ABC Nightline

About ABC Nightline

ABC Nightline, originally called The Iran Crisis: America Held Hostage, is a late-night news program airing weeknights on ABC television network. Launched in 1980, the show is generally focused on the single topics of discussions like political issues, societal concerns, trends, and news around the globe. Notable for its cool maturity and emphasis on in-depth reporting, Nightline offers a critical look at the events that shape our world.

Making / Production

Originally airing as a special report program during the Iran hostage crisis, the show was later renamed Nightline and became ABC's flagship news program. Ted Koppel served as the program’s principal anchor from its inception until his retirement in 2005. Now, the show continually evolves with the changing landscapes of news and technology, bringing a fresh perspective to the new era of journalism in the digital age.

Actors

• Ted Koppel: Served as the main anchor from 1980 to 2005. Koppel's serious and thoughtful demeanor lent weight to his interviews and discussions, making him a respected figure in television journalism.
• Terry Moran: Moran joined the Nightline team in 2005 and often handles the show's field reporting and investigative journalism segments.
• Cynthia McFadden: Known for her in-depth interviews and investigative reports, McFadden joined Nightline in 2005, bringing with her a wealth of journalistic experience.
• Martin Bashir: Bashir joined the team after Ted Koppel's retirement, contributing his distinctive interviewing style to the show.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show was originally named "The Iran Crisis: America Held Hostage" and it was created because of the hostage crisis in Iran.
• Ted Koppel, the show's original anchor, was with the program from its inception in 1980 until his retirement in 2005.
• Nightline was the first American news program to report on AIDS, with a report broadcast on June 17, 1982.

Quotes

• "This is 'ABC News Nightline', reporting from Washington, Ted Koppel."
• "More Americans get their news from ABC News, than from any other source."

Music, Soundtrack

• The opening Theme of the Nightline is "ABC News Theme" by Edd Kalehoff.
• "Primetime News" by Alain Leroux used often throughout the Nightline.

Awards

Through its years of broadcast, Nightline has received multiple awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award and Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for its excellence in broadcast journalism.