Industry people are becoming more and more concerned that the "newsmagazine" format is slowly starting to fade away. Some are saying that shows like Dateline and Primetime have abandoned real news for infotainment, often using the programs to cover series and celebrities from the network's entertainment division. That's not unheard of, but it makes those shows less and less relevant as such "fluff" pieces are already covered by shows like Entertainment Tonight and the like. Dateline may be especially vulnerable. however, and some are speculating this could be its last season. The show has been suffering in the ratings, and its Friday addition was recently taken off the schedule to make room for Conviction, a new drama from Dick Wolf.

[via Lost Remote]