(knob clicking) - Good evening, everyone, "The Scene Tonight" moves- - [Cathy] There was a time when people would stop what they were doing to watch the evening news.

- [Mark] The local news was everything.

- [Don] We were going to be the pinnacle of big J journalism.

- [Cyndy] You were right there at the zeitgeist.

- [Cathy] TV stations with the most viewers made the most money.

- [Marcia] The moral high ground doesn't make them any money unless it makes you number one.

- [Pat] We were reminded of ratings all the time.

- [Chris] We had higher ratings than the other three stations combined.

- [Cyndy] It was stressful, we all felt it.

We knew it even though nobody ever talked to us about it.

- [Paul] I disliked them both so much.

- I wanted to beat 'em every night.

- [Diana] We were number four, we had a long ways to go.

And who will care?

- [Don] No one saw them coming.

- [Paul] We did monstrous, shocking numbers.

- [Ron] A newscast may not win with a good anchor, but you're never gonna win without one.

- I can stop doing this stuff all afternoon, just watch.

- [Cyndy] In one stroke, I was told, "You're not qualified to do this."

- [Don] You're never good enough.

You're never good enough.

- [Pat] I would have panic attacks.

- [Brian] It's just showbiz, anybody that struggled with that wasn't made for the game.

- [Don] Do I even have a future in this business?

- [Lou] What's your problem with Black people?

I'm Black and I'm a reporter, I can be both.

- If you want any help with the big words- - [Pat] I cried and I felt sick to my stomach.

I'm still not over it, I'm still not over it.

- [Cathy] And what happened because of those ratings wars forever changed the television industry and the local TV landscape.

- It was cutthroat, seriously.

- It's too personal to make sense.

- They might not like what they're seeing, but they're watching.

- Well, thank you, you son of a bitch.

(exciting music) (anchors talking indistinctly) (TV clicking)