Posted on 10/04/2009 7:22:54 PM PDT by Saije
Keeping quiet about an apparent extortion attempt against David Letterman and “The Late Show,” CBS worked over the weekend to stamp out unauthorized copies of the late-night host’s televised explanation.
The network did not post official copies of the segment on CBS.com or on YouTube, proving that while media companies are now generally eager to distribute their material on the Web, there are still some TV moments they would rather not spread widely.
In a remarkable 10-minute segment Thursday night, Mr. Letterman told viewers of a Connecticut man’s suspected $2 million extortion attempt, predicated on evidence of Mr. Letterman’s sexual relationships with female employees. The suspect, Robert Joel Halderman of CBS News, was arrested Thursday and released on bail Friday.
Copies of the segment were uploaded almost immediately to YouTube by users, but many of them were flagged by CBS for removal, citing copyright claims. The network did not provide an official copy.
“It’s incredibly odd to see CBS sitting on viral gold like that, especially when you consider how they spew out dozens of official clips a day,” said David Burch, a marketing director at TubeMogul, which tracks online viewership of videos.
CBS appears to be more lenient about archival “Late Show” clips of Mr. Letterman and Stephanie Birkitt, a former assistant who had a relationship with Mr. Letterman and who has appeared regularly on the show over the years. TubeMogul said those clips have been viewed 600,000 times on YouTube.
CBS’s decision to withhold the clips online was prompted by a request from producers at Mr. Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The Streisand Effect.
BUMP
Can’t CBS get Dano on this story right away?
Me-thinks that David confessed to a felony right in front of millions of viewers.
Female? I'll have to take your word #2.
CBS trying to scrub the internet. Sounds like they need to call the current administration in Washington to get it done.
Just asking. Is sexual harassment a felony?
Good start CBS, now you could remove the scourge from the airwaves.
Felony?
You can watch the entire 10 minute piece here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVC3HohP8o4
and download the clip before it’s scrubbed away.
I just wonder if there isn’t more to the story. Supposedly he wasn’t even married when these sexual encounters took place. 2 million dollars extortion seems kind of high for just that.
Hmmm something incriminating ....no not the admission of ‘creepy’ things....something else he said....and they want it hidden!
I wonder if we will ever get a look at Letterman’s sex room, aka “the bunker”, upstairs at the Ed Sullivan Theater.
Rumor has it that Dave has a room where only his female “friends” are allowed into. And there is no evidence that he has stopped screwing his employees.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2354803/posts
She must have given his some pretty detailed information.
I would guess that CBS, on the advice of its attorneys, needs to keep any public admission of wrongdoing to a minimum. They have to be terrified of a lawsuit at this point.
No. It's a civil violation of Title VII. You can get charged for some felonies that are sexual and harrassing in nature - see Erin Andrews stalker's arrest. But, don't give NOW any ideas - or we'll see half the male population in shackles.
Sounds like she and her boyfriend set him up, probably with pictures and audio - must have been some pretty bad stuff!
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