The network recently announced Brian Williams would replace Tom Brokaw as chief anchor and managing editor of NBC's "Nightly News" in 2004.

The move comes amid projections by industry analysts the network evening news programs would eventually die out due to sagging ratings and proliferation of cable television news programs.

Ball State telecommunications professor Phil Bremen was an NBC correspondent when Brokaw was named chief anchor in 1983 and has watched evening news programs fight to stay relevant in an information-based society hooked on news and entertainment available around the clock.

"It's each network's showcase newscast - the time when ABC, CBS and NBC put forth their favorite correspondents and their strongest stories," Bremen said. "On most nights the network shows will simply have more polish and reflect more thought than found at a cable network."

Dave Smith, telecommunications professor and television industry veteran, believes network news still has a vital role to play despite competition drawing away viewers.

"Network news is still the pre-eminent television source for news," Smith said. "No cable or Internet news service can match the network news for quality reporting and production."

Smith said network affiliates also are suffering from competition from cable newscasts and the Internet, as well as dealing with cutbacks due to a loss of advertising revenue in a struggling economy and the consolidation of station ownership groups.

"News still remains the most profitable programming for local television stations, but with reduced revenue, they must find a way to reduce expenses," he said. "Many local stations are now resorting to free-lance and part-time reporters and camera people."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Bremen at pbremen@bsu.edu or (765) 285-1480.)