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The Huntley-Brinkley Report was NBC's flagship television news program from late 1956 until 1970. It was anchored by Chet Huntley in New York City, and David Brinkley in Washington, DC. It succeeded the Camel News Caravan, anchored by John Cameron Swayze.
Producer Reuven Frank at NBC is credited with development of the show, and is generally credited with the idea of having two individuals anchor a news broadcast. Frank also authored the broadcast's closing line, "Good night, Chet." "Good night, David. And good night for NBC News." This exchange became one of television's most famous catchphrases, although both Huntley and Brinkley disliked it.
The program struggled to attain viewership against its chief competition, the CBS Evening News, anchored by Douglas Edwards, and directed by the legendary Don Hewitt. Texaco saved the program after its initial run by buying the advertising on the program for an entire year.
Huntley and Brinkley clicked as a team. Like Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley possessed one of the best broadcast voices ever heard. David Brinkley's dry, often witty, newswriting presented viewers a contrast to the often sober output from CBS News. The program soon had more viewers than the CBS Evening News, and maintained higher viewership levels throughout most of the 1960s.
Upon Huntley's retirement in 1970, the program was renamed NBC Nightly News. After some dithering on NBC's part, John Chancellor was named solo anchor of the program, but Walter Cronkite and the CBS Evening News had built a viewership lead which would last while Cronkite held the anchor desk.
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