TV & VIDEO - March 25, 1988

ABC News “Nightline” anchor Ted Koppel will be given an independent production company as part of his new long-term contract with the network, the New York Times reported Thursday. Koppel’s company will produce at least four hourlong prime-time news programs per year and also will have the right to produce television programs that could be broadcast outside ABC, according to unidentified executives. ABC News President Roone Arledge told the paper that the deal was agreed on but not signed. But ABC News spokeswoman Laura Wessner said Thursday that the article was “extremely premature” and that the contract “is nowhere near the approval stage.” Koppel was unavailable for comment.