Veteran ABC newsman Sam Donaldson said network news has lost the battle as America's primary source when events are breaking, Broadcasting & Cable reported.

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Donaldson, speaking during a panel at the National Association of Broadcasters' convention in Las Vegas, said the networks lost the edge on developing events long ago.

"I think it's dead. Sorry," Donaldson said. "The monster anchors are through."

"God forbid, if someone shot the president, which network would you turn to? It will be cable, the Internet -- something other than 'General Hospital' being interrupted," Donaldson said.

Viewers are looking elsewhere even for everyday news, he said.

CNN political analyst Jeff Greenfield and CBS "Sunday Morning" host Charles Osgood, also members of the NAB panel, had more optimistic outlooks.

While cable "smashed" the network news monopoly, Greenfield said, "If it's dying, it's dying a very slow death."

U.S. network news pulls in an average 30 million viewers each evening.