Roone Arledge Quotes

Powerful Roone Arledge for Daily Growth

About Roone Arledge

Roone Arledge (1926-2002), an American television producer, is renowned for his revolutionary impact on broadcast journalism and sports television. Born in New York City, he was the son of William S. Paley, the founder of CBS. Despite this pedigree, Arledge forged his own path in the world of television. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Arledge joined CBS News as a production assistant and quickly rose through the ranks, producing some of the most significant news events of the 20th century, including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the Apollo moon landings. In 1977, Arledge took over ABC Sports and transformed it into a major competitor for CBS's sports programming. He introduced groundbreaking innovations such as Monday Night Football, Wide World of Sports, and the ABC Sunday Night Movie of the Week. These shows not only revolutionized sports broadcasting but also became cultural touchstones. Arledge's influence extended beyond sports and news. He produced several successful variety shows, including The Hollywood Palace and ABC's Monday Night at the Movies. However, it was his work in sports that truly cemented his legacy. His innovative approach to programming and commitment to quality journalism continue to influence the television industry today. Roone Arledge's life and work exemplify the power of creativity, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. His quotes reflect his vision: "Television is a medium of entertainment which permits millions of people to listen to the same joke at the same time," and "I always wanted to do things that were difficult or impossible to do." These words encapsulate Arledge's spirit and the enduring impact of his work on television history.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on opening it."

This quote by Roone Arledge suggests that being open-minded can sometimes lead to others trying to influence or fill your thoughts with their ideas, opinions, or beliefs. The statement implies a caution about this potential outcome when one actively seeks knowledge, understanding, or engagement with various perspectives. It encourages the listener to maintain an open mind, but also to discern and evaluate information critically before accepting it, thereby preserving individual integrity and intellectual autonomy.


"I don't make mistakes. I have years of experience to make corgrect decisions."

This quote suggests that Roone Arledge, a prominent figure in media, saw each decision he made as a result of his extensive professional experience rather than errors or mistakes. He implies that with time and expertise, one can learn from past experiences to make informed, accurate decisions, avoiding what would traditionally be considered "mistakes". In essence, he's saying that his decisions are based on the wisdom gained through years of experience.


"It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently."

This quote emphasizes the importance of building and maintaining a strong reputation over time, as it can take decades to establish trust and credibility in one's profession or personal life. However, a single misstep or poor decision can quickly undo all that hard work, potentially damaging one's reputation beyond repair. To avoid such pitfalls, one should always think carefully about the potential consequences of their actions before making decisions, understanding that their choices will be closely scrutinized and may have long-lasting effects on their reputation.


"I call it 'fair and balanced.' You might call it bullshit."

This quote is a commentary on the perceived impartiality or objectivity of news media, particularly Fox News, which was founded by Roone Arledge's successor Rupert Murdoch. Arledge suggests that the term "fair and balanced," often used to describe their coverage, may be misleading or inaccurate, and instead, it might be more accurate to label it as biased or manipulative (bullshit).


"The secret in business is to know something that nobody else knows."

Roone Arledge's quote emphasizes the importance of possessing unique, valuable knowledge or insights in business. Having such knowledge gives a competitive edge as it allows one to make informed decisions, innovate, and create opportunities that others may overlook. This understanding can lead to success, as it sets one apart from competitors who rely on general or public knowledge only. However, it's essential to remember that ethical conduct is equally important in using this knowledge for personal gain while contributing positively to society.


One of the towering people in this industry said, why don't you go and make a five-year contract with somebody, make yourself several million dollars and put it away, then go and do whatever you want, work for public TV if you want.

- Roone Arledge

Away, TV, Towering, Contract

I don't think people realize the extent to which TV networks are hurt when they carry public broadcasting. I think the estimate is that they lose a half-million dollars for a half day's programming.

- Roone Arledge

Think, Extent, Which, Hurt

Most of what we report from Congress they don't care about unless it affects them directly.

- Roone Arledge

Congress, Most, Unless, Directly

But unlike the setup in most organizations, where there's an administrator on top and creative people or doers underneath, I'm basically a doer and I like to have administrative people underneath me.

- Roone Arledge

Creative People, Like, Administrator

I don't think any industry was ever as closely scrutinized and written about and constantly in the public eye as television.

- Roone Arledge

Think, Television, Closely, Public Eye

I think people tuned in a lot to see Barbara when she first came here and they just didn't like the show they saw. I think it was dull. It was sterile.

- Roone Arledge

Think, Here, I Think, Sterile

People also don't care about the daily comings and goings of diplomats and yet we must report it.

- Roone Arledge

Daily, About, Also, Report

One of the reasons why when Elvis dies or the Son of Sam is captured ABC News' ratings go up is because people who don't normally watch news are watching then. The question is, do you want to attract people who don't watch network news or fight over the people who do?

- Roone Arledge

Why, Attract, Reasons, Ratings

In fact, I had a series of offers which would have brought me a lot of money to make films and package TV programs. There were people who said to me, we'll put a million dollars in your bank account tomorrow, which is a hard thing to turn down.

- Roone Arledge

Fact, TV, Brought, Million Dollars

I don't think the news department will have to lie down and play dead like it has in the past. By and large the network has been understanding, but then so have I.

- Roone Arledge

Play, News, In The Past, Department

I don't expect to win every battle but I think Fred Pierce has enough respect for me that I can go fight my battles and win my share.

- Roone Arledge

Think, Go, I Think, Battles

I want everybody in the news business to think of ABC before they go any place else. If it costs us an extra few thousand dollars to do that, what does it mean?

- Roone Arledge

Think, News, Costs, Extra

In the past ABC has made half-hearted efforts or, worse, cosmetic efforts, to do something about news and I wasn't certain about what their real aim was - nor am I now.

- Roone Arledge

News, In The Past, ABC, Cosmetic

But if you cover the World Series on the news or do a feature on an Ali boxing match then all of a sudden ears go up all over the place and people say what the hell are you doing. The reason for that is that we're doing something that people are really interested in.

- Roone Arledge

Hell, Doing, Reason, Ali

The current wisdom now is that if the three networks are covering the news the same way the difference is the anchor people. I think that won't be true in the future.

- Roone Arledge

Think, News, I Think, Anchor

Television is a powerful medium that has to be used for something better than sitcoms and police shows. On the other hand, if you don't recognize the forces that play on what people watch and what they don't then you're a fool and you should be in a different business.

- Roone Arledge

Play, Other, Medium, Powerful Medium

People essentially like local news better than network news.

- Roone Arledge

News, Better, Like, Essentially

I respect the game that goes on of putting this against that, but I don't respect, nor do I enjoy, an awful lot of the actual programs that go on the air.

- Roone Arledge

Game, Actual, Awful Lot, Programs

I'm sensitive about my image of being hard to reach.

- Roone Arledge

Reach, Image, About, Sensitive

I think we have erred on the side of being too conservative so far, to tell you the truth.

- Roone Arledge

Think, I Think, Side, Conservative

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