Ted Koppel joins new NBC newsmagazine

[October 14, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Veteran journalist Ted Koppel is joining Brian Williams' newsmagazine on NBC. NBC announced Thursday that the longtime "Nightline" anchor joins Harry Smith and Meredith Vieira as correspondents on "Rock Center." Since leaving ABC News in 2005, Koppel has done work for the Discovery Channel and NPR.

The newsmagazine debuts Halloween night at 10 p.m. ET.

"My goal is to make `Rock Center' the Cooperstown of our craft," Williams said. "Ted is a consensus Hall of Famer, joining the best team of men and women on the air today."

Kate Snow, Richard Engel, Dr. Nancy Snyderman and the "Today" show team of Matt Lauer and Ann Curry are also listed as contributors to the newsmagazine.

Koppel started "Nightline" and for 25 years was its driving force. While he's associated with ABC, he began his career as an NBC News page.

[Associated Press]

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