"Face the Nation" to continue as hour-long show

(CBS News) A little local news if I may:

"Face the Nation" is the second-oldest program on television. It began in 1954, 58 years ago.

I've been here at the table for the last 21, and last April we began a new chapter - we expanded from a half-hour to an hour.

It was an experiment frankly, and this week the CBS Network notified our affiliate stations that the experiment was successful.

From here on, "Face the Nation" will be a one-hour broadcast.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank our affiliate stations who found a way this year to include the one hour broadcast on their schedules on very short notice, and most of all I want to thank those of you who watch our broadcast.

Your numbers, I'm happy to say, continue to grow and I really appreciate it.

And by the way, we don't intend to change much. No bells and whistles here. We'll just turn on the lights, sit the key news makers down and ask them the questions we think you would ask.

And if they don't answer, we'll try to point that out.

[chmcmac]

Bob, I get CBS via air antenna from Joplin and Springfield, MO. Both broadcasters cut to infommercials during second segment. Infuriating! Especially annoying when second segment is about baseball!

Thank you for hanging in there and let me cast my vote for Norah as guest host.

[AubreyFreemantle]

I think it's great that Face the Nation is finally an hour-long show especially with Bob Schieffer at the helm. Unfortunately I am not fortunate to be able to see the second half in NFL season due to our local affiliate. Here on the Oregon coast we have to wait until 2:05 AM to see the second half. The NFL Today show bumps the second half of Face the Nation.

[bigmanfrommaine]

In this country sports is more important than politics. How sad!

[Jeanne3232]

Utah viewers are only seeing 1/2 hour. Why?

[07281974]

As I said before Bob Schieffer deserves an hour , he makes the news transparent to the average person .

I believe he also has a band and plays the guitar and sings. I would like to see him perform a brief clip on his show.

Where does he get the time for all of this and the energy!!

comments by:
Anthony Joseph Lucchese

[bbarnes5557]

Good to see an old CBS hand still living and breathing...

[heladio9]

Great news! Now, if I can just get the network to move it up by a half hour (10 am on the west coast). But I wouldn't want you to think I was trying to manipulate you...yuk yuk. 'Nuff said to at least try. P.S. Loved your piece on the "culture of secrecy" at Penn state. Now we know why "the kremlin" was so hush hush. Hey! how about that as a future segment on your show...Secrecy in our society (okay 'Nuff I tried). Thanks for the ear.

[skeezix06]

Good. We need more news, not less.

[Goldwater64s6]

That is good news, Bob and you are welcome.
By the way, I`m a fried okra guy also.