MSNBC.com Adds New Markets Sub-Section…

MSNBC.com has launced a new stock market sub-section. What’s interesting here is that this is another step away from CNBC.com. Instead of the two getting closer, in order to enable cross branding and marketing opportunities, this drives the two further apart.

MSNBC.com’s Executive Business Editor Martin Wolk explains the change…

To be quite honest, this change is long overdue. Msnbc.com users depend on us for the latest business news and deserve an easy way to track and research companies and investment ideas. With this new feature we take a major step toward a more complete integration of news and stock information.

Data for the new stock quote pages come from Interactive Data Corp., a leading provider of financial information to institutions and investors, which worked with msnbc.com to create the customized offering.

FBN teams with Tennis Channel for U.S. Open…

FBN announced it will be doing updates for the Tennis Channel during the U.S. Open and vise versa…(via Talking Biz News)

FOX Business Network (FBN) and the Tennis Channel have agreed to bring viewers daily updates of market and courtside action during the U.S. Open, announced Kevin Magee, Executive Vice President, FOX News.

Starting August 31, FBN and the Tennis Channel will exchange a daily update, giving viewers on each network access to all the action that takes place both on Wall Street and on the courts at Flushing Meadows. Monday through Friday, FBN’s Money For Breakfast will feature the Court Report with recaps from the previous day’s US Open matches. The Tennis Channel will break into US Open coverage at market close to give viewers the FOX Business Network Update, a summary of all the market moves from the day.

In making the announcement, Magee said “This is the first time the Tennis Channel is covering the Open and we’re excited to be there with them.”

Robin Meade Interview

The New York Daily News’ Richard Huff interviews HLN’s Robin Meade…

Robin Meade comes off as a happy-go-lucky, confident anchor on HLN’s daily “Morning Express.”

But not so long ago, she suffered from near-crippling anxiety and self-doubt that almost sidelined her career.

“I dealt with it for two years before I got help,” says Meade, who documents her battle with anxiety in a new book, “Morning Sunshine! How to Radiate Confidence and Feel it Too,” out Sept. 10 from Center Street books.

Free for All: 08/31/09

What’s on your mind?

Rating Afghanistan Reporters: Update…

Following up on this, Stars and Stripes’ Kevin Baron writes that the Pentagon is canceling the ctonract with the Redon Group. Redon was producing reports on reporters covering Afghanistan…

The U.S. military is canceling its contract with a controversial private firm that was producing background profiles of journalists seeking to cover the war that graded their past work as “positive,” “negative” or “neutral,” Stars and Stripes has learned.

“The Bagram Regional Contracting Center intends to execute a termination of the Media Analyst contract,” belonging to The Rendon Group, said Col. Wayne Shanks, chief of public affairs for International Security Assistance Forces–Afghanistan.

The announcement follows a week of revelations by Stars and Stripes in which military public affairs officers who served in Afghanistan said that as recently as 2008 they had used reporter profiles compiled by The Rendon Group, a private public relations firm in Washington, D.C., to decide whether to grant permission to embed with troops on the battlefield.

What’s Hot/What’s Not: 08/30/09

What’s Hot:

Ted Kennedy – Kennedy’s death pushed just about everything else to the side the last half of the week.

Beck tops O’Reilly – Like him or not, the fact that Beck had bigger numbers than O’Reilly one day this week is no small achievement…

What’s Not:

FNC’s early morning Kennedy coverage – Not what should be expected from the cable news leader.

Non-business news pandering – FBN interrupting its business coverage to talk about Michael Jackson’s autopsy results with a forensic pathologist raises serious questions about the network’s dedication to business news.

Ratings spat – Olbermann and O’Reilly went at it again this week. This time over who has the most young viewers.

Hyperventilating – Too many commenters threw objectivity out the window when covering Kennedy’s death. This applies to both those who agreed with the Senator and those who didn’t.

Cash Cow? or Beached Whale? – The ruckus over Beck advertisers taking their money elsewhere continued to get played up. Problem is that money didn’t leave FNC. Just Beck.

Previewing O’Reilly’s next line of GE attack..

The Washington Examiner’s Timothy P. Carey gives Bill O’Reilly an early X-mas Christmas present. O’Reilly will have a field day with this. And for a change, he’ll actually be on somewhat solid ground… (via The Cable Game)

“The intersection between GE’s interests and government action is clearer than ever,” General Electric Vice Chairman John G. Rice wrote in an Aug. 19 e-mail to colleagues.

Rice was calling on his co-workers to join the General Electric Political Action Committee. “GEPAC is an important tool that enables GE employees to collectively help support candidates who share the values and goals of GE.”

The full letter suggests that “share the values and goals of GE” really means “support policies that profit the company.”

Steve Milloy, a pro-free market investor at the Free Enterprise Action Fund, obtained this e-mail and says it reveals General Electric for what it really is. “GE is lobbying to become the biggest rent seeker this country has ever seen,” Milloy told this column. Rent seeking is using government legislation or regulation to generate private profits the free market wouldn’t provide.

Kennedy Funeral: Your Reactions…

Post your reactions to the Kennedy funeral and the coverage thereof, including any outrageous/ridiculous comments, here…

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 Sunday night…

The Hazards of Live TV# 25,016

If you’re going to create an acronym out of thin air, the least you could do is spell it right…

Kennedy Funeral: MSNBC Coverage Plans…

MSNBC announced its coverage plans for the Kennedy funeral…

THE NETWORKS OF NBC NEWS TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY SERVICES

New York, N.Y. – Aug. 28, 2009 – The networks of NBC News will provide extensive coverage of the services for Senator Edward Kennedy leading into Saturday’s funeral.

Tonight, MSNBC will present live coverage of the Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Sen. Kennedy, anchored by Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow, 6-10 p.m. ET. At 10 p.m. ET, MSNBC will present an encore telecast of “The Kennedy Brothers: A Hardball Documentary,” followed by “Headliners & Legends: Ted Kennedy” at 11 p.m. ET. MSNBC will also have special editions of “The Ed Show” live at 4 p.m. ET and “Hardball with Chris Matthews” at 5 p.m. ET.

Beginning Saturday at 10 AM, NBC News will offer live coverage of the funeral services anchored by Brian Williams. Coverage will continue at 5:30 PM with the burial service at Arlington Cemetery. Both broadcast will have reports from Andrea Mitchell, Anne Thompson, Kelly O’Donnell, Lester Holt, Mike Taibbi, Mike Viqueira, Norah O’Donnell, and Savannah Guthrie

MSNBC begins coverage Saturday at 8 a.m. ET with a special edition of “Morning Joe” hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews will anchor coverage of the funeral services, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. At 2 p.m. ET MSNBC will re-air “The Kennedy Brothers: A Hardball Documentary,” followed by coverage of the burial at Arlington National Cemetery, 3-6 p.m. ET.

Free for All: 08/28/09

What’s on your mind?

The case for covering kidnappings ad nauseum…

We like to complain about cable news pandering to missing person’s stories but tonight there’s a perfect example of why this happens. Tonight an 18 year old kidnapping case resurfaced when Jaycee Lee Dugard who was kidnapped at age 11 was found alive. It’s stories like this that gives hope to kidnap families all over. I have to admit it made me do some thinking on all the cases that we’ve seen on cable news where the kidnapped victim hasn’t been found. Yes, this is really the exceptioin and not the rule for missing person’s cases. But it makes me want to rethink my criticisms of what we had in the past considered pandering to a story…

Numbers Game…

TVNewser has leaked ratings numbers for the Kennedy coverage Tuesday night/Wednesday morning (depending on which coast you live on). I’ll leave it to you to guess who leaked it. Here’s what’s interesting; the numbers are highly restricted to a short time span 1:28-2am ET. I wonder why that is? The networks really didn’t get their acts going until after 2am. Indeed, FNC wasn’t even covering the story full time until well after 2am and CNN was a CNN International simulcast from CNNI’s studios. So when I see ratings for a time period that’s very restrictive like this one is, I get suspicious and start asking questions such as would a longer time, such as a 1:28-3:28 sample, yield different results? Probably not in finishing order but maybe in the amounts and gaps.

Kennedy Memorial: CNN Coverage Plans…

CNN announced its plans to cover the Kennedy Memorial…

CNN Plans Special Coverage of Sen. Ted Kennedy Memorial Events

Lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer, along with Campbell Brown, Anderson Cooper and John King, will lead Ted Kennedy Remembered, CNN’s special coverage of the events commemorating Sen. Ted Kennedy’s life and legacy. In addition to bringing viewers inside the memorial events, the programming will include memories and commentary from friends and family of Sen. Kennedy, as well as from members of the Best Political Team on Television.

On Friday, Aug. 28, starting at 7 p.m., Blitzer and Brown will anchor coverage of the Celebration of Life Memorial Service, taking place at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Dorchester, Mass. Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, Blitzer and Cooper will anchor programming of Sen. Kennedy’s funeral at The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston. Chief national correspondent John King will be on the ground providing perspective and insight from both events. The coverage continues Saturday at 4 p.m., when Sen. Kennedy will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, near the final resting spots of his brothers Robert Kennedy and President John F. Kennedy.

In addition to the special coverage, CNN’s regular programming will devote time to covering news related to the memorials of Sen. Kennedy. Today, CNN programs will air parts of the motorcade procession bringing Sen. Kennedy’s casket from Hyannis Port to the JFK Presidential Library & Museum, where he will lie in repose. The network also will provide coverage of the public wake tonight and Friday as crowds gather to say farewell to the senator. Viewers also can tune in to CNN throughout the day Saturday for updates as Sen. Kennedy’s casket makes its way from Boston to his final resting place overlooking Washington.

Kennedy Coverage: Your reactions…

Post your reactions to today’s coverage of the Kennedy procession and the coverage thereof here…

Free for All: 08/27/09

What’s on your mind?

Rating Afghanistan Reporters?

Stars and Stripes Charlie Reed, Kevin Baron and Leo Shane III have a story about the Pentagon rating reporters that cover Afghanistan…

The new revelations of the Pentagon’s attempts to shape war coverage come as senior Defense Department officials are acknowledging increasing concern over recent opinion polls showing declining popular American support for the Afghan war.

“The purpose of this memo is to provide an assessment of [a reporter from a major U.S. newspaper] … in order to gauge the expected sentiment of his work while on an embed mission in Afghanistan,” reads the preamble to one of the reporter profiles prepared for the Pentagon by The Rendon Group, a controversial Washington-based public relations firm.

Stars and Stripes reported on Monday that the Pentagon was screening reporters embedding with U.S. forces to determine whether their past coverage had portrayed the military in a positive light. The story included denials by U.S. military officials that they were using the reporters’ profiles to determine whether to approve embed requests.

MSNBC taped multiple endings to its Kennedy Brothers Doc?

From a very eagle eyed emailer.

I just watched the Hardball Doc. on the Kennedy brothers – which was very good.

I noticed something strange at the end.

Chris was on the DC MSNBC set ending the doc – with a line about how “The four Kennedy brothers died in the service of our country.” He then went on to note that Ted Kennedy died while fighting for healthcare.

So what… right?

Chris was on the DC set for this taped outro.

Chris was in New York today – and has been there all week.

Not a surprise that they would have the show ready in the eventuality of his death… but still somewhat strange that Chris had to tape a set piece referring to the senator in the past tense… even though when it was taped – he was still alive.

CNN.com’s Kennedy Web Section…

CNN is noting its section on the web dedicated to Kennedy…

On CNN.com, online users can access a robust special section detailing the life and legacy of Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy. Located at www.cnn.com/Kennedy, the special includes:

* Rare photos from childhood through his adult years
* An interactive timeline of his life
* Numerous videos of Senator Kennedy’s triumphs and trials
* In-depth articles and stories about his final days

The special also features reactions from world leaders and personal commentaries from those with special insight into the Kennedy family to include the following:

Ted Sorenson, special counsel and adviser to former President John F. Kennedy

Kennedy: MSNBC Programming Notes…

MSNBC’s schedule for tonight…

All times Eastern:

5 p.m. “Hardball with Chris Matthews” (live)
6 p.m. “The Ed Show” (live)
7 p.m. “Hardball with Chris Matthews” (live)
8 p.m. “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” (live)
9 p.m. “The Kennedy Brothers: A Hardball Documentary”
10 p.m. “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” (repeat)
11 p.m. “Headliners and Legends: Ted Kennedy”

“The Kennedy Brothers: A Hardball Documentary,” tonight at 9 p.m. ET; it will also air as scheduled tomorrow, Thursday Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. ET.

Imus Leaving RFD-TV…

The New York Times’ Brian Stelter writes that Don Imus announced he’s leaving RFD-TV…

Clearing the way for the Fox Business Network to simulcast his radio show, Don Imus said Wednesday that he was leaving RFD-TV, the rural television network that has shown “Imus in the Morning” for almost two years.

RFD will carry his show for the final time on Friday.

Kennedy: Outrageous Comments…

This was a suggestion from a commenter. Post any outrageous/ridiculous comments being made today by talking heads in regards to Ted Kennedy’s death here…

Kennedy: CNN Coverage Notes…

From CNN…

Throughout the day, CNN lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer joins regular, dayside programming from Washington D.C. with interviews and reports about the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy. From politicians to long-time friends of Sen. Kennedy, CNN will have reaction from across the country and, in fact, the world. Guests include former Sen. Birch Bayh (D-IN), President Jimmy Carter, former Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN.), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I- CT), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ.) Theodore Sorenson, former adviser to President John F. Kennedy, former Sen. John Warner (R- Va.) and more.

Contributing to the coverage will be senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash, senior political correspondent Candy Crowley, chief national correspondent John King, as well as other members of the Best Political Team on Television who have collectively covered Sen. Kennedy throughout his career.

Following The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (4 p.m. – 7 p.m.), Blitzer will hand over coverage to CNN anchor Campbell Brown, who will introduce the HBO documentary Teddy: In His Own Words tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The two-hour documentary spans Senator Edward Moore “Teddy” Kennedy’s childhood to his stirring speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver one year ago. Larry King Live and Anderson Cooper 360º will follow, reporting heavily on Sen. Kennedy’s death, as well as other important news of the day.

Kennedy: FNC coverage Notes…

The Boston Phoenix’s Adam Reilly looks at FNC’s early morning coverage of Kennedy’s death… (via J$)

Just watched the start of Fox News’s 9 AM newscast, which was (as you’d expect) devoted to Ted Kennedy’s death–and I was pleasantly surprised at how ideologically neutral Fox’s handling of this story was.

The top-of-the-hour coverage lasted 13 minutes, and Chappaquiddick–which, as the Globe notes today, is a key point in the arc of Kennedy’s life and career–didn’t come up until minute 9. Somewhere around the 5-minute mark, meanwhile, Fox’s Megyn Kelly pointedly noted how many pieces of legislation carry Kennedy’s imprint, likely unbeknownst to many Fox viewers, citing the Family and Medical Leave Act as an example. Kennedy’s commitment to civil rights was prominently noted, too, as was the massive psychological burden created by the deaths of his three older brothers.

Mediaite’s Steve Krakauer looks at the differences in coverage between FNC and the other networks…

To be fair, FNC launched its morning program 40 minutes early, and spent the time covering the death of Kennedy. But it was the only network that seemed antsy to get to other news. The town hall coverage, in Fox News’ usual protester-supporting way, was the top story on Fox & Friends. Interestingly, during America’s Newsroom which followed at 9amET, the program devoted the same 12 minute opening to Kennedy, before moving to other stories and leaving Kennedy coverage behind entirely.

Meanwhile, in regards to last night’s commercial-a-thon coverage on the network, an FNC insider emails in the following missive…

The Kennedy coverage sounded like a disaster last night… here is the really, really funny thing…

FOX Business will kill commercial breaks for no apparent reason with no breaking news in sight. Poor producing is usually the cause.

But FOX News will not kill a commercial break (on an overnight) for a legitimate breaking news story?

Ed Schultz covers Kennedy?

Wow. MSNBC is putting Ed Schultz on at 11 to cover Kennedy. Interesting move. Schultz’s 6pm program numbers have been horrid so this must be an attempt to grab some eyeballs. It’s not like Schultz has any serious experience at MSNBC anchoring major coverage. I would prefer a news anchor though. Putting an avowed liberal talking head on to anchor a straight news story just irks me…

Free for All: 08/26/09

What’s on your mind?

Live Blogging: Senator Ted Kennedy Passes Away…

I don’t know who was first but all the nets have been covering the passing of Ted Kennedy tonight. CNN was simulcasting CNN International at first but then switched over to CNN US with John Roberts picking up the coverage. MSNBC has Christina Brown anchoring its coverage with Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw phoning in. FNC had Ainsley Earhardt anchoring the coverage but the network has inexplicably dropped coverage in favor of joining a Glenn Beck repeat in progress…

Update: According to tweets from the New York Times’ Brian Stelter, FNC was late to live coverage first starting with a ticker and then after going live re-running a canned obit.

Update 2: FNC is back from tape covering it again. What is it with this network and late night breaking news? It did something similar with the Continental/Colgan plane crash in Buffalo earlier this year.

Update 3: FNC is back to Beck again. CNN and MSNBC still live.

Update 4: CNN has a live shot of Hyannis Port, Massachusetts in a split screen. But nothing’s happening…

Update 5: FNC come out of tape again with Earhardt talking to Fred Barnes. We should start a drinking game. Take a drink whenever FNC goes back to tape. On second thought, I don’t have that much booze. Seriously though, this network is supposed to be the #1 cable news network. It’s a major disservice to its viewers to abuse them this way. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that some tuned to other networks for coverage. The network is displaying “America’s News HQ” in its lower thirds. Considering what’s been going on, it’s a hollow boast.

Update 6: MSNBC has Keith Olbermann phoning in. David Gregory is also phoning in.

Update 7: FNC goes to commercial “we’re going to gather our thoughts” as Ainsley Earhardt said. Ooookay. An emailer sends this in…

FNC seems the least prepared for this, once the news broke MSNBC and CNN via CNN International have been live. FNC did quick 2 to 10min reports at 1:30am, 2am and 2:30am then went back to tape. The did not go with full live coverage till 2:50am.

FNC returned from commercial and Earhardt read a statement from Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger and then said this…

I’m going to be talking with the control room because we are flying by the seat of our pants. Rick where are we going next?

An emailer writes…

Team Play?

I saw this when it happened last Friday on HBO and, frankly, I take Todd’s side on this story. But what I found interesting was Scahill appeared on MSNBC yesterday to talk about the release of the report on CIA Interrogations. Scahill tries to embarass Todd Friday, MSNBC put Scahill on the air Monday. Todd must’ve rolled his eyes at that development…

Sanchez vs. Coburn…

It’s a slow news day so I’m putting this up for comment…