Dan Rather
Dan Rather is a television personality represented by N.S. Bienstock, Inc., a large television talent agency in the United States. The agency represents more than 600 television personalities and is ranked among the Top 10 of TV's most powerful. Rather is one of the clients listed alongside Chris Matthews, Anderson Cooper, and Bill O'Reilly. The agency's president, Richard Leibner, is known for beginning the trend of big news salaries in the 1980s by playing the networks against one another and getting big deals for Dan Rather and Diane Sawyer. Rather now makes more than $7 million.
- field
- Journalism, commentary
- nationality
- American
Lore & Background
Dan Rather is a client of N.S. Bienstock, Inc., a specialized agency with most assets devoted to news and reality-based programming. Variety claims the company has a 'virtual monopoly on the news biz's biggest stars,' and the president of MSNBC told the New York Times that 'They have a disproportionate share of America's news talent.' The agency began in the 1940s as the small, New York City life insurance business of Nate Bienstock, whose client list included a number of journalists, including Walter Cronkite, Charles Collingwood and Eric Sevareid. Richard Leibner—not long out of New York University's business school—took up the part of the business representing news talent and built it. Leibner is the face of the company, known for beginning the trend of big news salaries in the 1980s by playing the networks against one another and getting big deals for Dan Rather and Diane Sawyer. Rather now makes more than $7 million. In the process, Leibner has been accused of transforming journalists into something closer to Hollywood celebrities. The agency has been at the forefront of the broadcast news business since 1964, pioneering representation of on-air and off-air talent in syndication, cable, reality television, and talk radio over the last 40+ years. United Talent Agency acquired N.S. Bienstock on 22nd Jan 2014.
Reader's Guide
Dan Rather is one of the notable present and past clients of N.S. Bienstock, Inc. The agency represents clients ranging from Dan Rather and Chris Matthews to Anderson Cooper and Bill O'Reilly. Richard Leibner, the face of the company, is known for beginning the trend of big news salaries in the 1980s by playing the networks against one another and getting big deals for Dan Rather and Diane Sawyer. Rather now makes more than $7 million. The agency has been at the forefront of the broadcast news business since 1964, pioneering representation of on-air and off-air talent in syndication, cable, reality television, and talk radio over the last 40+ years. The group not only represents talent, but also pitches and packages popular programs on both television and radio. The Radio Television Digital News Association administers a fellowship for young professional journalists endowed by N.S. Bienstock. In 2014 N.S. Bienstock was acquired by United Talent Agency.
Did You Know?
- Dan Rather is a client of N.S. Bienstock, Inc., which represents more than 600 television personalities.
- Rather is one of the clients listed alongside Chris Matthews, Anderson Cooper, and Bill O'Reilly.
- Richard Leibner got big deals for Dan Rather and Diane Sawyer, and Rather now makes more than $7 million.
- N.S. Bienstock was acquired by United Talent Agency on 22nd Jan 2014.
- The agency began in the 1940s as the small, New York City life insurance business of Nate Bienstock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dan Rather?
Dan Rather is an American journalist and commentator born on October 31, 1931, in Wharton County, Texas. He is best known for his 24-year run as the anchor of the CBS Evening News from 1981 to 2005.
How did Dan Rather first gain national attention?
In September 1961, his on-the-ground reporting during Hurricane Carla is widely credited with saving thousands of lives by alerting residents to the storm's true severity. That single broadcast launched his reputation as a fearless field reporter.
What was Dan Rather's role in American evening news?
From the 1980s through the early 2000s, he served as one of the so-called 'Big Three' nightly news anchors in the United States. His long tenure at CBS made him a familiar presence in millions of living rooms for over two decades.
Which major news stories did Dan Rather cover?
His career included reporting on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Watergate scandal, and the politically charged Killian documents controversy tied to the Iraq War. These high-profile assignments defined much of his public legacy.
Why is Dan Rather considered important in media history?
He bridged the era of local field reporting and the modern era of national network television, shaping how millions of Americans experienced breaking news. His Hurricane Carla broadcast remains a landmark example of journalism with a direct, life-saving impact.
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