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CBS's Moonves: Who Needs Older Viewers?
You know all those viewers that CBS has lost since putting Katie Couric on Evening News? CBS didn't want 'em anyway!
That's how CBS chief Les Moonves answered a question about Couric's job performance during a Q&A session at the UBS Media & Communications Conference today.
"I think our product's as good as anyone's," Moonves said. "I am concerned that the average person who watches evening news is 61 years old. We tried to get that a bit younger. People flipped over to [ABC's] Charlie Gibson, but those are mostly 60-plus[-year-old] men. That's not a demographic we want."
But Moonves was quickly called out on his sour-grapes answer. "I wanted to provide some consumer research I thought you might find useful," began the next questioner. "I'm 61, and I just bought a new car."
After the laughter died down, Moonves parried, "I wish you would call Nielsen and call the advertising agencies and tell them you just bought a car."
Moonves also took the opportunity to once again reaffirm his support for Couric, who one media critic predicts might leave Evening News after the presidential election. "I still believe in her. Hardest worker in town."
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