Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,935 posts)
Sat Sep 2, 2023, 07:47 AM Sep 2023

On September 2, 1963, US network television got its first half-hour weeknight news broadcast.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_2

• 1963 – CBS Evening News becomes U.S. network television's first half-hour weeknight news broadcast, when the show is lengthened from 15 to 30 minutes.

{edited to add}

CBS Evening News

{snip}

History

{snip}

Walter Cronkite (1962–1981)



Cronkite interviews President John F. Kennedy to inaugurate the first half-hour nightly news broadcast in 1963



Cronkite reporting on location during the Vietnam War in 1968

On April 16, 1962, Walter Cronkite succeeded Edwards, and the broadcast was retitled Walter Cronkite with the News. On September 2, 1963, the newscast, retitled CBS Evening News, became the first half-hour weeknight news broadcast on network television and was moved to 6:30 p.m. Eastern time (NBC's Huntley-Brinkley Report expanded to 30 minutes exactly one week later on September 9, 1963). As before, some affiliates (including flagship owned-and-operated station WCBS-TV in New York City) had the option of carrying a later edition, scheduled at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. NBC also allowed this practice for the Huntley-Brinkley Report, with ABC later following it for the ABC Evening News (now ABC World News Tonight). The networks ended this practice after 1971, although some affiliates – mostly in larger markets – continued to carry the national newscasts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on a half-hour tape delay.

The CBS Evening News was first transmitted in color as a one-evening test broadcast on August 19, 1965, before permanently switching to the format on January 31, 1966. Cronkite's prime time special report, Who, What, When, Where, Why, broadcast on February 27, 1968, ended with his declaration that the United States could only hope for a stalemate in Vietnam. It is often credited with influencing Lyndon Johnson's decision to drop out of the race for President. "If I've lost Walter Cronkite ... {I}'ve lost Middle America", he stated.

Under Cronkite, the newscast began what would eventually become an 18-year period of dominating the ratings among the network evening news programs. In the process, Cronkite became "the most trusted man in America" according to a Gallup Poll, a status that had first been fostered in November 1963 through his coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

In late 1972, Cronkite prodded the show's producers to feature two nights of lengthy explanation on the Watergate scandal, which had been extensively covered by The Washington Post, but had not received major national coverage. After the first half of the report, shown on a Friday, ran for 14 minutes, roughly half of the air time of the broadcast, White House officials complained to CBS founder William S. Paley. The second half of the report was aired the following Monday, but only for eight minutes.

{snip}
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
On September 2, 1963, US network television got its first half-hour weeknight news broadcast. (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2023 OP
Walter Cronkite was the CONSUMATE Journalist. ProudMNDemocrat Sep 2023 #1
And an actual, working Journalist, not just Golden Raisin Sep 2023 #3
I remember when the news switched to half-hours broadcasts. murielm99 Sep 2023 #2
And I'm guessing there wasn't a single Jardiance commercial. Xavier Breath Sep 2023 #4

murielm99

(31,435 posts)
2. I remember when the news switched to half-hours broadcasts.
Sat Sep 2, 2023, 08:42 AM
Sep 2023

It is amazing that there is so much lengthy coverage now and so little is said.

Newspapers were fat then. Anyone who cared about current events read newspapers, too.

Xavier Breath

(5,011 posts)
4. And I'm guessing there wasn't a single Jardiance commercial.
Sat Sep 2, 2023, 06:17 PM
Sep 2023

I still watch the NBC Nightly News at 6:30. And despite all the bullshit Jardiance commercials, it's still a nice encapsulation of the day's events. I can watch four hours of MSNBC and all I'll ever see is people talking about Cheetolini's legal issues again and again and again and....

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»TV Chat»On September 2, 1963, US ...