EYE ON DAN'S PLANS
November 30, 2003 -- After years of sagging ratings, Dan Rather may be on his way out from behind the CBS Evening News desk.
New reports suggest the end of next year's presidential race could spell the end for the 72-year-old newsman, whose ratings hit their lowest level ever in July and who has had a decade-long ride in third place behind the NBC and ABC newscasts.
Talk of Rather's potential departure after more than 20 years as the face of CBS News heated up yesterday with two reports suggesting his time may be up.
CBS News President Andrew Heyward fueled the fire in a New York Times story posted on the paper's Web site yesterday, refusing to say Rather will be at the anchor's desk through 2006.
Although Heyward told the Times Rather "is going to be at CBS News for many years to come," he added that "no matter what, he would make a transition to some combination of '60 Minutes' and '60 Minutes II.' "
And the Drudge Report, the Internet news-and-gossip site, reported CBS execs are "looking at changes after the election," although a CBS News spokeswoman poured cold water on the Drudge story.
"The item is completely false," said Sandy Genelius.
"There has been no discussion about a timetable for a transition at the CBS Evening News, and Dan Rather is doing a great job."
Although Rather recently signed a contract extension through 2006, the contract doesn't stipulate that he must serve the length of the deal in his current position, and industry insiders believe his tenure as anchor may be coming to an end.
Rather has already filed numerous reports for "60 Minutes II," CBS's Wednesday companion to its hallmark Sunday news program.
Speculation is focusing on two possible successors; Sunday evening news anchor John Roberts and "60 Minutes II" correspondent Scott Pelley.
Pelley gained fame by garnering the only interview with President Bush on the one-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Roberts has served as CBS's chief White House correspondent since 1999 in addition to his Sunday anchor job.
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