Infobox Television
show_name = 48 Hours Mystery
caption =
format = Newsmagazine
picture_format =
runtime = 60 minutes
creator =
executive_producer = Susan Zirinsky
company = CBS News Productions
starring = List
country = USA
network = CBS
first_aired = January 19, 1988
last_aired = Present
num_episodes =
website = http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/48hours/main3410.shtml
imdb_id = 0271894
tv_com_id = 8236

"48 Hours" is a documentary and news program broadcast on the CBS television network since January 19, 1988. The program originally took a forty eight hour slice of a single topic and put it into a one hour program.

Susan Zirisnky is the executive producer. The executive editor is Al Briganti. The senior producers are Anthony Batson, Peter Schweitzer and Judy Tygard.

The show now airs Saturday nights at 10pm Eastern and Pacific time and 9pm Central/Mountain.

Original format

The show drew its name, inspiration and original format from the September 2, 1986, CBS News documentary "48 Hours on Crack Street", about the drug crisis plaguing a number of American neighborhoods. The special attracted some 15 million viewers. The Original 48 Hours Intro showed a Video Camera with the CBS News Logo on it.

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, has been a member of the "48 Hours" air staff since its premiere as a regular series.

"48 Hours Investigates"/"Mystery"

It was revamped in 2002 when Lesley Stahl took over hosting duties from Dan Rather and the name was changed to "48 Hours Investigates". The name was changed to "48 Hours Mystery" in 2004, and with its single-topic format, does not use a single host, but is moderated by the reporter assigned to the story.

The current format of the documentary primarily deals with real life mysteries and crime stories, again with just one mystery per episode, owing to its single topic per show heritage. However, the program is not only confined to reporting mysteries. In September 2006 48 Hour, hosted by Katie Couric reported on the 5th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, in an hour long broadcast : "FIVE YEARS LATER: HOW SAFE ARE WE?. In April 2007 the program covered the Virginia Tech massacre.

Awards and nominations

The program has received over 20 Emmy awards, two George Foster Peabody Awards, and an Ohio State Award.

yndicated repeats

ION Television airs repeats of "48 Hours" on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET/PT. Erin Moriarty hosts these episodes with updated graphics and wraps.

Current correspondents

*Harold Dow
*Maureen Maher
*Erin Moriarty
*Troy Roberts
*Richard Schlesinger
*Susan Spencer
*Peter Van Sant

External links

* [http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/48hours/main3410.shtml 48 Hours Mystery Official Website]