Atia Abawi Interview…

FishbowlDC interviews CNN’s Afghanistan based reporter Atia Abawi…

Have you witnessed a change of attitude in Afghanistan since President Obama took office?

There was a renewed sense of hope in March of this year but marred by the deadliest summer in history the history of this war and the Afghan presidential election, that is quickly fading. Additionally, the Taliban are playing a good game of propaganda while preaching from village to village. The Afghan people are skeptical but don’t who to trust.

What is one thing you’d like to share with other members of the media?

On the ground, one thing is clear — when the media turns its attention to Afghanistan, the situation begins to improve. Afghanistan would be different now had much of the media not gone away in 2004.

Eric Burns vs. Glenn Beck?

Former Fox News Watch host Eric Burns writes on the Huffington Post about Glenn Beck. This ought to get interesting to see what wing of FNC gives Burns the smackdown…

I speak out now because it is the time of year when one is supposed to count blessings. I have several. Among them is that I do not have to face the ethical problem of sharing an employer with Glenn Beck.

Actually, Beck is a problem of taste as well as ethics. He laughs and cries; he pouts and giggles; he makes funny faces and grins like a cartoon character; he makes earnest faces yet insists he is a clown; he cavorts like a victim of St. Vitus’s Dance. His means of communicating are, in other words, so wide-ranging as to suggest derangement as much as versatility.

He is Huey Long without the political office.

He is Father Coughlin without the dour expression.

He is John Birch without the Society.

He is an embarrassment to all true conservatives, men and women who believe sincerely, thoughtfully and sensibly that the role of government in American life should be limited.

Lou Dobbs: Me talk to CNBC? Never!

The Huffington Post’s Danny Shea writes about Lou Dobbs phoning in to Imus on FBN and pissing all over Brian Stelter’s story that he had been talking with CNBC…

The morning after CNBC said they would not hire Lou Dobbs, Dobbs phoned in to Fox Business’ “Imus in the Morning” and denied reports that he ever had conversations with the network.

Dobbs said “absolutely not” when asked if he had talks with CNBC.

“I have no idea where they even got that,” Dobbs said when Imus asked if he was going to CNBC. “I’m sitting here in Florida in our vacation home thinking about what I am going to be doing.”

Dobbs did admit that he has talked to Fox News chief Roger Ailes, but said it was a friendly conversation and not about a potential job with Fox.

“You know, [Ailes is] an old friend,” Dobbs said. “I’ve talked to him. Certainly.”

Branding Run Amok: Example 1,001

From an emailer…

“It’s a Fox Business exclusive”. They’re interviewing Ron Paul about Afghanistan.

The Hazards of Live TV: #25,032…

Nobody’s going to remember the word “maybe” which preceded the words “enemy camp”. This is typical Matthews, shoot from the hip and let the chips fall where they may. The red blogs are of course up in arms.

Free for All: 12/02/09

What’s on your mind?

Bloomberg Programming Notes…

TVNewser writes that Bloomberg TV is debuting a new two hour program with anchor Betty Liu…

Bloomberg TV debuts “On the Road with Betty Liu” this morning from 8am-10amET. The special program is part of a new series in which regular morning anchor Betty Liu will broadcast her program live for two hours from a different U.S. city. Bloomberg tells TVNewser the special broadcasts are scheduled once a month throughout 2010.

Nielsen Ratings Just Got More Complicated…

MediaPost’s Joe Mandese writes about AC Nielsen planning on integrating online viewing and TV viewing ratings. The folks in Atlanta must be loving this development…

Nielsen Tuesday announced a decision and a plan to formally integrate viewing of online video content into its national TV ratings, effectively making the Internet a new television platform as far as the TV advertising marketplace is concerned. Calling the concept “extended screen” measurement, the move is akin to the expansion of the TV universe that occurred when Nielsen first began measuring other TV viewing platforms such as cable TV in the 1980s, or national syndicated television, unwired TV networks and Hispanic television as part of a single national TV ratings sample, and the reports that emanate from it.

Nielsen described the plan as a “single-source measurement” for both TV and online video content, and said it would unfold in two phases. The first, which was detailed in communiqués sent to clients Monday, is the rollout of Nielsen’s so-called “Internet meters” into every households participating in its national people meter ratings panel. The second phase, which details of which will be announced in the next few weeks, will be methods Nielsen will use to technically integrate the viewing of the two disparate platforms and measurement systems into a single rating that can be used by advertisers, agencies and television networks as the currency for advertising deals.

GE/Comcast: Jeff Zucker…

In a must read because of the anonymous sniping, the New York Time’s Bill Carter writes about NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker, center of attention in the GE/Comcast deal…

Mr. Zucker’s future role with the newly formed entity, with Comcast controlling 51 percent and G.E. 49 percent, will be cemented, an executive involved in the talks said, when it is officially announced, which is expected to be on Thursday. Mr. Zucker will be getting a new long-term contract that will extend his leadership of NBC Universal through the regulatory approval period (expected to take at least a year) and will include language promising that his role as chief executive will continue in the new joint venture. The reporting structure will change to Comcast from G.E., and he will report to Comcast’s chief executive, Steve Burke.

That vote of confidence in Mr. Zucker will surely baffle those in the industry who have been constant critics of his performance.

“It’s almost unfathomable that the day after the approval Comcast won’t make a change and Jeff will be out,” said one longtime senior Hollywood executive with program production and talent-management experience who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity because Mr. Zucker remains in a position to make decisions that affect the executive’s business.

Some criticism comes from within NBC. “Some people have begun to ask what he has really done for the company,” said one executive, who asked not to be identified because internal critics could be risking their jobs.

GE/Comcast: Done Deal…

MSNBC.com has a story from earlier today which somehow slipped past the blogs, including this one, noting that CNBC’s David Faber reported that GE and Comcast have reached a deal on NBC Universal and an announcement is expected Thursday…

Comcast and General Electric Co. agreed to a deal under which Comcast will take a 51 percent share of NBC Universal, CNBC’s David Faber reported, citing sources close to the situation.

“There’s nothing left but to process paper,” Faber said a source told him, adding that the two companies would announce the agreement on Thursday.

The news comes hours after GE agreed to pay reportedly $5.8 billion to buy out the 20 percent remaining portion of NBC Universal it doesn’t already own from French media conglomerate Vivendi SA.

The Hazards of Live TV: #25,031

It’s just one little letter. Looks like O’Reilly thought this was being taped, thus the “cut” remark. But it was live…

The Weather Channel: Your source for crime news?

An emailer sent the following screen grab in of NBC’s George Lewis reporting live Monday morning on the hunt for Cop killer Maurice Clemmons on The Weather Channel.

Hang on…

The Weather Channel? Was it looking at the weather the cops had to deal with while they were hunting for Clemmons? Tornadoes expected? Snow flurries? Thunderstorms? Where’s the weather tie in?

The emailer’s punch line?

I wonder how long before we hear talks of an MSNBC TWC merge.

Update: Corrected post to note this report occurred Monday morning and not Tuesday after Clemmons was killed.

CNBC’s Lou Dobbs? Not…

The New York Times’ Brian Stelter follows up on his earlier reporting today to write that Lou Dobbs won’t be coming to CNBC…

Lou Dobbs won’t be talking to CNBC again anytime soon.

The business news network said Tuesday evening that it was no longer talking to Mr. Dobbs, the former CNN anchor, about a potential job.

November Numbers: CNN…

CNN is noting its November ratings, and MSNBC’s 4th place finish in the Total Day demo. And to add insult to injury CNN is noting that MSNBC came in 5th place behind CNBC every hour from 9am-4pm in the Demo. Fifth place? Ouch. I’d love to see a breakout of the numbers but CNN didn’t provide them.

CNN and HLN Top MSNBC in Total Day Demo;

MSNBC in 4th Place in Total Day (6a-6a) and 5th Place in Daytime (9a until 5p) Demo in November;

Nancy Grace Edges Out Countdown with Keith Olbermann at 8 pm

Both HLN and CNN topped MSNBC during the month of November in the Total Day demo adults 25-54; with HLN posting 139k and CNN with 136k while MSNBC placed 4th with 127k. HLN, posting its best year ever to date, has now topped MSNBC for the second consecutive month in the 25-54 demo.

November Numbers: MSNBC…

MSNBC is noting its November ratings…but also CNN’s 4th place November Demo finish…

MSNBC Beats CNN in Primetime in November

Out-Rates CNN at 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 PM Among A25-54

CNN in Fourth Place for the 2nd Consecutive Month in Primetime in A25-54

NEW YORK – Dec. 1, 2009 – MSNBC again out-rated CNN in primetime in November 2009, among both total viewers and the key Adults 25-54 demographic, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. MSNBC beat CNN soundly from 6-11 p.m. in November among Adults 25-54, and in total viewers at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Following are MSNBC ratings highlights for November 2009:

Press Releases: 12/01/09

MSNBC (2)

MSNBC.COM UNVEILS NEW VIDEO PLAYER FEATURES

Customizable video player lets consumers adjust screen size

Embeddable video can be easily shared on Facebook and Twitter

REDMOND, Wash. – December 1, 2009 – Msnbc.com today unveiled a dynamic new design and interactive features in its embeddable video player. The enhanced video player gives viewers even more control and flexibility in how they watch and share video. The customizable video player now allows consumers to adjust the video screen to three different sizes, making it easier for them to embed video clips and customize the screen size to easily fit on their sites and blogs.

Msnbc.com also rolled out new sharing functions in the video player. The features allow consumers to share their favorite clips from NBC News and MSNBC Cable shows on Facebook, Twitter and Newsvine. Consumers can embed video clips right into their Facebook timelines, e-mail them or post them to Twitter right from the embedded player. Consumers also have the ability to edit the video to select only the portion of the clip they’d like to view.

Free for All: 12/01/09

What’s on your mind?

CNBC’s Lou Dobbs?

The New York Times’ Brian Stelter writes that Lou Dobbs has had talks with CNBC…

Lou Dobbs, who will likely make a decision about his post-CNN career this month, has held talks with the business news network CNBC in recent weeks, two people with knowledge of the talks say.

Mr. Dobbs, a free agent whose exit from CNN last month sparked speculation about plans for a political bid, could conceivably host a prime time program for CNBC. He could also become a commentator for the business news network.