This proves that worlds do collide>
People want mindless info-tainment it seems...
Rukeyser Says He Is Gone
From 'Wall Street Week'
By BRIAN STEINBERG
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
NEW YORK -- Louis Rukeyser, the venerable financial commentator who has hosted public television's "Wall Street Week With Louis Rukeyser" for 32 years, said Thursday he has been forced from the program by his partner, Maryland Public Television.
"I was unaware of any of this until yesterday," Mr. Rukeyser said in an interview. The Baltimore Sun reported in its Thursday editions that Maryland Public Television and AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Fortune magazine were poised to create a new version of the long-standing money program.
"Most people who have heard that MPT is going to try do 'Wall Street Week With Louis Rukeyser' without Louis Rukeyser think it must be somebody's idea of a bad April Fool's joke," Mr. Rukeyser said.
The last "Wall Street Week" with Mr. Rukeyser as host will be broadcast June 28, he said. His contract lasts until June 30.
According to Mr. Rukeyser, both he and his partners at Maryland Public Television were aware the program -- known for its host's erudite commentary as opposed to the fast patter of cable-based financial news programs on CNBC or CNNfn -- was in need of an update.
"The reality is this: MPT, as my partner, and I decided we had to make changes and we were going to work together on what those changes should be when they decided unilaterally not to proceed with me as the host of the show I created, wrote and maintained for 32 years," he said, reading from a statement. "They then tried to get me to remain with the program in a senior-commentator capacity, but I decided I didn't want to have anything further to do with them. Since then, my phone has been off the hook with alternative offers, and I will certainly consider all of them."
A Fortune spokeswoman said an executive from the magazine operation would unveil details shortly. Officials from Maryland Public Television weren't immediately available for comment.
The imbroglio bears some similarity to the recent fracas that took place between ABC newscaster Ted Koppel and the network's corporate parent, Walt Disney Co. In that incident, ABC executives appeared willing to dismiss the journalist's "Nightline" program in favor of bringing late-night comedian David Letterman to that time slot on the network. Even though Disney was unsuccessful in luring Mr. Letterman, the fate of Mr. Koppel's respected newsprogram appears to be undecided. |
