Huntley, Chet (1911-1974)
Huntley, Chet (1911-1974)
As part of the most successful television broadcasting team in television history, Chet Huntley (with co-anchor David Brinkley) was responsible for NBC's winning the news ratings war against CBS and ABC in the 1960s. Beginning in 1956 and until 1970 when Huntley retired, the Huntley/Brinkley Report was a household staple for millions of Americans. By 1960, the Huntley/Brinkley Report was America's top-rated news show and remained there until 1969. The two men formed an unlikely but successful team. Huntley's resonate voice and straightforward style seemed a perfect match to Brinkley's more cryptic, somewhat cynical approach. Their balanced reporting style was perhaps best epitomized by their well known sign-off line: "Goodnight, Chet." "Goodnight, David, and goodnight for NBC News."
—Lloyd Chiasson, Jr.
Further Reading:
Barnouw, Erik. Tube of Plenty: The Evolution of American Television. New York, Oxford University Press, 1982.
Bliss, Edward, Jr. Now the News: The Story of Broadcast Journalism. New York, Columbia University Press, 1991.
Emery, Michael, and Edwin Emery. The Press and America: An Interpretive History of the Mass Media. 7th ed. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 1992.
Weaver, Pat. The Best Seat in the House: The Golden Years in Radio and Television. New York, Knopf, 1994.