Hmmm...I think NBC may....MAY!!!... just be smelling the tea leaves for the first time...
I have been constantly amazed that in a so-called capitalistic country we don't have more competition against Fox News as far as balanced news coverage. The fact that the plurality, if not the majority, of Americans hold views exactly like those of Sara Palin indicate that a HUGE OPPORTUNITY to get viewers can be had. When the Family channel gets more viewers than MSNBC during prime time, you know that there is a segment of the population that is not being met consumerwise.
If I were a marketing honcho for the media, I'd look at the vast chasm that exists between Fox and everyone on the news front. I'd be looking at so much POTENTIAL RATINGS that are being conceded because of a mindset that isn't just wrong, but is set in stone across the board.
What would happen in MSNBC instantly fired Maddow, Shultz, Sharpton, and Scarborough, and instead hired Limbaugh, Levin, Krauthammer, and Bozell? Within a month, THAT station would be Fox's head to head competition. You want to talk cash COW? I'm talking cash HERD!!
So in this way, I think that NBC is conceding this point. Then again, they may be setting up Palin to fail because she's going in with THEIR rules, inlcuding NBC's ability to move the goalposts at any time to render Palin impotent or, worse, stupid looking. I know Palin is too smart to fall into that trap, but at this point, I'm not sure NBC's intentions. I DO know that THEY know that Palin is ratings gold, and that is why they got her. We shall see what happens.