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...accompanied by considerable angst. Arledge's contract includes a clause that allows his network bosses, if they wish, to move him this June into the largely ceremonial position of chairman and to appoint a new president who would not report to Arledge. But when Robert Iger, president of ABC Inc., decided he wanted to make such a change, Arledge fought it, arguing that he was still at the top of his game. By some accounts, Michael Eisner, chairman of ABC's parent Walt Disney Co., intervened on Arledge's behalf (the two worked at ABC at the same time during...
...spokesperson for Iger denied this scenario. Eisner, in an interview with TIME, denied the reports of his involvement, calling them "totally and completely wrong." The Disney chief went on to praise Arledge and to discount any suggestion that ABC News is seriously troubled. "I wish the rest of our company were in as good shape as ABC News," said Eisner. Arledge, meanwhile, insists that no timetable has been set for his retirement. "I have a contract that goes well beyond the year 2000," he says. "Whether I'll be as active two years from...
Whenever he actually does step down, it will mark the end of one of the most storied and influential reigns in television news history. After virtually inventing modern TV sports coverage as the head of ABC Sports, Arledge was seen as something of an interloper when he took over ABC News in 1977. He brought a showman's flair to his new job, as well as a seemingly bottomless purse, hiring big stars like Sawyer, Chris Wallace and David Brinkley away from other networks. But he also proved to be a fierce and innovative advocate for hard news. During...
...sometimes complained about his "chaotic" management style. Some insiders say Arledge's focus was wandering increasingly in recent years; day-to-day operations were mostly handled by Paul Friedman, executive vice president of news, who was passed over for the top spot. Still, Arledge is widely revered by ABC News veterans, who toss around words like genius when referring to him. "He's the best news president I've ever worked for," says Tom Bettag, executive producer of Nightline, who saw plenty of them come and go at CBS before joining ABC in 1991. "When you compare...
Arledge disputes any notion that ABC News is floundering. "The only area of ABC News that is what we would consider in trouble is Good Morning America," he says. "It clearly needs to be fixed, and we're doing that." Yet insiders say Arledge is more concerned than he lets on. Two months ago, at a regularly scheduled morning meeting in which the day's work plans are laid out, Arledge blew up when he heard that new White House correspondent John Donvan was unavailable to cover President Clinton that day because he was busy helping his family move. Arledge...