'Wall Street Week' Host Rukeyser Out
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Filed at 6:06 p.m. ET
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- The host of ``Wall $treet Week With Louis Rukeyser'' said Thursday that he leaving the show, becoming a victim of a maxim he is fond of reciting: The only constant is change.
Rukeyser, 69, leaves as Maryland Public Television retools the popular public television program. He has been host for 32 years.
Rukeyser said he had been negotiating with MPT to make changes to the show and was not aware of any problems until Wednesday.
``They decided unilaterally not to proceed with me as the host of the show I created, wrote and maintained for 32 years,'' Rukeyser said.
``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.''
Jeff Hankin, MPT marketing vice president said audience expectations have changed over the years.
``It was getting very clear to us that the show had to be reinvented in order to remain in a strong position in what has become a strong Friday night lineup,'' he said.
MPT is entering a partnership with Fortune magazine to produce a new version of the weekly program called ``Wall $treet Week With Fortune.'' The show, slated to air in the fall, will feature Fortune editorial director Geoffrey Colvin and an undetermined co-anchor, MPT said.
``They're basically bringing their journalistic resources and we're bringing our production resources,'' Hankin said.
Rukeyser's contract runs through June. He said the final edition of the show will air June 28.
Rukeyser said he will consider doing another show with another network. ``My phone has been ringing off the hook with alternative offers, and I will certainly consider all of them,'' he said.
Rukeyser is known for his dry wit, measured erudition and skepticism of some of the marketplace's workings. The show has received widespread acclaim and boosted viewership of public television around the country.
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On the Net:
Wall $treet Week with Louis Rukeyser: pbs.org
Maryland Public Television: mpt.org
Fortune: fortune.com |
