Dan Rather's reporting days may not be over (he may be "unleashed")

Rather's exit -- preceded by weeks of ugly leaks and sniping from both sides -- was the final chapter of a housecleaning at CBS News that began nearly two years ago after a Rather report on President Bush's Vietnam-era National Guard service had to be retracted amid accusations that it was based on forged documents.

But his departure from the only network for which he's ever worked doesn't mean the 74-year-old Rather is leaving television. Mark Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner who also controls the cable network HDNet, said he's close to a deal that would bring Rather back as host of a news show.

'The goal is to `unleash' him, if you will,'' Cuban told The Miami Herald. ``Let him get out and work on stories that he had wanted to do but his previous corporate structure wouldn't allow for.''

Cuban said he hopes to release more details on the HDNet program soon. ''We are still in the process of defining the programming, and the deal isn't completely done yet,'' he said.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/columnists/glenn_garvin/14865933.htm

I love Mark Cuban--I work with HDNet a lot, and they are fantastic folks.They "get it."


and keep your fingers crossed about Rather--believe me, unleashed is no exaggeration if this happens.

But more power to him if he goes through with this plan.

or digital cable? or both?

---cut the cord on tv cable some time ago so I watch only infrequently..

Both Dish Network and DirecTv offer HDNet. Assorted cable operators also offer it, including some Time Warner and Adelphia systems. Neither Cox nor Comcast offer it, preferring to stick with their own INHD channels.

If you can go the cable route, keep in mind that the channel is a high definition channel. You can't get it like MTV on a regular cable ready NTSC-tuner television. You'll need a cable box with a connection to the high-def programming, or (a slim chance) a high-def TV with a built-in ATSC tuner if the cable operator is sending it that way. With the cable box, chances are it won't matter if you have a high-def TV or not in order to receive it since most boxes will "down-rez" the high-def channels so that they can be viewed with an S-Video or composite (RCA yellow plug) connection on regular NTSC televisions.

I've sort of stayed up on the whole HDTV tech, but just don't watch enough to justify it. Things may change sometime in the future...

I can't watch it at our comcast household.

:hi:

Guess that leaves me out, as I'm not in a position to get a dish, right now (& don't really want one)

He was the only person worth watching on that network.

CBS is dead to me.

be very helpful with that!

and starts telling the truth about corporate media and their handlers. I have always liked Dan Rathers, I just hope he will be very, very careful from now on (regarding his personal safety, that is). :thumbsup:

Saw his very enthusiastic energy on the side lines of the court last night and heard about his rage against the ref and his $million dollar fine(?)!

And now..Dan Rather~! Unleashed and Unplugged!!