Rather retirement is ratings hit

Rather had been presenting the CBS evening news since 1981

The retirement of US news anchor Dan Rather boosted ratings for the CBS network as he presented his final bulletin on Wednesday.

Around 5.5m US households watched the bulletin, giving it its highest viewing figures since March 2000, according to Nielsen Media Research ratings.

It beat NBC's evening news, watched in 4.9m homes, and ABC's bulletin, watched in 4.8m households on Wednesday.

Rather, 73, had fronted the CBS evening news for 24 years.

Welcome boost

It was a welcome ratings boost for the programme, which has been the third most popular evening bulletin behind NBC's Nightly News and ABC World News Tonight since the mid-1990s.

Mr Rather, who took over presenting the programme from Walter Cronkite in 1981, announced his retirement in November.

His decision came two months after he received criticism over a recent report questioning President George W Bush's military service record.

He will continue to work on the CBS magazine show 60 Minutes.