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Inside the Last Great Television News War

Gary Reed

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Published in Reality Show: Inside The Last Great Television News War

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The television news war was a bitter rivalry between two of the biggest names in the business, Dan Rather of CBS News and Peter Jennings of ABC News. It was a war that raged for decades, with each side claiming victory at various points. But in the end, it was Rather who emerged victorious, when Jennings died of lung cancer in 2005.

Reality Show: Inside the Last Great Television News War

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Rather was a hard-hitting reporter who was known for his aggressive style. He was also a master of self-promotion, and he used his position at CBS to build a personal brand that was bigger than the network itself. Jennings, on the other hand, was a more polished and diplomatic figure. He was known for his calm demeanor and his ability to connect with viewers on a personal level.

The rivalry between Rather and Jennings began in the early 1980s, when CBS and ABC were neck-and-neck in the ratings. Both networks were desperate to win, and they used every dirty trick in the book to get ahead. They spread rumors about each other, they stole each other's stories, and they even tried to sabotage each other's broadcasts.

The war reached its peak in the 1990s, when CBS and ABC were the two dominant networks in television news. Rather and Jennings were the anchors of their respective networks' flagship newscasts, and they were constantly competing for viewers. The rivalry between the two men was so intense that it became a national obsession.

In 2004, Rather made a major mistake that would ultimately cost him his job. He reported a story about President George W. Bush's military service that was based on forged documents. The story was a huge embarrassment for CBS, and it led to Rather's resignation.

Jennings died of lung cancer in 2005, and with his death, the television news war came to an end. Rather remained at CBS for a few more years, but he never regained his former glory. He retired from broadcasting in 2013.

The television news war was a fascinating and complex chapter in American media history. It was a war that was fought with great passion and intensity, and it had a profound impact on the way that Americans consume news.