Heyward’s 60 Minutes Wed. Memo

“By now, you may have heard the disappointing news that 60 MINUTES WEDNESDAY will not be on the CBS schedule this fall. The reality of the current television marketplace is that as CBS has become increasingly strong every night of the week over the past few years, the bar for inclusion on the Network’s primetime schedule has been set higher and higher.

This decision in absolutely no way reflects on the quality of the broadcast, which, from its earliest days as “60 Minutes II,” proved itself worthy of the 60 MINUTES name while emerging as an important and multi-award-winning broadcast-including two DuPont, four Peabody, 10 Emmy and two RTNDA/Edward R. Murrow Awards–with its own distinctive identity. The program also boasts some of the strongest correspondents, producers and editors at CBS News.

We will, of course, try to keep as many people here as we can, and we will work individually with all of the men and women on the broadcast to determine their best options. A bit of good news is that the Network has approved occasional mid-week 60 MINUTES primetime specials–some single-topic–for next season.

In the meantime, while I know you share my deep disappointment, please join me in respectfully acknowledging our colleagues on 60 MINUTES WEDNESDAY for their superb performance over the last six-and-a-half years and their contribution to our viewers and to the history of this institution. Make no mistake: it is a lasting and important one.

Thanks,

Andrew