's happening. Viewership for the "CBS Evening News" during the week the Sept. 8 "60 Minutes" report on Bush's service was aired was down 8% from the same week in 2003, according to Nielsen Media Research. The next week, it was down 9%.
Before drawing any conclusions, however, note that viewership for the week of Aug. 30 was off 11% from the previous year, Nielsen said.
"CBS Evening News" ratings are falling faster this year than either of its competitors. CBS is already a distant third to NBC and ABC, and the gap is getting wider. Station managers are well aware of this; in many markets the local news is strong and viewers make it a point to tune out Rather.
"Even though the ratings are No. 3, they've been considered No. 1 or No. 2 in reputation and integrity," said one local chief executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "What you can't be is No. 3 in ratings and No. 3 in integrity."
Few station executives will publicly speak ill of Rather, 72, out of respect for his long and distinguished career as a newsman. They were heartened by CBS' appointment of former U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh and retired Associated Press chief executive Louis Boccardi to investigate the Guard story and want to see the results.
Privately, there's considerable sentiment that "the time has passed" for change, as one manager said.
"They need to phase Dan out in the most compassionate and appropriate way they can," said another executive.
"I don't think there's a connection there between him and the viewers we want any more," said a third. "I think the show needs an overhaul and generally what comes with an overhaul is a new face."
Politically, Rather's downfall could be hastened by President Bush's re-election. CBS might not want to risk having the symbolic head of its news division at odds with the administration for four years, even if that's more perception than reality.
Station managers say they've encouraged CBS to work on a succession plan, much like NBC is in the midst of with Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams. The Guard story is a complication; few expect Rather to willingly exit under a cloud.
And who to replace him?
CBS News has no one so obviously in line as NBC with Williams. John Roberts and Scott Pelley are the most frequently mentioned internal candidates, with Harry Smith joining the list lately because of his work on "The Early Show."
"It's a challenge that CBS faces and I don't know if they've seriously looked at it," one station manager said. "They have put everything with Rather and there is no heir apparent. There is nobody in the wings to step in. That's going to be the biggest problem, and it is all exacerbated by this whole Rathergate thing."
Lee looks forward to the findings of the two men investigating the story.
"Let's wait and see what Mr. Boccardi says," Lee said. "My understanding is he has tough journalistic standards. I think he and Attorney General Thornburgh will be quite forthright. It's not about what makes my life easier as a station manager. It's about doing the right thing."
CBS affiliate email addresses:
gkiger@ktabtv.com, bill.anderson@krqe.com, curts@speednetllc.com, mostrow@wtajtv.com, mike@newschannel10.com, jbever@ktva.com, sschwart@wgcltv.com, tggardner@keyetv.com, news@cbs-29.com, newmanj@wjz.com, myoung@wabi.tv, larryb@kfdm.com, mwallis@ktvq.com, bballard@wiat.com, treiten@kxnet.com, bill@krtv.com, jeffa@kbcitv.com, emgoldman@cbs.com, boaz@kbtx.com, chris.musial@wivb.com, pcooney@kxlf.com, msmythe@raycommedia.com, klwy@coffey.com, jdenk@kgan.com, rhamilton@wcia.com, gm@live5news.com, mmcmillan@wbtv.com, cgugerty@wdef.com, cbs5gm@sisna.com, fwpreston@cbs.com, jstall@khsltv.com, csehring@wkrc.com, bapplegate@raycommedia.com, chogetvedt@kktv11news.com, rodell@wltx.gannett.com, mbrowning@wrbl.com, jonesj@wcbi.com, tom.griesdorn@10tv.com, dale.remy@kztv10.com, fmiller@kmeg.com, fantine.kerckaert@cox.com, akucharski@cbs.com, pfredericksen@hearst.com, treiten@kxnet.com, pat@wtvynews4.com, dmesser@kdlh.com, jhowell@wpri.com, bwatkins@kdbc.com, sbenton@35wsee.com, weinkauf@kval.com, john.burgess@clearchannel.com, danr@wevv.com, ads@tvtv.com, charleyj@kvlytv11.com, mpumo@wbtw.com, gary.gardner@winktv.com, van.comer@kfsm.com, alan.riebe@wane.com, ktvtnewsproducers@ktvt.com, dianawilkin-zapata@clearchannel.com, tsenter@pgtv.com, kstf@actcom.net, fbarnes@cbs59.com, kxgnkdzn@midrivers.com, accounts@krextv.com, pkidder@wfrv.cbs.com, dhooper@wfmy.gannett.com, dcavileer@tecinfo.com, vstorm@wnct.com, ccooper@team4news.com, mattuhl@clearchannel.com, ehale@wfsb.com, broman@whlt.com, ernestine.cornett@wymtnews.com, bfarris@krcg.com, rblangiardi@khon.emmis.com, pdiaz@khou.com, leister@wowktv.com, tharon.honeycutt@whnt.com, ginab@kidk.com, jwhite@wishtv.com, bromine@wjtv.com, sloyd@ccjax.com, mcnamaraj@wbngtv.com, jdempsey@wjhl.com, tomlong@wwmt.com, chris.baker@wvlt-tv.com, schorski@wkbt.com, mariaplacer@klfy.com, gm@wlns.com, news@kvtv13.com, eneilson@klastv.com, klewfred@klewtv.com, wayne.martin@wkyt.com, gphipps@foxlima.com, news@kolnkgin.com, laudas@todaysthv.com, pmcclenahan@cbs.com, jcarter@hearst.com, gmcalister@klbk.com, donmc@13wmaz.com, tbier@wisctv.com, tvdennis@keyc.com, smartinson@kimt.com, news10@ktvl.com, ronald.walter@wreg.com, admin@wmdn.net, mcolleran@wfor.cbs.com, jhall@cbs58.com, jhall@cbs58.com, tfabacher@wcco.cbs.com, epiette@wcco.cbs.com, dreiten@kxnet.com, bob@kpax.com, jgoleniowski@wkrg.com, knoegm@knoe.com, msmith@waka.com, dturner@newschannel5.com, jphillips@wwltv.com, jmarenghi@cbs.com, rfurlong@wrgb.com, frank.chebalo@wtkr.com, john.ray@wrdw.com, dpalmer@cbs7.com, dutton@kwtv.com, jmckernan@km3news.com, hmaldonado@wkmg.com, newsroom@keprtv.com, kevinh@wmbd.com, pdunn@cbs.com, shammel@kpho.com, dwthomas@koamtv.com, cpike@kdka.com, acartwri@wgme.sbgnet.com, dsalamone@koin.com, gwark@wagmtv.com, fbrady@khqa.com, jhefner@wral.com, newsroom@ktvn.com, pmaroney@wtvr.com, blee@wdbj7.com, dloy@wroctv.com, theston@whbf.com, ggraber@wifr.com, clithero@kpic.com, gmunsey@kbimtv.com, al.binke@wnem.com, acohen@kmov.com, srosenwasser@tampabays10.com, markfaylor@clearchannel.com, rjordan@wboc.com, phillips@kutv2.com, klstnews@klst.net, blabbe@kens-tv.com, dambrosi@kfmb.com, jfsatterfield@kpix.cbs.com, daveulrickson@clearchannel.com, bill.cathcart@wtoc.com, jditt22@wyou.com, jwoodin@kirotv.com, kblack@kctv5.com, rick.dean@kxii.com, ebradley@ksla.com, markmillage@keloland.com, ktnltv@alaska.com, tschurz@wsbt.com, pmartin@wcax.com, michael.michell@wkbdtv.com, genmgr@wspa.com, abrown@krem.com, mgordon@kolr10.com, lvann@wtvh.com, nick.waller@wctv6.com, dbailey@wthi.emmis.com, bille@cbstv2.com, jsanders@wneg32.com, bchirdon@wtol.com, steve.cornwell@wibw.com, jarnold@kold.com, rmoon@kotv.com, billkring@9and10news.com, lwagner@kmvt.com, rtatano@cbs19.tv, richard.adams@kwtx.com, dgreen@wusatv9.com, cpircsuk@wwnytv.net, alancaster@wsaw.com, mjohnston@wlfi.com, dcolee@wpecnews12.com, dmellon@kovr.sbgnet.com, jsquibb@wtrf.com, jbarrett@kwch.com, kwilliams@kauz.com, cknox@wilm-tv.com, kmesser@kimatv.com, dcoy@wkbn.com
Email all 200 CBS Affiliates with just one click! BOYCOTT CBS!!
http://www.rathergate.com/emailaffiliates.php
I am just curious what it takes for the documents to stop being apparently fake. Would the author be willing to give me a dollar for four electrical box knock-outs which are apparently fake quarters?
Rush Limbaugh mentioned this today-- don't expect them to suddenly jump ship and convert. They will suffer a slow tortured death, and will never comprehend why it is that people don't love and adore them. Nor will they understand that their media monopoly is over, and they can't just lie like they have been for the last 50 years.
The MARKET will put them to death eventually. They will not retire on their own.
What if CBS hired Brit Hume to be their news anchor. That would be astounding. Their ratings would go through the roof. I do not want Brit to leave FOX though.
Huh?????????? Try FOX NEWS!
Good! Let the lefties get a full taste of the concept of supply and demand. We viewers out here aren't "demanding" to watch CBS, and their ratings will go in the tank, and the "supply" of advertisers will shrink.
I just sent a memo from Nixon to Kerry, proving that Kerry was in Cambodia in Christmas of 1968. Maybe they'll get a show out of it?
Hmmm. We'd better be careful. If Kerry gets elected, we may have a government mandate to watch Rather because it's not fair that CBS has lost so many viewers.
Just because they have made so many poor decisions and have let ideology influence their product, doesn't mean that viewers shouldn't be made to watch it.
Isn't it the same deal with public schools now?
In the end, CBS News is toast, no matter whom suceeds Blather.
I just notified my local CBS station (WJZ in Baltimore - newmanj@wjz.com) that I've reprogrammed my remote control to eliminate his station from my TV.
I suffered through the Dan Rather BS, but what really set me off was Sharyl Attkisson's piece tonight on Halliburton. At the end of the piece she repeated the MSM crat that "Vice-president Dick Cheney formerly headed up Halliburton". Does she and CBS think that there is an idiot out there in the United States that doesn't know that???
It is clear that CBS is trying their damndest to bring down the Bush-Cheney administration, and I'm fed up and I'm not going to take it anymore. No mas!!!
Bombard the affiliates. Let them know that they are complicit.
Destroy CBS News.
In other breaking news, Dan Rather and CBS News have released photographic evidence that proves that the Easter Bunny exists.
Yes. Yes. I see him. The Easter Bunny!! I knew it. He IS real!!
Well I've done my part with emails. I'm off work soon. Time to use the phone!
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