TV & VIDEO - Oct. 13, 1989

Cable News Network has silenced its “unchallenged commentaries” but will continue to air commentaries and their opposing views on such programs as “Crossfire,” “Evans & Novak” and the “Capitol Gang.” A spokesman at CNN headquarters in Atlanta said “it was just a management decision” to end the free-standing commentaries of Linda Ellerbee, Robert Novak, Marty Schramm, weatherman Flip Spiceland and sportscaster Jim Huber. All of the commentators except Ellerbee do other work for CNN. Among the network evening newscasts, only NBC still regularly airs commentary by John Chancellor. George Will comments for ABC News on an irregular basis. CBS discontinued commentaries after Bill Moyers, who delivered them, quit in 1986 and returned to public TV.