Former 'CBS Evening News' anchor Dan Rather signs HDNET deal

Former "CBS Evening News" anchor Dan Rather has signed on to host an hourlong weekly news program on Mark Cuban's HDNET, it was announced Monday.

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"Dan Rather Presents" will bow in October on the first all-high definition TV network in the United States, The Washington Post reported. HDNET is currently available to 3 million satellite TV subscribers.

Cuban, who owns the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, told the Post the program will be "an opportunity to do news in what I like to call 'fearless mode,' what Dan calls 'with guts.' Go out there and find the stories we think will have impact."

An official announcement will be made later this week during the Television Critics Association's press tour in Pasadena, Calif.

Rather, 74, relinquished his CBS anchor desk in 2005 after a report about President Bush's military service turned out to be based on bogus information.

He was contributing to "60 Minutes" and severed his ties to CBS three weeks ago.