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Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: franksolich on September 16, 2008, 06:18:33 AM

Title: sparkling husband primitive looks literally at NBC, MSNBC
Post by: franksolich on September 16, 2008, 06:18:33 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=109x34911

Oh my.

The things one stumbles upon, when wandering around Skins's island; the original post is just a copy-and-paste job, no illuminating comments by the deep excresence mother primitive herself:

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DeepModem Mom  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-15-08 05:30 PM
Original message

Broadcasting&Cable: Free MSNBC from NBC News

No News Is Good News
By Ben Grossman -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/15/2008

NBC News and MSNBC are like great beer and fine whiskey. They're each satisfying on their own, but when mixed, expect trouble. So after watching all the drama recently, I have one solution that would allow both brands to continue as independent success stories: separate them. NBC should pull MSNBC out from under the NBC News umbrella altogether. Put it in the cable group alongside USA and Bravo and all its other money-printing brands that are carrying the NBCU portfolio. Just have NBC News program certain shows or dayparts on MSNBC, as it does on the NBC broadcast network.

With one move, MSNBC would be free to pursue the borderline-brilliant programming strategy that has elevated the network, while at the same time protecting the venerable NBC News brand, which is a bit under siege following the loss of Tim Russert and the silliness that occurred during the conventions....

***

With personalities like Olbermann, Matthews and now Rachel Maddow, the network has forged a fantastic programming groove. I don't care what you think about its politics or anything else, there is absolutely no arguing that MSNBC's numbers — be it ratings or profitability — are on fire....

Separate Morning Joe and Hardball and Countdown and The Rachel Maddow Show from NBC News, and let them say and do what they want (not that they don't already). If anything, that may add to the ratings as the anchors are freed up even more. Reported opinion these days equals ratings and buzz, as Comedy Central has long learned....

One dissenting argument is that the MSNBC primetime shows make enough money to allow NBC News to practice great journalism elsewhere—which is costly and not ratings-friendly. So the NBCU bean counters will have to move some numbers around. Big deal—especially when weighed against the return. The term “television news business” is itself an oxymoron these days. Old-fashioned, objective TV news doesn't make for good business. Ratings drive business, and those ratings are coming from the topics of the day presented with a bite.

MSNBC is doing that as well as anyone right now. If freed from the perceptual constraints of a traditional news division, it would be bulletproof.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6595978.html

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Eric J in MN  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-15-08 05:35 PM
Response to Original message

1. I don't understand what would be different under this proposal.
   
Would there be a disclaimer before "Countdown:" the following program is NOT part of NBC News?

I dunno about it either.  I always thought NBC News was available via cable and antenna and rabbit-ears, while MSNBC was available only by cable.  I have no idea if I'm right, or wrong.

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DeepModem Mom  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-15-08 06:27 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. I don't quite understand, but if MSNBC would be like any of the other cable channels like Bravo...
   
or NBC Broadcast (entertainment) -- then when special coverage was warranted, NBC News would step in. Most news now comes to us on cable, but Presidential debates, inaugurations, major events, etc., are shown on broadcast TV. Entertainment is precluded and a network's news division takes over. So in those cases, NBC News would anchor -- for example, a Presidential debate. As far as other participation by NBC news people, I'm not clear. Maybe they would appear on the opinion shows, but it would be made clear that they were participating in programming that is not part of NBC News.

There would be no need for disclaimer, I don't think, because occasions when NBC News would take over would be rare.

But, as said, I'm not sure of the details. It's an interesting concept, though.

And then the sparkling husband primitive, his elbows on his knees as he sits upon the ceramic throne in the basement, watching the portable teevee on the counter opposite:

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Husb2Sparkly  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-15-08 11:26 PM
Response to Reply #2

4. I don't think that was meant literally
   
I think it was meant to say that MSNBC should be cable-only and NBC Nooz should be broadcast only.

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BerryBush  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-15-08 10:01 PM
Response to Original message

3. Sounds like a great idea.
   
Anything to get Tom Brokaw to stop pissing and moaning about how Keith Olbermann is runing his sterling reputation as a newsman. Sheesh.
Title: Re: sparkling husband primitive looks literally at NBC, MSNBC
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on September 16, 2008, 06:28:41 AM
MSNBC is on fire???  As opposed to what, exactly?  Certainly not other cable news outlets.
Title: Re: sparkling husband primitive looks literally at NBC, MSNBC
Post by: Carl on September 16, 2008, 06:29:10 AM
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With personalities like Olbermann, Matthews and now Rachel Maddow, the network has forged a fantastic programming groove. I don't care what you think about its politics or anything else, there is absolutely no arguing that MSNBC's numbers — be it ratings or profitability — are on fire....

 :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:
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http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/09/15/cable-news-ratings-for-friday-september-12/5113
P2+ Total Day
FNC – 1,833,000 viewers
CNN – 1,182,000 viewers
MSNBC – 628,000 viewers
CNBC – 217,000 viewers
HLN – 389,000 viewers
Title: Re: sparkling husband primitive looks literally at NBC, MSNBC
Post by: asdf2231 on September 16, 2008, 07:30:06 AM
MSNBC is on fire???  As opposed to what, exactly?  Certainly not other cable news outlets.

On fire in the sense that the structure is blazing and people are running from it screaming and doing stop drop and roll to try to put out the scorching FAIL is I think what he meant.
Title: Re: sparkling husband primitive looks literally at NBC, MSNBC
Post by: BlueStateSaint on September 16, 2008, 09:56:47 AM
MSNBC is on fire???  As opposed to what, exactly?  Certainly not other cable news outlets.

On fire in the sense that the structure is blazing and people are running from it screaming and doing stop drop and roll to try to put out the scorching FAIL is I think what he meant.

Seconded.
Title: Re: sparkling husband primitive looks literally at NBC, MSNBC
Post by: DixieBelle on September 16, 2008, 11:49:50 AM
MSNBC is on fire???  As opposed to what, exactly?  Certainly not other cable news outlets.

On fire in the sense that the structure is blazing and people are running from it screaming and doing stop drop and roll to try to put out the scorching FAIL is I think what he meant.
:rotf: :fuelfire: pretty much!
Title: Re: sparkling husband primitive looks literally at NBC, MSNBC
Post by: GOBUCKS on September 16, 2008, 11:59:44 AM
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MSNBC is on fire???  As opposed to what, exactly?  Certainly not other cable news outlets.

Before NBC decided the "MS" part should stand for "Moonbats and Squirrels", they had almost NO viewers.
Now they have a handful.


Title: Re: sparkling husband primitive looks literally at NBC, MSNBC
Post by: Chris_ on September 16, 2008, 01:05:54 PM
One of the guys of Fox and Friends this morning called NBC the National Barack Channel
Title: Re: sparkling husband primitive looks literally at NBC, MSNBC
Post by: BlueStateSaint on September 16, 2008, 01:15:03 PM
One of the guys of Fox and Friends this morning called NBC the National Barack Channel

Steve Doocy.  A great host, IMHO.  I saw it.