The TV Zone

'Tis the season for bad news - Ted Koppel and Discovery have ended their production deal, begun with so much fanfare a couple of years ago, after Ted exited ABC News...

Reasons? Well, let Ted tell you, via press release:

"We've had some glorious opportunities to produce the kinds of documentaries that Tom Bettag and I love," said Koppel. "Among the most satisfying work we've ever done was last summer's four-part series on China."

Koppel continued, "There has been significant change in senior management at Discovery. Producing our kind of news-related programs is an expensive proposition. It has long been clear that neither of us is interested in an extension of the current contract. Discovery and I worked on terminating the contract a few months early under terms that both sides found acceptable. We leave with gratitude for the professional opportunities we've been given and for the generosity with which we've been treated."

Read between the lines here and...never mind, I'll read between them for you. TDC is focused, heavily, on launching that Oprah Network and a lot of other stuff geared to RATINGS and the almighty $$$$$$. I'm not criticizing TDC, which has done so much great work over the years that it's secured a place in heaven, but these are tough times down there in Maryland headquarters: A new boss (David Zaslav) and a publicly traded stock. No matter how terrific Koppel's work here was, it doesn't pay the dividends.

Next for Ted? I assume this will re-start those rumors of his going to "Meet the Press" But don't put too much stock in 'em. Is Tom Brokaw is ready to move aside? I wonder: He's done such a great job there, and the ratings have been so strong, and the succession issue remains so clouded that...who knows!...maybe NBC will prevail on TB to stay on even after the transition.

(Pix by Robert A. Reeder -- The Washington Post)