Dan Rather Considering Offer From Mark Cuban / HDNet

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/16/business/media/16cnd-rather.html?ei=5094&en=83f6c355e0c698f3&hp=&ex=1150516800&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1150513615-KrnG6lVSFpFJHLTKNXjlAQ

June 16, 2006
Dan Rather Considering Offer From Mark Cuban
By JACQUES STEINBERG

Dan Rather, whose agreement to leave CBS News after 44 years could be final as soon as this evening, said in an interview today that he was seriously considering an offer from Mark Cuban, the unbridled owner of the Dallas Mavericks, to be the host and producer of a one-hour weekly news program for HDNet, a high-definition television channel that Mr. Cuban's company owns.

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He said he had received a contract from Mr. Cuban's company, in which he would commit to work for HDNet for at least three years, but had not yet signed it. HDNet currently carries both original news and music programming as well as reruns of series like "Hogan's Heroes" and "Charlie's Angels."

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But he said that once it was made clear to him that there was no longer a role for him at CBS, he began to warm to the idea of working for someone seeking to explore television's next frontier, in much the way William S. Paley had blazed the trail of the modern CBS, and as Ted Turner had done for CNN.

"I may not have found them," Mr. Rather said of Mr. Cuban and a partner, Todd Wagner. "But I found as close as I think anyone is likely to find. And I like the chances."

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