TV Newsmagazines: From Slow Start to Fast Times

Diane Sawyer has been a part of the newsmagazine landscape on both CBS and ABC. A look at notable network attempts at weekly prime-time newsmagazines:

SEPT. 24, 1968--Debut of CBS’ “60 Minutes,” with original correspondents Mike Wallace and Harry Reasoner. The show becomes a ratings hit in the 1976-77 season after moving to Sundays at 7 p.m. In 1984, Diane Sawyer joins the series for five years.

JUNE 6, 1978--”20/20” debuts on ABC with anchors Harold Hayes and Robert Hughes. The following week, after disastrous reviews, they are gone, replaced by Hugh Downs. Barbara Walters, who had been a regular correspondent in 1981-84, becomes his co-anchor in the fall of 1984.

JUNE 24, 1979--NBC’s “Prime Time Sunday” features Tom Snyder, Jack Perkins and Jessica Savitch, among others. Last airdate: July 5, 1980.

SEPT. 26, 1980--”NBC Magazine With David Brinkley” is anchored by the veteran newscaster. When he left for ABC, it was retitled “NBC Magazine.” Last airdate: July 31, 1982.

MARCH 2, 1983--”Monitor” (later titled “First Camera”), one of the many short-lived NBC News programs for Lloyd Dobyns. Last airdate: April 1, 1984.

AUG. 13, 1985--”West 57th,” CBS’ attempt at a newsmagazine for younger viewers. Last airdate: Sept. 9, 1989.

JAN. 19, 1988--CBS’ “48 Hours,” with Dan Rather and Bernard Goldberg, debuts as a documentary series following stories as they develop over a 48-hour period.

JULY 30, 1988--Fox’s first newsmagazine is the tabloid-like “The Reporters.” Last airdate: March 31, 1990.

SEPT. 23, 1989--CBS’ “Saturday Night With Connie Chung” hangs on the air for one year. Last airdate: Sept. 10, 1990.

AUG. 3, 1989--Sam Donaldson and Diane Sawyer host the debut of ABC’s “PrimeTime Live.”

JAN. 6, 1991--NBC’s “Real Life With Jane Pauley” features the former “Today” host. Last airdate: Oct. 4, 1991.

JAN. 6, 1991--Tom Brokaw anchors NBC’s “Expose,” with reporters including Brian Ross. Last airdate: Oct. 4, 1991.

JAN. 9, 1992--Ed Bradley hosts “Street Stories,” a CBS’ spinoff of “60 Minutes.” Last airdate: Aug. 6, 1993.

MARCH 31, 1992--Jane Pauley (with Stone Philips) has more success with “Dateline NBC.” It becomes NBC’s first hit newsmagazine after 15 failures. The program expands to two nights a week in the summer of 1994.

MARCH 7, 1993--Forrest Sawyer hosts ABC’s third newsmagazine “Day One.” On hiatus until January, 1995.

JUNE 17, 1993--Connie Chung returns with her second CBS newsmagazine, “Eye to Eye With Connie Chung.”

JUNE 26, 1993--Fox tries (and fails) again, with “Front Page,” featuring reporters including Ron Reagan. Last airdate: April 26, 1994.

AUG. 18, 1993--NBC’s “Now With Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric” teams the “Nightly News” anchor and the “Today” co-host. It later becomes a third night of “Dateline NBC.”

MARCH 9, 1994--”Turning Point,” ABC’s fourth newsmagazine, features Don Kladstrup and Meredith Vieira.

SUMMER, 1994--CBS tries out “America Tonight,” with Deborah Norville. NBC premieres the offbeat “TV Nation” from independent filmmaker Michael Moore. The future of both is uncertain.