Talk:Hugh Downs

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A news item involving Hugh Downs was featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the In the news section on 2 July 2020.

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Section sizes

Section size for Hugh Downs (12 sections)
Section name	Byte count	Section total
(Top)	4,801	4,801
Early life and education	796	796
Radio announcer and programmer	1,944	1,944
Television career	8,583	8,583
Public service and political views	3,768	3,768
Personal life	799	799
Death	756	756
Film appearances	1,737	1,737
Books and short fiction	2,875	2,875
See also	76	76
References	28	28
External links	2,970	2,970
Total	29,133	29,133

Infomercial

Has anyone else seen the infomercial with Hugh Downs? It is bad when a respected newsman is doing this. Ponch's Disco 04:11, 21 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The infomercial, program length commercial, seems to be at:

I often don't use my computer sound, so I could see, not hear. It includes Hugh Malcolm Downs, Barry Marshall, & "Arthur Johnson". I found comments at: [1]; and [2].

Thank You. hopiakuta 12:54, 7 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Should we be linking to what is basically a commerical for a prodcut Downs' is a spokesman for? Seems a little unseemly to me. Perhaps we should mention it without the link? Lochdale 20:09, 8 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

You are right, links go to other articles not advertisements, I changed it but will see how long this last. Someone from the company is most likely involved.

Hugh Downs did indeed begin hosting 20/20 with the second episode, but Barbara Walters did not join him as co-anchor until considerably later. The correct date should be obtained. It is at least a year after he began.Link2dan (talk) 04:10, 21 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Incorrect/misleading information

I apologize if I'm doing this incorrectly but there is incorrect and misleading information on this page about Hugh Downs that needs attention.

The opening paragraph says Downs hosts a program on Public Television. And the end of the "Television Career" section is a reference to the same program, "Downs is currently the host of the National Report Series for PBS." This program is not affiliated with PBS. The company that creates it uses questionable tactics in approaching businesses to be on this program. My organization could not get clear answers, but it appears they want you to buy a spot on the program, though they approach you like its a news program. Here is what PBS has on a Q&A section of it's website about the program:

Q. Does PBS have any affiliation with programs produced by Vision Media Television? Q. I've been contacted by a TV producer who claims that he will feature my company in a national public television program in exchange for a fee. Is PBS aware of this?

A. A number of businesses have contacted PBS to ask us about our relationship with the producers of various television programs carrying titles such as Learning About, and The National Report Series. According to representatives of these businesses, the producers have offered to feature the representatives' businesses in a television program and indicated that the program will be made available on national public television. Based upon representations made to them by the producers, the businesses were led to believe that the producers were associated with PBS and that PBS intended to distribute or otherwise endorsed their programming.

PBS wishes to clarify that it is not associated with and does not endorse, distribute programming for, review underwriting for or otherwise have any business relationship with the following production companies: Vision Media Television, Paradigm Media Group, PMG, PMGTV, Infinity Media Group, Roadshow Productions, Family Television Studios, United Media Communications Group, American Review TV, Business Break TV, Event Media TV, or Global Television Studios. PBS does not oversee the production or distribution of any programs associated with any of these companies.'

Please correct this Wikipedia entry so that you do not support this organization's effort to mislead potential participants. Bapcasteel (talk) 11:19, 26 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

External links modified (January 2018)

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Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20121210124715/http://humancommunication.clas.asu.edu/about/hugh_downs to http://humancommunication.clas.asu.edu/about/hugh_downs

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Intriguing observation

Hugh Downs died in 2020 but not on 20/20. The Final Edict (talk) 09:22, 19 September 2021 (UTC)[reply]