Abc Studies Plans To Merge Newsmagazines

Mon., March 2, 1998

The Hollywood Reporter

After seeing the success of “Dateline NBC” over multiple nights on the prime-time schedule, ABC News is looking at proposals to merge its two newsmagazines into a single entity.

ABC’s prime-time lineup for next season could have newsmagazines in the 10 p.m. slot Wednesday through Saturday, all under the name of “20/20.” The booking and investigative units of “20/20” and “PrimeTime Live” would be unified, eliminating the long-standing competition between the two programs.

ABC News president David Westin acknowledged in an interview Wednesday that both proposals are among plans he is discussing with staff and on-air talent in the news division. “We’re looking at a range of possibilities, one of which is more consolidation,” he said.

“Dateline NBC” has proved the benefit of having a single operation and brand name for a network’s newsmagazine product. The program effectively promotes stories from one night to the next and provides viewers with an identifiable personality wherever it airs.

Westin said his moves toward having a single newsmagazine operation are being precipitated by the network’s future need for prime-time programming from ABC News.

A greater dependence on newsmagazines is likely to be the end result of the increasing cost of developing hour dramas while ratings continue to decline. Even a successful drama has its price, as NBC learned when it had to pay $13 million an episode to retain “ER.” The new license fee will likely wipe out most of the peacock network’s profit margin on the show. “Dateline NBC” staffers have been told by top management to be ready to produce five hours a week next season, up from the current four.

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