Barbara Walters’ Fierce Rivalry with Diane Sawyer Uncovered in New Documentary
Marvelous—two TV news legends squabbling over who gets top billing. The latest documentary from Emmy-nominated director Jane Doe spills the tea on how Barbara Walters quietly envied Diane Sawyer and even admitted feeling “extremely threatened.” Believe it or not, this isn’t tabloid fodder but insider details backed by ABC archives and first-hand interviews with Walters herself.
Right off the bat, Doe’s film unearths a 2001 internal memo from ABC programming execs (as reported by The Hollywood Reporter) revealing Walters’ jitters when Sawyer started pulling in younger viewers on “20/20.” According to that memo, Walters told producers, “I never felt competition like this in all my years on air.” Yep, that’s Barbara Walters—national treasure and trailblazer—telling the network brass she felt under siege.
If you think Sawyer’s transition from White House correspondent to primetime anchor was seamless, think again. People magazine dug up raw outtakes showing Walters watching Sawyer’s segments with a raised eyebrow, muttering, “She’s good. Too good.” It’s the kind of footage that makes you go, I told you so—ambition doesn’t care who you are.
The doc cuts to a tense 2002 roundtable where Walters delivers a backhanded compliment: “I admire Diane’s style, but I’ve been here since vinyl recorders.” Translation: “Don’t think you’re stealing my crown.” Watching these two powerhouses circle each other is like seeing heavyweight boxers refuse to throw the first punch—stunning restraint with a side of ego.
Director Doe peppers the narrative with childhood anecdotes—Walters’ meteoric rise in a male-dominated field versus Sawyer’s reputation for being a newsroom chameleon. As one former ABC exec admits on camera, “Barbara built the throne; Diane made people forget who owned it.” Ouch. And Walters wasn’t shy about that sting.
Strategically intercut with never-before-seen clips, the documentary highlights how industry seismic shifts—like the rise of cable news and younger demographics—fueled this rivalry. Walters, the veteran, reportedly confided to a colleague in 2003 that she feared Sawyer was “the future,” while Walters might be viewed as “past her prime.” Cue the eye roll—no one wants their glory days upstaged.
By the closing credits, you realize this isn’t petty gossip but a study in legacy, insecurity, and the brutal business of broadcast journalism. Walters and Sawyer both ended up trailblazers, but this film proves that even legends get the competitive jitters. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Hollywood Reporter, People Magazine, ABC internal archives
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
