TV Newser’s 2011 Predictions…

TVNewser posted its 2011 Predictions Survey. I voted of course but since mine just went in with everyone else’s, I decided to reveal my votes here…

1) Where will Katie Couric be working at the end of 2011?

This is the question I care the least about but I chose A) CBS because CNN isn’t likely to bring her onboard for 8pm, even if it does end up jettisoning Parker Spitzer. After Connie Chung, Paula Zahn, and Campbell Brown I think CNN has finally learned that the solo straight newsie thing just doesn’t work at that hour. Since Piers Morgan is going to be getting all the celebrity and big player interviews and Anderson Cooper just signed a new deal to keep 360 on the air, there’s reallly no benefit for Couric to jump to CNN anyways. I suppose syndication is a possibility but it probably won’t happen in 2011. That 2011 syndication window has likely closed so it would probably be 2012 at the earliest. So that’s kind of a trick answer because she could announce a syndie deal in 2011 but it’s highly unlikely it would debut in 2011 especially since everyone is already scrambling to pick up Oprah’s turf…including one Anderson Cooper. Choosing “some combination” is a cop out since it doesn’t say which combination.

Blogus Interruptus…

Happy New Year! Barring unforseen events, ICN will be taking the next couple of days off…

Joe Scarborough Interview

Parade Magazine’s David Browne interviews Joe Scarborough…

Have there been moments–say, during the tax debate in December–when you wished you were back in Congress?

Not yet. I think I may at some point. We have more influence doing the show. There are 435 members of Congress. There’s one Morning Joe show. Hopefully, we can keep hammering the argument that you can disagree with other people and have debates but remain civil.

“At some point”? How seriously are you considering a return to politics?

My wife always tells people, “He’s not going to be able run to for anything because I’m not going to let him start a campaign.” Look what’s happened to Barack Obama over the last two years or George Bush for eight. It’s a blood sport. But at some point I may feel the need to run for office again.

What would make you?

An absence of leadership. The same thing that had me run the first time, in 1994, when I felt the country was veering off dangerously in the wrong direction. If Washington continues to fumble issues like taking care of the debt, getting the troops home, and rebuilding our economy, my wife and I may sit down and say, “These are critical things and maybe we need to get back in the ball.”

Free for All: 12/30/10

What’s on your mind?

David Shuster Speaks…

Shuster was on the radio tonight and talked a bit about what happened to him and what will happen going foward. Johnny Dollar has the audio of the highlights (or lowlights depending on your point of view)

Richard Engel on the Anchoring Thing…

This week NBC’s Richard Engel anchored a show on MSNBC for the first time. He filled in on Andrea Mitchell Reports yesterday and today. Here he talks about that and other anchor things…

Ellana Lee Interview…

IndianTelevision.com’s Executive Dossier has an interview with CNNI’s Asia-Pacific Managing Editor Ellana Lee…(via J$)

How is CNN’s coverage different than other international players like BBC? What is your DNA?

Production and ownership of our content is our cornerstone and it has allowed us to expand the depth and breadth of coverage. It is very important for us that CNN provide original news to its audiences and not aggregate third party material which people can get from elsewhere. In 2009, we embarked on the biggest newsgathering expansion in our history, a multi-million dollar investment in staff and resources to bolster our world-class, award-winning journalism as well as give us the power to move swiftly into developing new business models.

CNN also continues to evolve to meet the needs of our international audience through platforms including online, broadband, mobile and interactive television. Our strategy is to make use of most of the growing digital technologies and platforms to enhance our reach and be in continuous touch with our audience. That’s why we offer multiple touch points for the consumer to access CNN content anytime, anywhere.

Cable News 2011 New Year Resolutions…

ICN, being the forward looking blog that it is, wonders what the cable news networks will do in the new year. More importantly, ICN, being the stick in the eye blog that it sometimes is, isn’t going to wait for the networks to figure it out for themselves. Therefore here are the 2011 Cable News Network Resolutions…presented in absetntia by moi…

ICN resolves on behalf of CNN…

- To give Parker Spitzer a very short lease on life. Either it turns itself around quickly or it’s gone…

- To decide what American Morning is supposed to be about.

- To stop using nex-gen technology as a gimmick when that nex-gen technology isn’t ready for TV.

- To not overthink the Piers Morgan rollout. Yes, the stakes are high but too many fingers in the pie could be a recipe for disaster. And let Piers be Piers. He’s your best selling point for that hour.

- To stop acting like it’s hiding behind Jay Rosen’s View from Nowhere when too many times what goes out over its air is the exact opposite. It’s not a crime to have a point of view, you know…

- To stop pussyfooting around and make Brooke Baldwin the official anchor of the 3-5pm block.

ICN resolves on behalf of CNBC…

Free for All: 12/29/10

What’s on your mind?

CNBC Yanks Previously Aired Doc From Rotation?

The New York Post’s Josh Kostman writes that CNBC has yanked a documentary on Cold Stone Creamery from its rotation…

A new CNBC documentary on franchising has one Scottsdale, Ariz., company ice-screaming mad.

Cold Stone Creamery and a franchisee group are threatening legal action against the business cable network, claiming this month’s documentary, “Behind the Counter: The Untold Story of Franchising,” incorrectly portrayed the company as a cold-hearted firm that charges franchisees hidden expenses, relies on kickbacks from vendors and requires franchisees to purchase equipment from a company it controls.

Lawyer Robert Zarco, who represents the Cold Stone franchisees, said the program unfairly put the big chill on their businesses by relying solely on a former Florida franchisee Cecil Rolle, who already lost a legal battle against the company making similar, if not identical, charges.

Free for All: 12/28/10

What’s on your mind?

David Shuster Interview…

The Cutline’s Michael Calderone interviews Shuster, post MSNBC…

“I accepted full-time job in journalism starting after the first of the year,” Shuster said, while adding that he can’t get into “the details until the thing is ready to go.”

But he’s not headed to CNN or a rival news network. Shuster said he’s working on a new venture that he believes “will have a huge impact on political journalism.”

David Shuster Surfaces…

Shuster has returned to Twitter…

I’m returning to the airwaves as the sub for Jim Bohannon on his terrific radio show this Wed. Dec. 29 from 10pm – 1am

Will he talk about MSNBC? God I hope so…

Free for All: 12/27/10

What’s on your mind?

What’s Not: 2010

2010 had a ton of not hottness going on during the year. Here’s the worst of the worst…

Jonathan Klein – Klein was unceremoniously done away with by CNN. What was interesting about this wasn’t that Klein was “fired” but that CNN waited until Klein had put together the talent of CNN’s new primetime lineup before it moved on him.

CNN/HLN personnel changes – Heidi Collins got not renewed by CNN. She had a lot of company. Abbi Tatton, Susan Liscovicz, and Tony Harris got similar treatment. Other personnel changes that wouldn’t fall under the “not renewed” banner: Erica Hill and Betty Nguyen jumped to CBS, Campbell Brown took herself out at CNN, Christiane Amanpour jumped to ABC to helm “This Week”, Richard Lui jumped from HLN to MSNBC, and HLN original Chuck Roberts left the network.

How not to advance your career: Example 1 – David Shuster. First Shuster got himself muzzled from Twitter for engaging in some over the top back and forth with James O’Keefe. Then Shuster got permanently suspended by MSNBC for allegedly taping a pilot for CNN. Shuster’s suspension ran through the remainder of his contract which expired this month. Shuster’s always put the best spin on it saying that he and MSNBC will discuss his future with the network after his contract expires. Don’t bet on it.

What’s Hot: 2010

The hottest of the hot for 2010…

CNN’s Downward Spiral – To say it was a good year for CNN would be tantamount to a lie. MSNBC cemented its status as the #2 network in primetime in 2010 and that cost Jon Klein his job. And the ratings hill CNN has to climb to get out of 3rd remains an immense one.

Ali Velshi – Velshi was tapped to anchor CNN dayside.

Sarah Palin – Palin signed with FNC as a contributor at the start of the year

Stuart Varney – Varney got his own branded show on FBN called “Varney & Company”

Charlie Gasparino – Gasparino defected from CNBC to FBN in February. CNBC responded by elevating…

David Faber – Faber got his own show on CNBC.

Geri Willis – Willis jumped for HLN to FBN and got her own 5pm show.

Season’s Beatings…

Twas the night before Christmas and though ICN was shut down,
These entries from Ta-Nehisi Coates and Radley Balko merit mentioning because of how they take cable news down.

Ta-Nehisi Coates:

…it’s my impression that much of cable news is rigged. Complicated questions are forced into small spaces of time, and guests frequently dissemble in order to score debate points and avoid being intellectually honest. Finally, many of the guests don’t seem to be actual experts in the field of which they’re addressing, so much as they’re “strategists” or “analysts.” I strongly suspect that part of the reason this is the case is talking on TV is, itself, a craft and one that requires a skill-set very different than what is required of academics. I’m sure many academics themselves share the disdain for the format that I’ve outlined.

I’ve posted on this before. I feel the same way. I have to do cable news because it’s part of my job. But it’s often really frustrating. Especially as a libertarian. We hold positions with which most people aren’t immediately familiar. They’re also a bit more nuanced than, say, responding to any story in the news with racial overtones by noting that Robert Byrd was once in the Ku Klux Klan. A couple of anecdotes I’ve previously written about come to mind.

Blogus Interruptus…

Merry Christmas to you all. ICN is shutting down for the next couple of days as I have better things to do than hang out here. And so do you. But if you must come here, tell us what presents you got…

What’s Hot/What’s Not: 2010 Submsissions…

It’s time to look at the Hottest and Nottest of 2010. Post your nominations here. I’ll be posting the mega-takes-too-damn-long-to-put-together finalists sometime next week…

Free for All: 12/23/10

What’s on your mind?

The Hazards of Live TV: #25,087

Not much left to say here except ouch…

CNN Structural Changes…

TVNewser’s Alex Weprin reports on organizational changes happening at CNN and CNNI…

In a memo to staff this afternoon, CNN/U.S. chief Ken Jautz and CNN International chief Tony Maddox announced a new reporting structure for the domestic and international desks and bureaus as of January 1, 2011.

…

Under the new structure, Maddox will oversee all international bureaus, as well as 13 domestic bureaus. CNN’s Washington DC bureau will remain under the leadership of David Bohrman, who will continue to report to Jautz.

Press Releases: 12/22/10

CNN (1)

CNN’s Fareed Zakaria Hosts Primetime Special on Leading During Troubled Times on Sunday, Dec. 26

In these times of crisis, America needs leaders who are not just good, but great. CNN’s Fareed Zakaria interviews titans in business, government, and academia for insights on power, persuasion, command, and decision making. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, corporate turnaround king Lou Gerstner, Yale University president and economist Rick Levin, and former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman talk to Zakaria about how to lead, and what qualities it takes to do it right.

How to Lead – A Special Edition of Fareed Zakaria GPS debuts Sunday, Dec. 26 on CNN/U.S. at 8:00pm ET and PT. The special airs at 8:00am ET on Sunday, Jan. 2 on CNN International.

Branding Run Amok: #1,011

CNBC put out a head scratching press release this morning…

CNBC’S “60 MINUTES ON CNBC” WILL PREMIERE ON JANUARY 5TH

“60 Minutes on CNBC” will premiere on Wednesday, January 5th at 10pm, and will repeat that evening at 1am.

The remaining episodes (20 in total) will air on Tuesdays at 10pm and 1am. The prior week’s show will air at 9pm/12am on Tuesdays.

“60 Minutes on CNBC” is the best business stories from one of the most honored news programs in television history. The series takes you a step further into hard hitting investigative reports, interviews, profiles, and features stories that have made “60 Minutes” required viewing for millions. CNBC brings you the latest on these classic stories with updates and never before-seen-footage of these award winning business news stories.

Way to screw your own side over CNBC. CBS News must be rolling on the floor with laughter that it managed to pull this off at the expense of NBC News. It’s akin to sticking out a big middle finger to everyone at Dateline. CBS gets free advertising on a competitor’s sister channel. NBC News gets to suffer the ignominy that its own documentaries and specials were passed over for a rival news division’s. This had to have been signed off on by Jeff Zucker which makes this all the more bizarre. I know Zucker loves docs but those are usually his own empire’s docs…not a rival’s. What the hell happened to that synergy thing Jeff?

Free for All: 12/22/10

What’s on your mind?

FNC Deja Vu: Jeanine Piro to Host Weekend Legal Show…

TVNewser’s Alex Weprin reports that Jeanine Piro will be hosting a weekend legal show on FNC.

The program, “Justice with Judge Jeanine” will premiere Saturday, January 8 at 9 PM ET, and will focus on the big legal stories of the week.

This is the latest attempt by FNC to package up a legal show as a star vehicle for someone. A few years ago there was The Lineup with Kimberly Guilfoyle. That program was eventually cancelled though Guilfoyle remains with the network.

Assange on Ratigan

MSNBC announced that Julian Assange will be interviewed live on The Dylan Ratigan Show tomorrow…

PROGRAM NOTE: WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE TO APPEAR IN A LIVE INTERVIEW ON “THE DYLAN RATIGAN SHOW” WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22 AT 4 P.M. ET

NEW YORK—December 21, 2010—Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will appear in an exclusive live interview on MSNBC’s “The Dylan Ratigan Show” tomorrow, December 22, at 4 p.m. ET. Assange will join Ratigan via satellite from Ellingham Hall in Norfolk, England, where is is currently under house arrest.

Free for All: 12/21/10

What’s on your mind?

A Marriage Made in Heaven? Maybe not…

Politico’s Kenneth P. Vogel writes about controversy stemming from the announcement of CNN teaming up with the Tea Party Express for a GOP debate…

CNN political director Sam Feist defended the partnership as an appropriate way of covering an important constituency of the Republican Party.

“You knew that in 2012 there had to be a tea party debate,” he said. “The tea party movement has become iconic for Republican politics. … So we thought that it’s the right time and right place to do it.”

He also pointed out that CNN has chronicled the tea party movement “very extensively” since soon after it arose in early 2009 in protest of what its activists saw as the fiscally reckless policies of the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress.

Yet, MSNBC’s liberal anchor Keith Olbermann contended the move puts the lie to CNN’s effort to position itself as a more objective alternative to Fox and MSNBC and exposes an ongoing rightward drift.

“The alliance isn’t the problem. It’s the continuing pretense that CNN is neutral,” he wrote in an e-mail to POLITICO. “They’ve been hemorrhaging viewers not because they’re nonpartisan but because the viewers recognize they are arrogantly and condescendingly pretending to be.”

Branding run Amok: #1,010

CNN Observations has details on a new CNNI branding campaign…

CNN International has unveiled a new range of branded diaries following Turner CN Enterprises announcement in March that it planned to expand the licensing business beyond its channel properties.

Titled CNN Life, the collection features two notebooks and a pocket diary, and contains insights and information on various countries and business travel destinations around the world.

Yeah…when I watch CNNI – admittedly not that often since I can’t get CNNI in the U.S. on DirecTV! (grumble, grumble) – I immediately get the urge to run out and buy a notebook or diary with a CNN logo on it…