NAMES IN THE NEWS : Koppel, Brokaw on Life After 50

As they approach their 50th birthdays, newsman Ted Koppel said he doesn’t have the “sex appeal” to be an anchorman, and colleague Tom Brokaw said he expects to have a new job before he turns 65.

NBC’s Brokaw, born Feb. 6, 1940, and Koppel, who was born two days later, reflect on their careers in the Feb. 3 issue of TV Guide.

“By the end of this decade I will be doing, in one form or another, what I’m doing now--reporting,” said Koppel, of ABC-TV’s “Nightline.” “At one time I did want to be a news anchor, but I know I don’t have the pizzazz.

“Apart from their talents as journalists, Peter (Jennings), Tom (Brokaw) and Dan (Rather) are also extremely attractive and have a level of sex appeal that I don’t have.”

Brokaw, however, said he does not see himself doing the same thing down the line.

“I believe there’ll always be a place for an evening network news program, but I don’t think I’ll be here for another 15 years,” said the “NBC Nightly News” anchorman. “I’d like more time I could count on, which I can’t now because I’m so tied to world events.”