(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: