Old school readers will remember Vladimir Pozner for his many appearances on ABC’s Nightline, arguing the Soviet Union position with Ted Koppel. He was first introduced to American audiences when Korean Air Lines flight 007 was shot down over Soviet airspace killing everyone on board. Speaking perfect English, he proceeded to make a cottage industry for himself making appearances on American TV.
When the Communism fell in the Soviet Union, he softened his pro-USSR positions and became friends with talk show host Phil Donahue co-hosting a CNBC show in the 1990’s. His relationship with Donahue began when they co-hosted programs called “U.S.-Soviet Space Bridge.”
Pozner will make appearances on NBC’s Late Night Olympics program. Bob Costas will talk with Pozner about the Russian perspective of the Games.
Here’s the NBC announcement on Pozner’s appointment to the Games.
MOSCOW-BASED TV JOURNALIST VLADIMIR POZNER TO JOIN NBCUNIVERSAL’S OLYMPICS COVERAGE IN SOCHI
Pozner to Appear with Bob Costas on Late Night Show
Stamford, Conn. – December 11, 2013 – Moscow-based television journalist Vladimir Pozner will make his U.S. Olympic broadcasting debut as a correspondent for NBC Olympics’ coverage of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, it was announced today.
A prominent Russian-American journalist who hosts a weekly live talk show in Moscow, Pozner will appear with Bob Costas on the late night show, offering a Russian perspective of the Games.
“With his deep Russian roots and American upbringing, Vladimir Pozner is uniquely qualified to provide a Russian outlook to our audience during the Sochi Olympics,” said Jim Bell, Executive Producer, NBC Olympics. “At yet another significant moment in Russia’s history, we are thrilled to be able to share his perspective on the host country and the Games.”
Pozner’s U.S. media experience includes co-hosting Pozner/Donahue, a syndicated weekly, issues-oriented roundtable program that aired on CNBC from 1991-1996. He has also appeared on numerous American television news shows including TODAY and Nightline.
Pozner worked for Soviet, then Russian TV at three prior Winter Olympics – 1980 in Moscow, 2006 in Torino, and 2010 in Vancouver.
In the 1980s, Pozner co-hosted a series of televised discussions known as the U.S.-Soviet Space Bridge, among citizens of the Soviet Union and the United States. Pozner hosted an audience in a Soviet city while an American counterpart hosted an audience in a U.S. city. Spacebridges included: “Moscow Calling San Diego: Children and Film” (with Mike Cole), “Citizens Summit I – Leningrad/Seattle” (with Phil Donahue) and “Citizens Summit II: Women to Women – Leningrad/Boston” (with Phil Donahue). He also hosted Moscow Meridian, an English-language current affairs program focusing on the Soviet Union, and delivered the “Vladimir Pozner’s Daily Talk” program on the North America Service of Radio Moscow.
Pozner was born in France before his family moved to the United States for eight years in 1940s and then to Berlin and later Moscow. He began his journalism career in Russia as the senior editor of the English-language Soviet Life magazine, and in 1967 he moved to its sister publication Sputnik for three years. In the early 1970s, Pozner worked as the chief commentator for the North American service of Radio Moscow and was a regular guest on Ray Briem’s talk show on KABC in Los Angeles.
He has authored several books including his autobiography Parting with Illusions and Eyewitness: A Personal Account of the Unraveling of the Soviet Union, and co-authored: Remembering War: A U.S.-Soviet Dialogue.
Pozner has won multiple awards include three Emmys and nine Teffys (Russia’s highest national television honor).
That is all.
