Veteran newsman Sam Donaldson said Tuesday that broadcast network news is “dead.” “I say to network news departments: Find something new to do,” Mr. Donaldson said during a session at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas.

According to Mr. Donaldson, broadcast network news audiences have declined precipitously while their average age has soared to 60 — largely due to competition from 24-hour cable news networks and other technological options.

“The anchor monsters are through,” he said, referring to the power that the Big 3 TV network news anchors once held over public opinion.

Doug Halonen