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aberdeenwriter · Jul 11, 2006, 07:24 AM

Rather Signs with Mark Cuban's HDNet

By Matea Gold, Times Staff Writer

NEW YORK -- Less than a month after sharply breaking with CBS, former anchor Dan Rather has signed a deal to produce a weekly news program for HDNet, a high-definition channel co-founded by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

When his new program, "Dan Rather Reports," debuts in October, the longtime newsman will have free rein to explore any topic that interests him, said Colette Carey, a spokeswoman for the network. The hourly program will include "hard-edged field reports," interviews and investigative pieces and will be "completely uncensored," according to the channel's news release.

Both Rather and Cuban are scheduled to discuss details about the program during an afternoon appearance Tuesday at the semi-annual television critics tour in Pasadena.

"We're thrilled that Dan is now part of HDNet," Cuban said in a statement. "Now that he is finally released from the ratings-driven and limited-depth confines of broadcast television, I am excited about the impact Dan can have on the future of news."

Rather's audience will likely be substantially smaller than the one he enjoyed during his four decades at CBS because the high definition channel is available in only about 3 million homes through satellite and cable providers.

The 74-year-old newsman indicated that he was won over by Cuban's pledge to support unfettered reporting.

"Hard news needs backers who won't back down," Rather said in a statement. "Mark Cuban is such a leader. As a team player I intend to give Mark and HDNet all of the hard work, loyalty and fearless, high-quality reporting possible."

Last month, Rather left CBS before the end of his contract after the network declined to renew his position as a full-time correspondent for "60 Minutes." He said at the time that "after a protracted struggle," CBS officials "had not lived up to their obligation to allow me to do substantive work there."

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...wed-storylevel

rickey939 · Jul 11, 2006, 07:26 AM

Phew.

aberdeenwriter · Jul 11, 2006, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by rickey939

Phew.

Jawbone54 · Jul 11, 2006, 05:44 PM

Oh...well this improves HDnet's unbiased journalistic standards doesn't it?

Um...

voodoo · Jul 11, 2006, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Oh...well this improves HDnet's unbiased journalistic standards doesn't it?

Um...

HDNet is another name for Fox news?

V

aberdeenwriter · Jul 11, 2006, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by voodoo

HDNet is another name for Fox news?

V

voodoo · Jul 11, 2006, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by aberdeenwriter

What the heck is the point with your posts? Neither makes much sense.

V

aberdeenwriter · Jul 11, 2006, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by voodoo

What the heck is the point with your posts? Neither makes much sense.

V

I thought anyone who was knowledgeable enough to criticize Fox News might know that Fox News has no connection to Mark Cuban's network.

I thought you might have been making a joke. =

And if you weren't joking I was responding to your question in the negative. =

And when rickey939 posted, "Phew" it was as though he was saying he was sitting on pins and needles hoping the Rather would become employed elsewhere and breathlessly waiting to see exactly WHERE he landed. And with this thread and the news that Rather has landed on his feet rickey939 was finally able to breathe easily.

I think that is funny.

voodoo · Jul 11, 2006, 06:36 PM

Ah ok. Thanks for the explaination. Sometimes emoticons can be hard to decipher. Btw, I was making a joke, so

V

- - e r i k - - · Jul 11, 2006, 08:00 PM

I like this guy already:

Cuban's production company 2929 Entertainment, which he co-founded, distributed Bubble, a movie directed by Steven Soderbergh which was released by theaters and on DVD on the same day in January 2006. This prompted filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan to voice concern over this method at a theater owners convention. Cuban responded by calling Shyamalan an "idiot" on a Dallas radio station.

ghporter · Jul 11, 2006, 08:24 PM

This makes me sad. I had hoped that Dan would stay on the journalistic wagon and actually do respectable work. Anything Cuban owns is tainted-anything-so I guess so is Dan Rather now.

smacintush · Jul 11, 2006, 09:47 PM

Dan Rather was always tainted.

ghporter · Jul 12, 2006, 07:52 AM

At least he had the chance to get into some sort of journalistic 12 step program and act like a real journalist. No chance now-he's completely taken by the dark side.

MacNStein · Jul 12, 2006, 08:30 AM

I'm sure the negotiation was as tight as the rusted lug nuts on a '55 Ford. He'll have that place crackling like a hickory fire in no time.

aberdeenwriter · Jul 12, 2006, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by MacNStein

I'm sure the negotiation was as tight as the rusted lug nuts on a '55 Ford. He'll have that place crackling like a hickory fire in no time.

That's VERY clever/funny!

Dan Rather to be on CNN's Larry King Show tonite.

DigitalEl · Jul 12, 2006, 06:48 PM

Because I'm lazy, somebody explain Mark Cuban's bias. Why is HDNet bad/not credible/whatever.

- - e r i k - - · Jul 12, 2006, 07:07 PM

Mark Cuban is a Libertarian. Which would place him here:

Not a bad place to be if you want to appear unbiased in my opinion.