NBC News (17/March/1949) (1949)

★★★★★ · A time when News was well NEWS.. · cathyftr · 2011-03-29

I have always enjoyed watching old newscasts and this one is no exception of course. Back in the day the news being reported was actual news. Today it seems to be more like 80% fluff and 20% actual news. Really how many FOX stations out there pass off American Idol as "news"? Today my sister was telling me that she was watching a Baltimore TV newscast. What was the top story? Crime? Budget woes? The economy? No it was about singer Lady GaGa turing 25 years old. Funny I can remember the day Elvis Presley had died back in 1977 and how so many people felt that while it was important for the news…

★★★★★ · Updated · The_Emperor_Of_Television · 2012-07-13

This low budget newscast is interesting to watch for the newsperson's opinions on matters of the day, though at this point, newspapers were still the preferred news source and had more detailed coverage. On the running time: Back then, newscasts were very short, running between 12 minutes and 14.5 minutes. The remaining 15 minutes was usually filled with a light music show....though one network filled out the remaining 15 minutes with a children's sci-fi adventure serial! EDIT: After extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that this is the oldest surviving example of an American…

★★★★★ · Did you watch it all? · Karltonthedoorman · 2011-03-08

The story that would lead the news today is barely mentioned after the sports section. It seems to be an unimportant afterthought. Mexican Secret Police have recovered a canister of stolen uranium, probably from the United States. This would surely get it's own theme music and graphics today.

★★★★★ · NBC Newscast Is Excellent · porterville · 2011-07-05

This is a precious treasure. Thank you so much for including it on Internet Archive. The positive comments and background history from previous viewers (see below) are much appreciated.

★★★★★ · Television HIstory · babysprite · 2011-08-15

Thanks for an enjoyable part of television history.

★★★★ · It's unfortunate that today we've forgotten this simpler, more relaxed style of news presentation. · Graham W · 2011-06-14

Very interesting old television footage. It seems today's broadcasters have 'forgotten' important communications aspects of news and current affairs presentations that were once in common usage over 60 years ago, thus present-day news services might do well to consider their reintroduction. Back then, evidence suggests the expectations of a news service were such that it be fully comprehensible to its audience without the need for its contents having to be simplified and or dumbed-down to the lowest common denominator--an unfortunate process that's now become almost universal with present day…