John King to 7pm…

Howard Kurtz Tweets that John King will be taking over the 7pm slot vacated by Lou Dobbs…

John King is the new Lou dobbs at 7. Magic wall goes prime time

Free for All: 11/12/09

What’s on your mind?

Fireworks on Larry King?

I don’t know but Larry King having a controversial moment on the air is like…um…Mister Rogers getting angry. Nonetheless, it happened last night…

Fox Business Online’s Sponsor Search…

MediaPost’s David Goetzl writes about FBN’s online show and its search for sponsors…

When the Fox Business Network (FBN) launched an online news/ commentary show in February, it did so without a sponsor.

“We wanted to make sure that we had something tangible to discuss [with advertisers] versus just an idea,” said Jeremy Steinberg, head of sales for FBN and Fox News Channel’s digital operations.

The strategy appears to have worked. FBN began weaving ads into its live online shows this quarter. Chase is on board as an advertiser for the lunchtime “FoxBusiness.com Live — Noon Edition” — an hour-long show with anchors and guest commentators, in line with the network’s on-air product, although it does encourage viewer interaction.

Dobbs: Replacements…

Now that Lou Dobbs has quit CNN the question turns to who will take over at 7pm. Here’s a list of notable contenders that could get the gig…

Roland Martin – Pros: Has filled in for Campbell Brown on several occasions and has featured prominently on CNN Primetime. Cons: Numbers for Martin during those fill ins would be generously characterized as less than stellar. However that was Brown’s show in Brown’s format. A Martin show might look decidedly different. Another con would be Martin is, rightly or wrongly, viewed as as more of a CNN pundit by many despite his journalism background and putting him on could appear to fly in the face of the “hard news” reputation CNN has been trying to forcefully push, which in a way led to Dobbs leaving in the first place. Odds: 5-1

Rick Sanchez – Pros: Established something of a muckraker reputation at CNN with a bravura style. His filling in for Campbell Brown prior to her show’s debut and the resultant buzz created is believed by many to have directly led to Sanchez landing the 3pm gig on CNN Dayside. Cons: May be too opinionated to fit in with the CNN “hard news” directive for primetime. Odds: 7-1

Ali Velshi – The dark horse. Pros: Straight news rep devoid of controversy. Considered by some to be an under the radar CNN “project” – slowly being groomed internally for something bigger at the network. Cons: May not be a big enough name for 7pm. May be too soon to make the jump. Odds: 25-1

Wolf Blitzer – This would be an expansion of The Situation Room. Pros: Blitzer is an established name and another hour of The Situation Room might not be a bad thing. Alternatively, The Situation Room could slide back an hour, opening up another hour of CNN Newsroom. Cons: Moving The Situation Room or adding another hour to the show robs the network of establishing another talent and brand. Odds: 50-1.

Update: We won’t have to wait long to find out apparently. According to this Brian Stelter Tweet, Bill Carter is reporting that a replacement will be announced tomorrow morning…

Dobbs: More Information…

The New York Times’ Brian Stelter and Bill Carter write about Lou Dobbs’ resignation from CNN…

Months ago the president of CNN/U.S., Jonathan Klein, spelled out two options for Lou Dobbs, the channel’s most outspoken anchor. Mr. Dobbs could vent his opinions on radio and anchor an objective newscast on television, or he could leave CNN altogether.

On Wednesday Mr. Dobbs made his decision: He chose opinion.

Mr. Dobbs told viewers that he was resigning from his CNN job immediately. Sitting before an image of an American flag on his studio set, he said “some leaders in media, politics and business have been urging me to go beyond the role here at CNN and to engage in constructive problem solving as well as to contribute positively to the great understanding of the issues of our day.”

Tweet of the Day…

Sanchez, again…

cnn wins again yesterday at three, that’s two in a row. it’s a start huh? lol

MSNBC Dayside Changes?

TVNewser reports that Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan may get split in half with an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. Does that mean the show will be called “Afternoon Meeting”? and will it need a new graphics package to go with it?

Meanwhile I’d really love to see the numbers for Dr. Nancy Snyderman’s show. The last numbers leak of MSNBC’s 9-1pm block revealed it to be the lowest performer of all of the June 30th launched programs. If it’s still the lowest performer and Ratigan’s show is halved, it means that, with Carlos Watson’s show getting canned already, that all the higher rated programs have been tinkered with. Which is a wierd way of addressing the situation – tinkering with the higher rated shows first.

The other shoe in this whole idea is the notion that the Shuster/Hall pairing isn’t untouchable since one of their two hours would be affected if Ratigan’s show got halved.

Press Releases: 11/11/09

MSNBC (1)

MSNBC.COM TO PROVIDE UNPARALLELED COVERAGE OF AMERICAN STIMULUS FUNDS AT WORK

Msnbc.com Utilizes Onvia’s Industry Leading Recovery Data

REDMOND, Wash. – November 11, 2009 – Msnbc.com and Onvia are partnering to open a window into the world of stimulus funding. Consumers can go to stimulustracker.msnbc.com, a visually compelling and interactive destination, and search American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) spending data in real-time based on geography, state, county and city. Consumers can also search based on the status of projects as allocated, advertised or awarded. Powered by Onvia, the information is the most comprehensive, accurate and timely data on stimulus spending available. In addition to the interactive map, there is an analysis of ARRA spending progression and specific details for top projects by cost, geography and spending category.

“Msnbc.com’s stimulus tracker lets consumers track billions of dollars of recovery act contracts with a visually rich map at the national, state and county level,” said Jim Ray, Studio development team manager at msnbc.com. “We’ll continue to expand on our data to include the recently released data from the federal government as well as new layers of relevant data over the coming weeks and months until all of the recovery act money has been spent.”

Lou Dobbs to Quit CNN…

Yes, I’m late to this. My wireless N USB dongle blew up this afternoon and I had to get a replacement…a replacement I’m not happy with as the bandwidth is ridiculously low. So that’s why the blog’s been quiet this afternoon/evening. The New York Times’ Brian Stelter writes that Lou Dobbs is leaving CNN “effective immediately”…

Lou Dobbs, the longtime CNN anchor whose anti-immigration views have made him a TV lightning rod, plans to announce Wednesday that he is leaving the network effective immediately, two network employees said.

A CNN executive confirmed that Mr. Dobbs will announce his resignation plans on his 7 p.m. program, “Lou Dobbs Tonight.” Wednesday’s program will be his last on CNN, according to one of the employees. His contract was not set to expire until the end of 2011.

Update: Video…

“I’m the last of the original anchors at CNN”?

Um…except when he quit to head up a space website…

Free for All: 11/11/09

What’s on your mind?

Olbermann’s Disappearing Three Fingered Prejean Salute…

Mediaite’s Tommy Christopher notes that Keith Olbermann gave Carrie Prejean a three fingered salute last night on Countdown, a moment not captured on the MSNBC version of the video. For those who don’t know what a three fingered salute stands for in some circles…well…there is Google…

Here’s the segment. Keith’s salute is at the very end, and doesn’t appear in MSNBC’s version of the clip:

The gesture is either a fairly obvious attempt at shock humor, or an accidental one. Given MSNBC’s history of thinly-veiled entendre, and the context here, I’d say it’s the former. It’s ironic that he uses a Girl Scout salute as the fig leaf since, unlike the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl scouts don’t discriminate against gay people.

CNN’s Brand…

The AP’s David Bauder writes about CNN’s branding and its primetime ratings issues. Note that Jim Walton steps to the plate to handle CNN’s response and not Jonathan Klein. Given that Walton is saying pretty much what Klein has been saying, could this be a very subtle public vote of confidence in Klein?

CNN has built its business — encompassing international networks and wholesale news reports, mobile device services, a Web site, a wire service to print publications and radio — around the notion that it is delivering nonpartisan, straight news reporting, he said. The company has shown double-digit growth for the past few years and is on pace to continue. It invests by hiring more personnel, and this month opening a new production facility in Abu Dhabi.

“People hear what’s being said and it’s branded CNN and (they say), `OK, that’s news. That’s nonpartisan, that’s factual, it’s timely,” Walton said. “That’s what we want to deliver around the world. We compete against a lot more than Fox and MSNBC.”

The rising fortunes of HLN means the company makes money off opinion, too. One of the reasons that network’s name was changed from CNN Headline News was to avoid having CNN’s name associated with that type of programming.

Of the flagship network’s sagging fortunes, Walton said, “It matters to us. Trust me, it matters. We want all of our networks to grow their audiences. But the fact is, (CNN) is a vibrant, healthy company that’s growing in an industry where we’re pretty much one of one.”

Nicole Petallides Profile…

NEO Magazine’s Dimitri C. Michalakis profiles FBN’s Nicole Petallides…(via J$)

“I have a long resume,” she says, “but I really love working at FOX, because there’s something for everybody on this channel. It’s smart enough for people who are really in tune to the jargon and the inside scoop of the market, and it also presents information in a great useful way for folks who are less business savvy: It’s fun, it’s smart, it’s not demeaning. We’re never talking at you, I’m talking to you. I’m telling you what I’m hearing. It’s an exciting place to be and I love it.”

FOX also has a leg up on the competition because it is the only media outlet with a booth on the trading floor.

“FOX was so smart to have their booth on the floor,” she says, “the first booth ever on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. I’m actually sandwiched between two trading booths! The other media, NBC, Bloomberg, CNN, they’re all up on top on the balconies. FOX Business is different—I sit on the floor all day–right here, where traders are running by and yelling, ‘I’m buying EXXON! I’m selling Citigroup!’ And I’m standing here and I can quickly plug in the stock to see what’s going on. I can talk to these guys, and get it first on FOX and that’s an advantage.”

Jeff Zucker Lives?

Reuters’ Jui Chakravorty is reporting rumors that Jeff Zucker will head the new NBC Universal joint venture between Comcast and GE…

Under the terms being discussed, Zucker will lead the new entity, with no clauses for him to leave after a specific period, the sources said on Tuesday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the details have not been made public.

Comcast declined comment. NBC did not return calls seeking comment.

Tweets of the Day…

Rich Sanchez:

hey just looked at ratings. we beat fox news and msnbc. we won, yeah. way to go twitter show at three. only cnn win again.

And this…

you know why i think were winning, telling the truth about congress on the take. following the money. those guys don’t seem to give a damn.

Free for All: 11/10/09

11…10…9…What’s on your mind?

Marc Lamont Hill back on FNC? Does Rupert Murdoch Know?

Ok, what are we to make of this tweet from Mary Katherine Ham…(via J$)

On @oreillyfactor with @marclamonthill (Juan’s out) at 8ish, talking Iran and Obama. Tune in to see us!

After Hill’s very public “firing” by Rupert Murdoch no less, seeing Hill back on FNC this soon is rather odd. I mean there isn’t even a wind chill in Hades yet…

Buffett-Mania…

Hmmm…in the ever escalating war for Warren Buffett airtime, CNBC strikes the latest blow. Next it will be FBN’s turn to one up that…

CNBC PRESENTS A SPECIAL TOWN HALL EVENT: “WARREN BUFFETT AND BILL GATES: KEEPING AMERICA GREAT” ON NOVEMBER 12TH AT 9PM ET/PT

Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, Two of the Most Successful Men in Business, Take Questions From The Next Generation of Business Leaders

Moderated by CNBC’s Becky Quick From Columbia Business School in New York City

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., November 9, 2009- They are American icons, Champions of Capitalism and the embodiment of the American Dream. Two self-made billionaires – one redefined an industry and the other the modern investor.

On Thursday, November 12th at 9PM ET/PT, from Columbia Business School in New York City, CNBC brings together two of the most successful men in business – Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (and Columbia Business School alumnus), and Bill Gates, Chairman Microsoft Corp. and Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – for a special town hall event. Columbia Business School’s best and brightest minds have a chance to ask whatever they’d like of the two greatest capitalists of our generation.

Murdoch: Beck was right!

If this soundbite isn’t already tearing it up across the internet, it soon will be. The Business Insider’s Jay Yarrow writes about Rupert Murdoch making comments on Sky News regarding Glenn Beck’s “racist” remark…

At the 18:04, the interviewer says “Glenn Beck who you mentioned has called Barack Obama a racist, and he helped organize a protest against him and others on Fox have likened him (Obama) to Stalin is that…”

Murdoch’s reponse:

“No, no, no, not Stalin, I don’t think, not one of our people.

“On the racist thing, that caused a (unintelligible–grilling?). But he (Obama) did make a very racist comment. Ahhh..about, you know, blacks and whites and so on, which he said in his campaign he would be completely above. And um, that was something which perhaps shouldn’t have been said about the President, but if you actually assess what he was talking about, he was right.”

Free for All: 11/09/09

What’s on your mind?

FNC’s Web Video Strategy…

AdWeek’s Mike Shields writes about FNC’s web video strategy after the success of the Strategy Room…

While video clips have been a staple of news sites for four years, live Web video has been fairly limited. ABC News has long produced a short daily original Webcast. In 2005, CNN launched a subscription-based live video product Pipeline, only to relaunch it in ‘07 as the free CNN.com Live, which blends some original programming with live feeds of Congressional subcommittees and breaking news. In the past year, CBSNews.com has introduced a handful of live shows, including the weekly political roundtable Washington Unplugged — which was also born out of success in live programming during last year’s election. Recently, The Wall Street Journal rolled out a daily live news show.

But few media companies have taken as big a leap as Fox has with Strategy Room, which has a fully programmed lineup, including a regular entertainment show, a health series and a business hour.

“We’ve spent the last 12 months playing with the schedule to see what people are interested in,” says Fox News’ digital vp Jeff Misenti in an interview in his office, down the hall from the Strategy Room sets. “With our audience, they’re always interested in politics. But they’re not interested in nine hours of it.”

Viewers are interested in watching live content, particularly at work. The audience for Strategy Room isn’t huge, but it is consistent. In September the network averaged 28,000 viewers per day, peaking at 38,000. Viewership spikes around midday, tailing off near 4 p.m. “There have been two surprising things for me,” says Misenti. “The number of people that watch these things for more than 15 minutes is impressive. The other thing we’ve found that is very interesting is, people do want to interact with the program. More than you’d think.”

Press Releases: 11/09/09

MSNBC (1)

Starbucks Introduces Gold Coast Blend®: Morning Joe Edition

to Encourage Community Involvement

Starbucks and MSNBC Co-Sponsor Brewing Together Day of Service —

the Next Step in the Partnership That was Formed to Include a Focus on Community Involvement.

SEATTLE, Nov. 9, 2009 – Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) announced today that it has introduced an updated consumer favorite packaged coffee – Gold Coast Blend® renamed Gold Coast Blend®: Morning Joe Edition – in grocery and mass market retail channels. The introduction of this updated coffee is the next step in the partnership between Starbucks Coffee Company and MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” announced earlier this year, and gives consumers a chance to experience a nice bold cup of coffee and learn more about taking steps to make a greater impact in their own communities. Starbucks and MSNBC are both committed to volunteering and giving back to local communities and believe that by working together with local volunteers, they can make an even bigger impact in neighborhoods from coast-to-coast.

What’s Hot/What’s Not: 11/08/09

What’s Hot:

Fort Hood Massacre – It dominated the news coverage the latter half of the week as the nets went wall to wall covering the mass shooting at Fort Hood…

White House muzzling Democrat consultants off FNC? – This story sprang up and was quickly doused by the White House. But is the story really over or will we hear more?

What’s Not:

2009 Election – While it generated ratings for some (FNC) and not so much for others (CNN), the Emperor was scantily clad as there wasn’t really a lot to report since only a smattering of races were being covered. The nets overhyped an event that wasn’t that important nationally, no matter what they say…

You win, no, we take it back… – MSNBC through a series of mistakes was put in the unfortunate position of having to recall a prediction of a Mike Bloomberg win only to re-predict the win later on.

Tunnel Vision – When one accuses another of tunnel vision, one should make sure they aren’t suffering from their own case of tunnel vision.

Impending Fireworks on Morning Meeting?

World Net Daily notes that P. David Gaubitz will be appearing on Morning Meeting this morning at 9:10 am. Yikes! I just cited World Net Daily…

P. David Gaubatz, co-author of “Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That’s Conspiring to Islamize America,” will be a guest on MSNBC’s “Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan” Monday at 9:10 a.m. Eastern time.

Julie Banderas Interview…

Whom You Know’s Peachy Deegan interviews Julie Banderas…(via J$)

(quoted passage removed at the request of the author)

Tunnel Vision…

NewsBusters’ Noel Sheppard notes that Rachel Maddow issued an apology for saying there’s no preamble to the Constitution…

As NewsBusters reported, Maddow on Thursday ridiculed House minority leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) for claiming during that day’s “House Call” rally the historic phrase “We hold these truths to be self-evident” came from the Preamble to the Constitution.

In so doing, Maddow gaffed herself by claiming there isn’t a Preamble to the Constitution.

This is why nobody outside of ideologues takes NewsBusters at face value any more than they take News Hounds at face value. Or AIM. Or Media Matters. Or the MRC. All Sheppard is concerned with is Maddow’s gaffe. He isn’t at all concerned with Boehner looking like a doofus for quoting the Declaration of Independence while holding up a copy of the Constitution and incorrectly attributing the quote to that document. Boehner more than deserved ridicule, just not the ridicule Maddow gave him.

Retratction: Ok, I blew it. I didn’t see Sheppard’s piece on noting it came from the Declaration of Independence. For the life of me I don’t know how I missed it since I read that article several times looking for it. Guess I had my own case of tunnel vision. In any case I owe both Sheppard and NewsBusters an apology.

Press Releases: 11/07/09

CNN (1)

INSIDE THE FT. HOOD SHOOTINGS – A CNN Special Investigation

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 – 8pmET (LIVE) & 11pmET (REPLAY)
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 – 2amET (REPLAY)

A one-hour live special anchored by Don Lemon in the CNN Newsroom in Atlanta, with on-site reporting from Ft. Hood by CNN national correspondent David Mattingly and CNN investigative correspondent Drew Griffin.

What’s Hot/What’s Not: Submissions…

Post your nominations for this week’s What’s Hot/What’s Not. I’ll post the finalists on Monday morning…

Comcast GE Deal Close…

CNBC’s David Faber wrote yesterday on CNBC.com that a proposed sale of 51% of NBC Universal to Comcast is very close to fruition…(via TVNewser)

General Electric and Comcast are now expected to announce a deal over GE’s NBC Universal unit on Nov. 16, not next week as originally thought, people familiar with the situation told CNBC.

Talks between the two companies are said to be on track and closing in on a deal, under which GE — parent of CNBC and CNBC.com— will shed 51 percent of NBC Universal to Comcast and hold the remaining 49 percent.