Al Primo, Creator Of 'Eyewitness News' Format, Dies At 87 In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — Albert "Al" Primo, the man credited for creating the revolutionary "Eyewitness News" format, died at his home in Old Greenwich on Sept. 29, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Primo was 87.

Primo started Eyewitness News at KYW-TV in Philadelphia in 1965, the Philadelphia Inquirer said, noting that Promo switched from the traditional newsreader format and created a beat-system to cover the news.

He hired women and people of color who represented the community they covered, the Inquirer said. He also paired men and women together on broadcasts.

"They said ‘it was not journalism’ and ‘he’s using show-business techniques,’" Primo said about critics of Eyewitness News in an interview with The Inquirer earlier this year. "And of course, I said, ‘Yes, that’s right. This is television, so we use lights, camera, action — that’s what we do.’ But we do the news, too."

In 1968, Primo became the news director at WABC-TV in New York City, where he also launched the Eyewitness News format, abc7NY said. He helped hire some of the channel's most legendary and influential anchors, like Geraldo Rivera.

Rivera tweeted about Primo's death last week.

"Al Primo, creator of Eyewitness News, has passed at age 87. One of the most important producers in broadcasting history, he was an elegant man, a loyal friend and an inspiration and guide to 1000’s," Rivera said. "Erica and I send our love and condolences to his daughter Juliet and family."

Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo also posted about Primo on social media.

"Al will be missed by all who knew, worked with him, and called him a friend," Camillo said on Facebook.

Read more from the Philadelphia Inquirer, and from abc7NY.