[Voltage]

They need to cut expenses, and I know just how they can do it: Replace the evening shows with stand up comedians that tell lots of hate America, hate Bush, hate Conservatives, hate Businesses jokes. There is a downside: Viewers wouldn’t notice much of a change.

[abb]

They need to cut expenses, and I know just how they can do it: Replace the evening shows with stand up comedians that tell lots of hate America, hate Bush, hate Conservatives, hate Businesses jokes. There is a downside: Viewers wouldn’t notice much of a change.

What they'll do is give the time back to the affiliates. The affiliates are sucking wind just like the networks and the early evening time is their most valuable.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/07/rather_says_odds_getting_longe.php

July 23, 2007

Rather Says Odds Getting Longer for Couric By Greg Baumann

Dan Rather, who last month accused broadcast networks of dumbing down and tarting up their newscasts, said he can foresee a time when media company executives retreat from evening news production.

“I think we’ll see the time when someone at the top says, ‘We can give this time back to affiliates,’” Mr. Rather said Monday in a discussion with TelevisionWeek Publisher and Editorial Director Chuck Ross at the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing convention in Washington.