Original Format
The show drew its name, inspiration and original format from the September 1986 CBS News documentary titled 48 Hours on Crack Street, about the drug crisis plaguing a number of U.S. neighborhoods. The special attracted some 15 million viewers.
Like the original documentary, the series originally focused on showing events occurring within a 48 hour span of time – hence the name. This format was eventually phased out by the early 1990s.
One of the contributors to that program, CBS News Correspondent Harold Dow, had been a member of the 48 Hours air staff since its premiere. Dan Rather, at the time also hosting the CBS Evening News, was the primary host of 48 Hours for its first fourteen years on air.
In 1997, CBS aired a special episode of 48 Hours titled Property of 48 Hours, which focused on some of the stories over the past 9 years.
Read more about this topic: 48 Hours (TV Series)
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