Jan. 27, 1963 - Rivalry between CBS and NBC in the field of nightly news is scheduled to be intensified in a few weeks. NBC confirmed this week that the program of Chet Huntley (right) and David Brinkley (left) would be expanded to 30 minutes, probably later this season. The network’s move comes after the CBS announcement that Walter Cronkite’s evening news program would be enlarged next fall. Both networks indicate that the shows would be pitted against each other — from 7 to 7:30 p.m. EST. “We’re certainly going to get on before CBS,” an NBC spokesman remarked. In reporting last November’s election night results, CBS regained much of its old luster and, for the first time in several years, won better critical reviews than Huntley and Brinkley. The enlargement of Mr. Cronkite’s program reflected a desire by CBS to capitalize on its new momentum. By getting the jump on Mr. Cronkite, NBC believes it can preserve the present prominence of Huntley and Brinkley and establish the new pattern for news before its competitor gets started.
