Remember when "Breaking News" meant something?

[Fezticle98]

Remember, before the proliferation of cable news, when "Breaking News" was a big deal on network tv? They would cut into regularly scheduled programming to announce something big: someone IMPORTANT died, a war had started, etc. I couldn't help but pay attention when I heard the intro, because I know it would be something huge.

Now breaking news can include a celebrity arrested for DUI or a child kidnapped in some flyover state. Seems like the cable networks will grab anything to slap the Breaking News label on. I guess they expect people will continue to have that Pavlovian response when they hear or see "Breaking News." Now, instead of being important, I expect what follows to be a frivolous piece of shit, and I'm usually right.

When did this all change? I blame OJ.

[PapaBear]

I remember when it was "Special Report". When you got that, you knew some serious shit was going down. I don't even remember "Breaking News" being around before 9/11. The DC NBC station is terrible with it. Not only is it usually something that's not that big, but they'll still flash the "breaking news" thing after they've already reported it 4 or 5 times.

[tele7]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/d/d8/Foxnewsalert.png

[MikeB]

It started with every news station having a helicopter thus the high speed chases became popular for the cable news to break in no matter what part of the country it was in. I recall a study coming out around then that breaking news and these police chases always equaled better ratings. Then cable news realized breaking news will always give them better ratings.

I am use to Fox News Alert and I accept it as a Fox News gimmick but the breaking news on msnbc drives me crazy. They just use it now when a new story comes in. A car hit like a trash can infront of an ER, I think in Florida, and it was breaking news. No lie.

[sailor]

i have that same reaction when sunday football's 10 minute ticker goes off.

[ralphbxny]

Ahh I remember....those were the days!!

[Death Metal Moe]

I recently saw a "Breaking News" report the day GVAC left.

You draw your own conclusions from that one.

[King Hippos Bandaid]

Breaking News was cool before all the news cable stations came out

:king:

[Yerdaddy]

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9409/anchorman101yu2.jpg

"You stay classy, San Diego."

[KnoxHarrington]

I remember when I was 10 or 11, early in the Reagan administration (god damn I'm old), whenever a Special Report would pop up, I'd wonder "Did they push the button? Are the missiles on the way?"

If I see a Special Report on broadcast TV, I still perk up and pay attention. If I see it on cable, though, I don't even bother to turn my head.

[ChrisTheCop]

1010 wins, an all news station in NYC, will have an important sounding,

"Breaking News Now"

and then just have an update on a story thats been going on all day.
like, "The water main is still broken, and traffic is horrible...now the weather on the ones"

[AngelAmy]

1010 wins, an all news station in NYC, will have an important sounding,

"Breaking News Now"

and then just have an update on a story thats been going on all day.
like, "The water main is still broken, and traffic is horrible...now the weather on the ones if you know what I mean"

never heard that, ill look out for it

[Chigworthy]

Give us a ***Special Report*** when you find it.