Povich's broadcast journalism roots took hold more than 40 years ago in his native Washington, D.C. where he began as a radio street reporter which led to news, talk and sports shows on WTTG-TV, a local Metromedia station. Povich was the original host of a two-hour daily live news talk show titled "PANORAMA," which became a television staple for those working on Capitol Hill and in the White House. It was the only midday news show in the nation's capital before the advent of the 24-hour cable news networks.

During the tumultuous 60's and 70's, Povich covered the aftermath of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, riots in Washington following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., anti-war demonstrations during the Vietnam War and the historic events of Watergate.

In 1977, after 15 years in Washington broadcast journalism, Povich left his hometown and over the next seven years anchored newscasts for ABC, CBS and NBC owned and operated stations in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. While in Los Angeles at the CBS station, Povich co-anchored the news with his future wife-to-be, Connie Chung. He then returned to WTTG-TV in Washington to host "PANORAMA" and the 10 O'clock News in 1983. That station and the Metromedia group were sold to Rupert Murdoch in 1985 and became Fox Television. In 1986, Murdoch brought Povich to New York to help create and host the maverick news magazine "A Current Affair," which became an instant hit and changed the face of network and cable news.

Povich served two consecutive terms as president of the New York Chapter of the National Television Academy (NTA). Previous presidents of the New York Chapter of the (NTA) have included such luminary figures as Ed Sullivan and Walter Cronkite. In March 2006, Povich received the prestigious Governor's Award from the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The award recognizes individuals whose achievements in the television industry are exemplary.

Povich heads Mo Po Entertainment, which produces original programming content and won an Academy Award in 2003 for Best Documentary Short, "Twin Towers," of which Povich was an executive producer.

In May of 2007, Povich and his wife, Connie Chung, launched a newspaper in Flathead Valley, Montana, where they own a home. The "Flathead-Beacon" is available on-line daily and 50,000 copies are printed and distributed weekly.