WABC - 7 Eyewitness News

[Vlad 407]

17 hours ago, MorningNews said:

It’s time for Bill Ritter to retire entirely from his anchoring duties. Or they need to strictly prohibit him from going off script when reading a story.

 

What happened? Did he say something out of script during a recent newscast or is this just a general observation?

[MorningNews 1712]

10 hours ago, Vlad said:

 

What happened? Did he say something out of script during a recent newscast or is this just a general observation?

Just generally his presentation has declined significantly in the last few years. He tries to improvise but just meanders until finally tossing to the reporter or their package. It’s clumsy and distracting.
 

 

[swaggyboi128 3]

3 hours ago, MorningNews said:

Just generally his presentation has declined significantly in the last few years. He tries to improvise but just meanders until finally tossing to the reporter or their package. It’s clumsy and distracting.
 

 

Can't say I've noticed this...I know he stopped caring about his appearance after COVID but I don't think his quality has much. Not to mention channel 7 doesn't seem like somewhere someone could improv into a package or a live report much, maybe into say weather or sports but that's supposed to be conversational. Everything's run pretty tight and if Bill really "meandered on" then it'd be fairly noticeable.

[Nynewsguy7 23]

It’s coming. By end of the year. The wheels are in motion. 

[ns8401 996]

My assumption is that like most people who don’t know when to ride off into the sunset there are signs he’s well past his expiration date.

[Vlad 407]

2 hours ago, Nynewsguy7 said:

It’s coming. By end of the year. The wheels are in motion. 

 

Aw, was hoping he'd stay till 80 like Chuck on WNBC,   I grew up with Bill, he is the face of WABC, when he retires it will be truly an end of an era.

Edited June 3 by Vlad

[MediaZone4K 2666]

On 6/3/2026 at 5:36 PM, Vlad said:

 

Aw, was hoping he'd stay till 80 like Chuck on WNBC,   I grew up with Bill, he is the face of WABC, when he retires it will be truly an end of an era.

I feel like Bill never reached that icon status of other news men like Bill Butel, Roger Grimsby, Jim Jensen, and Chuck Scarborough. I think part of it was because by the time Bill took the helm at WABC their anchors were treated as an ensemble with no one team standing out above the rest.

 

Another long time anchor I'd say that about is WNBC's David Ushery. 

Edited Monday at 12:12 AM by MediaZone4K

[NowBergen 927]

2 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

I feel like Bill never reached that icon status of other news men like Bill Butel, Roger Grimsby, Jim Jensen, and Chuck Scarborough. I think part of it was because by the time Bill took the helm at WABC their anchors were treated an ensemble with no one team standing out above the rest.

 

Another long time anchor I'd say that about is WNBC's David  Ushery. 

Exactly, when I think of generational anchors at WABC, it's Bill Beutel and Roger Grimsby.  Part of it is the original Eyewitness News format took off when they were brought in and assumed anchor duties. They changed the game for the station..  They are the Channel 7  (and NY broadcasting) icons. 

[Vlad 407]

 

18 hours ago, NowBergen said:

Exactly, when I think of generational anchors at WABC, it's Bill Beutel and Roger Grimsby.  Part of it is the original Eyewitness News format took off when they were brought in and assumed anchor duties. They changed the game for the station..  They are the Channel 7  (and NY broadcasting) icons. 

 

Absolutely 100%, Roger and Bill, they are legendary and they are the pioneers that defined and set the standard of that we know today so they will always have that distinction that nobody will ever be able to come close because they are associated with the creation of this highly successful format that Al Primo introduced and now used all across the country.

 

But, to elaborate more, Bill Ritter, Roz Abrams, Diana Williams, Ernie Anastos, etc. are a part of the immediate generation that followed on the footsteps of these greats and they were task with maintaining and upholding the standard that Bill and Roger created and to this day has worked. So now we are at a point in time where they are now passing the baton down to the newer Generations, (Generation X and Millennials) up into their place which is what I meant by end of an era. So just a sign of the times really. 

 

 

Edited June 4 by Vlad

[NYAZSporty 202]

For the NBA Finals, WABC milking it to the fullest they're showing the Knicks, having "Knicks Win" graphic in their news opens at 11 last night & this morning as well. 

 

[24994J 5890]

WTVD followed WABC's lead for tonight's Hurricanes win.
 

 

[NYAZSporty 202]

Sad day for WABC as Bill Ritter is expected to announce today he'll step down from the anchor chair at Eyewitness News citing health. Filled the big shoes of the legendary Bill Beutel (RIP) well & pretty much the last of the well-known guard amongst NYC news anchors as pretty much elsewhere on the dial, hardly much notoriety or gravitas amongst what's out there. All the best, Bill!! https://nypost.com/2026/06/12/media/abc-new-york-anchor-bill-ritter-to-retire-due-to-health-issue-sources/

[abc7 Man 72]

1 hour ago, NYAZSporty said:

Sad day for WABC as Bill Ritter is expected to announce today he'll step down from the anchor chair at Eyewitness News citing health. Filled the big shoes of the legendary Bill Beutel (RIP) well & pretty much the last of the well-known guard amongst NYC news anchors as pretty much elsewhere on the dial, hardly much notoriety or gravitas amongst what's out there. All the best, Bill!! https://nypost.com/2026/06/12/media/abc-new-york-anchor-bill-ritter-to-retire-due-to-health-issue-sources/

And this will also be reported on the national WNT this evening as well.