Tuning In

Les says more news

No matter who eventually takes over for departing news anchor Dan Rather, “CBS Evening News” isn’t going anywhere, says CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves.

Mr. Rather’s spring departure “is giving us a chance to assess what we’re doing right and wrong,” Mr. Moonves said yesterday during a telephone press conference.

It’s not a chance to kill the network’s nightly showcase, despite its steady ratings erosion.

Mr. Moonves, also co-president and co-COO of Viacom (CBS’ parent company), added that he has faith the forthcoming probe of a segment broadcast on “60 Minutes II” — which reportedly used forged documents to hammer George W. Bush’s National Guard service — won’t taint Mr. Rather. The departing anchor will continue contributing to the network, as planned, on its two “60 Minutes” programs regardless of the report’s findings .

Mr. Moonves also said that his own contributions to the internal investigation, so far, have been limited.

“My contact with the committee was one three-minute meeting,” Mr. Moonves said.

In what was set up to be a congratulatory chat touting the network’s winning ways, the executive’s responses to inquiries about Mr. Rather’s imbroglio were limited and clearly reluctant. CBS — as reflected in the glee in Mr. Moonves’ voice and the numbers he proudly trumpeted — will not only win the November sweeps period, but will do so with a large margin of victory in the coveted 18-to-49 age group.

It’s quite a feat for a network once mocked for its “Matlock”-friendly demographics in the not-so-distant past. Mr. Moonves said colleagues have posted demeaning quotes about the Tiffany network’s age problem all over its corporate offices to motivate staffers over the past few years.

Among CBS’ ratings highlights for the November sweeps: the 100th episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” which, Mr. Moonves said, drew bigger numbers than Fox’s broadcast of the Yankees-vs.-Red Sox Game Seven.

Just don’t expect another “CSI: Fill-in-the-Blank City” any time soon.

“We’re not there yet,” Mr. Moonves said of the network’s prize franchise.

Nor is he concerned that three “CSIs” are a tad too many.

“We go by what our audience is telling us,” he said. “We’re not burning out the franchise.”

Good night, Tom

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