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CNN Live Today

Roone Arledge Funeral Today

Aired December 09, 2002 - 10:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Legendary ABC newsman Roone Arledge is going to be buried today. He died of cancer last week at age 71.
CNN's Jason Carroll is at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York where the funeral is about to begin.

Morning -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Leon.

When you think of Roone Arledge, words like trailblazer and pioneer immediately come to mind. Arledge began his career back in 1955 actually producing a puppet show for a local TV station here in New York. By the end of his career, "Life" magazine had named him one of -- one of America's 100 most influential people of the 20th century.

If you aren't familiar with Roone Arledge, you were certainly familiar with his influence on the broadcasting industry. During his tenure at ABC, and he was there for nearly 40 years, he created "Monday Night Football" and he was the first to use techniques such as slow-mo, instant replay and freeze frame techniques that are commonplace now. And I'm sure you're familiar with the phrase "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." It is said that Arledge coined that particular phrase for the "Wide World of Sports."

In 1977 he also added ABC's news division to his responsibilities. And during that time, he was the one who created shows such as "Nightline," "20/20" and "Primetime Live." He's also credited with creating many of ABC's network stars such as Barbara Walters, Ted Koppel, Diane Sawyer and Sam Donaldson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAM DONALDSON, FORMER ABC ANCHOR: Well he didn't invent television, but what you see today in sports and news you see because of Roone Arledge. He took rudimentary television and said let's make a production of it, let's make a program, let's make a show. And when I say make a show, he didn't cut ethical lines, he didn't do things that weren't within the bounds of good journalism when it came to the news department, but he said let's make it interesting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE WESTIN, PRESIDENT, ABC NEWS: Well, he was a revolutionary and he was a visionary. He was a man who at times could be frustrating because he never could see any limitations, he only saw possibilities. And once he saw something was possible, he wanted it done immediately. He was a good friend and a great leader.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: In true Arledge fashion, there are several cameras positioned inside and outside St. Bartholomew's Church here in Manhattan. Inside, it's a who's who of the network industry. Folks such as Mike Wallace are inside and Walter Cronkite as well. Scheduled to speak, Barbara Walters, Peter Jennings and Frank Gifford. Arledge's son is scheduled to speak as well. Arledge is survived by his wife and four children. He was 71 years old -- Leon.

HARRIS: Yes, Jason, I agree with you, as we're looking at live pictures right now, I think you're -- I think you're absolutely correct, it would be totally apropos to have a multi-camera shoot inside that church today.

All right. Thanks, Jason, we'll check back with you later on.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 9, 2002 - 10:25   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Legendary ABC newsman Roone Arledge is going to be buried today. He died of cancer last week at age 71.
CNN's Jason Carroll is at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York where the funeral is about to begin.

Morning -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Leon.

When you think of Roone Arledge, words like trailblazer and pioneer immediately come to mind. Arledge began his career back in 1955 actually producing a puppet show for a local TV station here in New York. By the end of his career, "Life" magazine had named him one of -- one of America's 100 most influential people of the 20th century.

If you aren't familiar with Roone Arledge, you were certainly familiar with his influence on the broadcasting industry. During his tenure at ABC, and he was there for nearly 40 years, he created "Monday Night Football" and he was the first to use techniques such as slow-mo, instant replay and freeze frame techniques that are commonplace now. And I'm sure you're familiar with the phrase "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." It is said that Arledge coined that particular phrase for the "Wide World of Sports."

In 1977 he also added ABC's news division to his responsibilities. And during that time, he was the one who created shows such as "Nightline," "20/20" and "Primetime Live." He's also credited with creating many of ABC's network stars such as Barbara Walters, Ted Koppel, Diane Sawyer and Sam Donaldson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAM DONALDSON, FORMER ABC ANCHOR: Well he didn't invent television, but what you see today in sports and news you see because of Roone Arledge. He took rudimentary television and said let's make a production of it, let's make a program, let's make a show. And when I say make a show, he didn't cut ethical lines, he didn't do things that weren't within the bounds of good journalism when it came to the news department, but he said let's make it interesting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE WESTIN, PRESIDENT, ABC NEWS: Well, he was a revolutionary and he was a visionary. He was a man who at times could be frustrating because he never could see any limitations, he only saw possibilities. And once he saw something was possible, he wanted it done immediately. He was a good friend and a great leader.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: In true Arledge fashion, there are several cameras positioned inside and outside St. Bartholomew's Church here in Manhattan. Inside, it's a who's who of the network industry. Folks such as Mike Wallace are inside and Walter Cronkite as well. Scheduled to speak, Barbara Walters, Peter Jennings and Frank Gifford. Arledge's son is scheduled to speak as well. Arledge is survived by his wife and four children. He was 71 years old -- Leon.

HARRIS: Yes, Jason, I agree with you, as we're looking at live pictures right now, I think you're -- I think you're absolutely correct, it would be totally apropos to have a multi-camera shoot inside that church today.

All right. Thanks, Jason, we'll check back with you later on.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com