Chris Hansen, Vigilante TV And The High Cost Of Ratings: The Wild True Story Behind ‘Primetime’

BusinessMediaChris Hansen, Vigilante TV And The High Cost Of Ratings: The Wild True Story Behind ‘Primetime’ByToni Fitzgerald,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Toni Fitzgerald is a Pennsylvania-based reporter who covers mediaFollow AuthorMay 28, 2026, 01:41am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryChris Hansen's *To Catch a Predator* was a highly popular *Dateline NBC* segment from 2004-2007, captivating millions by exposing alleged child predators through online stings. Hansen's quiet, interrogative style made for compelling, high-rated television. However, the show's ethical practices faced intense scrutiny after an assistant district attorney committed suicide following a 2006 sting operation. This tragedy, along with lawsuits and advertiser concerns, led to the program's cancellation in 2007. A new film, *Primetime*, starring Robert Pattinson as Hansen, now re-examines this controversial era, exploring the complex ethical questions surrounding the show and its blurred lines between journalism and vigilante justice.Show More Former host of "Dateline NBC" Chris Hansen during an interview with host Jay Leno in 2007. NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesBefore true crime podcasts began having a moment, there was Chris Hansen. In the mid-2000s, people across America watched a man in a trench coat hand a chat-log transcript to a terrified suspect holding a six-pack of Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Hansen and his Dateline NBC crew made gladiatorial reality TV disguised as public service.It was raw, shocking and it drew great ratings at a time before social media caught fire but after most people had begun using the internet heavily. From 2004-2007, Hansen’s To Catch a Predator, a special offshoot of Dateline that targeted alleged child predators, averaged just over 7 million viewers, bumping up the newsmagazine’s...