NBC - CAPUS: WILLIAMS NOT SENT TO IRAQ FOR RATINGS

NBC News chief Steve Capus has expressed outrage over speculation in the press that the network has sent Brian Wiliams to Iraq in hopes of boosting ratings of NBC Nightly News, which were overtaken by ABC's World News during the February sweeps. "That is gross, disgusting," Capus told today's (Tuesday) Philadelphia Inquirer. "I would expect better from people in this industry. We don't put people in harm's way as cheap ratings ploys. At some point, people have to understand we're not playing a game here. It's not all about demographics and this and that. We're talking about somebody going into a war zone to cover a war." Capus said that despite redoubling security precautions surrounding Williams, including having him accompanied by retired four-star Gen. Wayne Downing, "everybody is nervous. I'm nervous for Brian and for the group we've got in there on a daily basis, but I don't know how we can cover a war without putting our people into dangerous situations."

06/03/2007