1988: CBS News Introduces '48 Hours'
On this day in 1988, CBS News introduced its still-running documentary series, 48 Hours.
While perhaps best known for its coverage of true crime stories, 48 Hours also focuses its attention on current news and issues. At the very beginning, the cinema vérité-style series limited its focus to covering it chosen subject for a two-day time period, a limitation that's no longer followed.
Over the years, the show's name has changed from 48 Hours to 48 Hours Investigates to 48 Hours Mystery and, now, back to just 48 Hours. Originally hosted by Dan Rather, the series no longer has a designated anchor, but a team of correspondents who each narrate the stories they report. Current episodes can be viewed online.