On March 24th, 1980, a new television show from ABC News hit the airwaves. Ted Koppel introduced Nightline by stating the show was both new and permanent.
The show hit the air in the midst of the Iranian hostage crisis, with Koppel saying that the then-20-minute show would someday feature stories where “Iran is not the major story.”
The times have certainly changed in the 45 years since that episode debuted, and ABC News is planning a celebration of the show’s anniversary for next Monday.
Nightline now airs from 12:35-1:05 AM ET and is anchored on a rotating basis by Byron Pitts and Juju Chang. Those two anchors have each been with the show since 2014 and are the latest in a long line of those who have helmed the program in the 45 years since its debut.
Hosts like Dan Harris, Dan Abrams, Bill Weird, Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran, Martin Bashir, and Chris Bury have all helmed the program at one time or another during its run. But no one had the staying power quite like Ted Koppel, who hosted from its debut episode until he stepped away in 2005 at the expiration of his contract with ABC News.
The program launched Koppel into the national spotlight. But the show has proven to be a proving ground for those behind the scenes as well, as ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic worked as a member of the team producing the program before ascending to his current role. He shared his belief that the program plays a pivotal role in the network’s news ecosystem.
“Nightline is an incredibly important part of ABC News’ 70-year legacy, with a rich history of straightforward journalism that has become a hallmark of the show,” said Karamehmedovic. “I was privileged to spend over a decade at Nightline, and I am so proud of the team today, who continue to build on its exceptional reputation.”
On Monday, ABC News will have a daylong celebration of the program’s anniversary. Anchors Juju Chang and Byron Pitts will be on Good Morning America to mark the occasion, while Chang will appear on The View and Pitts will visit ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis.
Additionally, the network’s morning news podcast Start Here — hosted by Brad Mielke — will present special tributes to the show.
ABC News has also shared a new logo for the show, which will begin usage on Monday, March 24th as part of the anniversary celebrations.
At a time when long-form storytelling and in-depth reporting is seeing a diminishing presence in the television news landscape, the network says Nightline is committed to preserving that style of journalism and believes it remains imperative to the future of both the news division and the venerable nightly program.
“Nightline is delivering some of the most compelling and in-depth journalism on television, tackling complex stories with nuance and integrity,” said the show’s Executive Producer, Eman Varoqua. “As we move forward, we’re focused on expanding our storytelling and reaching new audiences while staying true to the hard-hitting, thoughtful reporting that has defined the show for 45 years.”
After the anniversary, ABC News plans to continue broadcasting the show in its current timeslot, as well as on streaming platforms like ABC News Live and Hulu. The show will also continue to produce original documentaries centered on some of the biggest news stories in the nation and abroad.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
