Dan Rather Reports (He's back, but only on Channel HDNet)

[Robbien]

Washington, D.C. (November 13, 2006) -- Former CBS news anchor Dan Rather returns to the air tomorrow night with a new weekly news program in High-Definition TV.

Called Dan Rather Reports, the 60-minute show will air Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on HDNet, a high-def network available on satellite and several cable TV systems. Although HDNet's audience is considerably smaller than CBS, Rather tells Reuters that he's both excited and realistic about the new venture.

"I have no illusions about this. I consider this going into the wilderness, it's a pioneering network," Rather said. "The broadcast on Tuesday will be seen by far fewer people than I was talking to when I was anchor and managing editor at CBS. In the beginning here, it would not surprise me if I was speaking to a couple of hundred thousand people."

Rather, who left CBS five months ago after broadcasting a controversial 60 Minutes segment on President George Bush, says HDNet co-founder Mark Cuban has promised him total editorial control. "Cuban told me, 'If you come and work for me, I will give you total, complete, absolute, editorial and creative control,"' Rather told Reuters. He said the promise was written into his three-year agreement with HDNet.

The veteran journalist says one of his first shows will be called, "The Best Congress Money Can Buy," focusing on Washington lobbyists.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/dan111306.htm

[Bozita]

1. iirc, Rather's on with Colbert tonight