‘Dan Rather Reports’ Marks One Hundred Episodes on HDNet

Legendary journalist celebrates milestone episode on Tuesday, March 24 at 8:00 p.m.

DALLAS, March 18 /PRNewswire/ — HDNet and Dan Rather Reports will celebrate the program’s 100th episode on Tuesday evening, March 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The episode, “Dan Rather Reports: A Border Runs Through It,” will look at what has quickly become the Obama Administration’s biggest dilemma; Afghanistan and its increasingly shaky neighbor, Pakistan.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO)

American and NATO military commanders have long complained that the open border between the two countries has allowed Taliban and Al Qaeda insurgents safe passage to and from hideouts in Pakistan. And, in fact, the Rather investigation found that the main border crossing at Chaman is wide open. People who cross are rarely, if ever, checked for identifications – much less weapons.

Also in the 100th episode, international relief efforts are helping thousands of hungry Afghans. If the war wasn’t bad enough, a drought has meant devastating crop losses in the northern part of the country.

Since the November 14, 2006 premiere of “Dan Rather Reports,” HDNet’s Global Correspondent, Dan Rather has traveled twice to Afghanistan to investigate the real issues in this “forgotten war.” He was also one of the last reporters to interview Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan — the first woman elected to lead a Muslim state and the first and only female Prime Minster of Pakistan — before her assassination in December of 2007. He also has traveled 450 miles north of the Arctic Circle to the Northwest Passage, investigating Arctic melting due to climate change. The program has also featured an exclusive interview with a young Iranian warlord intent on shaking up the theocratic government of Iran.

On the home front, Rather exposed serious problems with touch screen voting machines, presenting so much new information about the machine manufacturers that the episode helped prompt a federal investigation. “Dan Rather Reports” investigation into the now infamous FEMA trailers for Hurricane Katrina victims also resulted in a federal investigation of those trailers and the toxic levels of formaldehyde existing inside of them. Rather has also chatted with both Senator John McCain and then-Senator Barack Obama as they hit the grueling campaign trail during the 2008 Presidential election.

To view a special promotional spot celebrating Rather’s 100 episodes please click on the following link:

http://blip.tv/file/1889387/

The program’s hour-long format means that no story is held to traditional time constraints. This allows Rather the time to dig deep into stories and present them in a truly in-depth manner. You don’t see this kind of reporting anywhere else.

The 100th episode of “Dan Rather Reports,” titled “A Border Runs Through It,” can be seen Tuesday, March 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET on HDNet. The program also airs at 11:00 p.m. ET, to accommodate West Coast prime time.

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is a network that is original, thinks independently and delivers unique content and provocative, authentic programming that appeals to men of all ages, delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television’s only HD news feature programs “HDNet World Report,” and the Emmy Award winning “Dan Rather Reports,” featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant – telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence.

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts through HDNet Fights. HDNet Fights partners with leading MMA promoters including Affliction, DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, M1, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC, Adrenaline and more. HDNet produces more live mixed martial arts events than any other network and HDNet’s “Inside MMA” is the hottest mixed martial arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA.

HDNet also delivers the world’s largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring “Art Mann Presents,” “Vegas Confessions,” “Deadline” and “Get Out!” HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. “NASA on HDNet” presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.

Only HDNet Movies delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow and Eric Bana.

Upcoming Sneak Previews include “The Great Buck Howard,” starring Colin Hanks, John Malkovich and Tom Hanks, and “Harlem Aria,” starring Damon Wayans.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies presents viewers with over one hundred films and an average of twenty-five “HD Premieres” each month. HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.

SOURCE HDNet