Arledge, Roone

(born July 8, 1931, Forest Hills, N.Y., U.S.—died Dec. 5, 2002, New York City) U.S. television executive. He began work at ABC-TV in 1960 as a sports producer. He later became president of ABC Sports and group president of ABC News and Sports (1985–90). He created sports programs such as Wide World of Sports (from 1961) and Monday Night Football (from 1968) and produced television coverage of 10 Olympic games, making many technical and editorial innovations in sports coverage. As president of ABC News he developed several successful news shows such as Nightline (from 1980) and PrimeTime Live (from 1989).

Arledge, Roone (Pinckney, Jr.) (1931– ) television producer, executive; born in Forest Hills, N.Y. After working for National Broadcasting Company (NBC), he joined ABC in 1960, creating Wide World of Sports (1961); he went on to revolutionize sports coverage as president of ABC Sports (1968–86), outbidding the other networks to present Monday night football and the Olympics in 1968, 1972, and 1976. Becoming ABC News president as well (1977), he raided NBC for David Brinkley and CBS for Diane Sawyer. He insured ABC's dominance in news reporting on television by making Ted KoppelNightline host (1979) and Peter JenningsWorld News Tonight anchor (1983). Although he turned over the presidency of ABC Sports in 1986, he was producer for the 1988 Olympics.