Branding Run Amok: #1,009

FBN has been regularly covering the hostage crisis at the Discovery Communications headquarters. Um, why? Is Discovery stock in danger of tanking? Y’know, I’d love to give the network the benefit of the doubt but this seems to me like a naked attempt at a ratings grab by broadcasting sensational news that has nothing to do with FBN’s charter, which itself is kind of a pointless exercise since FBN doesn’t release its ratings. The problem is that this is not an isolated incident and FBN is developing the reputation of having a “cover anything if it can get a number” strategy regardless of the propriety of covering it.

Update: Et tu, CNBC? Ok, I’ll grant there is a bit of a business angle if there’s concerns about the CEO, but once it’s established that he’s safe it’s no longer a business story…it reverts to a crime story.