(ABC Primetime, 1978 - Present)
[The original hosts of the series were fired after the first
broadcast because it had such low ratings. But after a revamp,
it slowly built its audience and became a respected network news
magazine...in part because of Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters
who became the longest-running anchors...and reporters such as
John Stossel, Stone Phillips and Lynn Sherr among others;
The show was created by Roone Arledge -- originally head of
sports programming for the network who created the popular
series "ABC's Wide World of Sports" -- who became the
chairman of ABC News in 1977;
Downs retired in 1999, and Walters remained as anchor until her
retirement from the airwaves in 2004; She was replaced by
Elizabeth Vargas]
[above is the title as it was filed for copyright;
BMI Repertoire 2001 database title
aka: "ABC's Twenty-Twenty Theme";
The THEME was based upon the "ABC World News Tonight" THEME which
was written by Lillian Scheinert, and later credited to Robert
Israel -- president of "Score Productions" in New York City]
Composer: Robert ("Bob") Israel (BMI)
[professional name of Robert Arnold Israel]
1980 Publisher: A B C Dunhill Music (BMI)
2001 Publisher: ABC Circle Music, Inc. (BMI)
c/o ABC Television Network,
of New York, NY
Copyright Date: May 30, 1980; PAu-205-931.
Recordings: