Dave's television career began at WESH-TV in Orlando, Fla. He became a popular figure with northern California viewers at another local television station during the 1970s.

In 1980, Dave, and his wife Lois Hart, anchored the very first CNN news broadcast, and continued with CNN for eight years, anchoring prime time newscasts as well as a two hour interview program, "Take Two." In 1989, Dave joined CNBC, where he inaugurated the first CNBC newscast and anchored "CNBC Mornings," "Money Wheel" and "America's Vital Signs."

Dave moved back to Sacramento and to KCRA 3. His news coverage highlights of his KCRA 3 years include live coverage of the Oakland Hills fires in 1991, the Sacramento flooding in 1997 and the OJ Simpson verdict in Los Angeles. Dave and Lois celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary on June 2, 2005.

Dave retired from KCRA 3 in November 2008.