This
article contains good behind-the-scenes reporting on Ted
Koppel's departure from ABC. According to one producer
quoted in it, ABC executive David Westin wanted
Nightline to be a superficial, Good Night
America-style show. "I was told that people want to go to bed
happy," he says. Among other problems rankling Westin wasÂ
that Koppel's negotiated salary kept rising as the show's ratings
kept dipping. Koppel even offered to plow some of hisÂ
salary back into the show's production. Now
Nightline has three hosts, but Westin figured this is
cheaper than one.
