Posted on 04/11/2004 11:44:21 PM PDT by Pikamax
"Crazy Like A Fox" Comes Out Today "Crazy Like A Fox," a behind-the-scenes account of the cable news wars, officially hits bookstores today. CableNewser interviewed author Scott Collins last month, and excerpts are online now:
"The rise of Fox News is, to me, one of the biggest stories to hit the TV business in the past decade. In just a few years, FNC has not only overtaken CNN, but also changed the very dynamics of the news business. For instance, FNC's hosted shows are now the prime time model for cable news outlets. CNN's longtime "news is the star" mantra has been deemphasized, at least in prime. Witness that network's intense focus on Paula Zahn and Anderson Cooper. You certainly wouldn't have seen that even five years ago. One could even argue that cable news nets are helping turn politics into entertainment and polarizing popular debate."
-- What was the impetus for writing the book? Why cable news?
The rise of Fox News is, to me, one of the biggest stories to hit the TV business in the past decade (right up there with development of DVR technologies, the success of HBO original series, the ongoing decline of broadcast market share, etc). In just a few years, FNC has not only overtaken CNN, but also changed the very dynamics of the news business. For instance, FNC's hosted shows are now the prime time model for cable news outlets. CNN's longtime "news is the star" mantra has been deemphasized, at least in prime. Witness that network's intense focus on Paula Zahn and Anderson Cooper. You certainly wouldn't have seen that even five years ago. One could even argue that cable news nets are helping turn politics into entertainment and polarizing popular debate.
-- When did you start researching and writing the book? Did news events covered by the cablers have any factor in when and what you wrote?
I started researching the book in the fall of 2002. Earlier that year, FNC had for the first time established a clear lead over CNN. Readers like underdog stories, and this seemed like a good one. People forget that when FNC was first announced, most "experts" dismissed it as a joke. CNN simply had too commanding a lead, and if anyone was going to take on Turner, it would be NBC/Microsoft. When FNC was announced, the New York Times called the network Roger Ailes' "imaginary friend." As for news events, my book pays special attention to the 2000 election and 9/11, both of which I believe played a role in changing the news dynamic (specifically, FNC was able to tap into many viewers' feelings about those events).
-- Were all of the cable nets cooperative with you?
All the networks cooperated, at least to some degree. CNN was probably the hardest to persuade. After much back and forth, management made on-air people like Paula Zahn and Aaron Brown available to me, as well as executives such as Eason Jordan and (the now-departed) teya ryan. however, jim walton would not agree to speak with me. i contacted reese schonfeld, tom johnson and walter isaacson on my own, and each graciously agreed to participate.
-- Cable news networks, to a significant degree, dictate the news cycle and determine what is news-worthy. What do you see as the consequences of that?
I don't know about this thesis. I think cable dictates news more than it did 10 years ago, certainly. That's especially true when it comes to crime stories, such as laci peterson or kobe. and O'Reilly has plenty of reach in getting viewers to care about whatever interests him at the moment. But i still think cable -- to a surprising degree -- takes its cues from print news sources such as the NYTimes. Although... that's changing.
-- "How did Fox News pull off this amazing victory?," your book description asks. How did they? (Or is it too complicated to be summed up in a few sentences?)
A complicated answer, but briefly: Ailes had strong plan to bring talk radio-type shows to prime news; Turner's decision to merge TBS into TW brought cable news competitors into play; and CNN didn't effectively counter Ailes/Murdoch's attack.
-- Were you surprised by the changes in cable news over the years? And similarly, are there any future changes (shifts in the next few years) that would surprise you?
It depends on what you mean by changes. My sense is that, in terms of ratings, FNC now has an enormous advantage, one that CNN and MSNBC will likely not be able to match or exceed for years (In march, FNC had more viewers in prime than CNN, MS and CNBC *combined*). As for programming, I think CNN is currently in a mess during primetime. They need to sort out exactly what sorts of shows they want to do during those hours, and I don't think they're close to finishing that process. The network is still stuck between trying to compete with FNC and Turner's old "news is the star" mantra. As for FNC, the challenge for them will be grooming a new generation of stars -- and inevitably, thinking about who will run the network once ailes moves on. It's hard to imagine someone else doing as good a job as he has done. Finally, in terms of the financials, it's important to remember that the cable news networks seem to be fairly mature businesses at this point. All of them are nearing full distribution domestically, and it's doubtful that any of them will see explosive ratings growth outside of future "shock" events, such as another news event comparable to 9/11. So I think it's possible that at least one of the networks could, at some point in the not-too-distant future, be sold or merge with another entity, if for no other reason than to find a way to lower fixed costs. Gathering the news is expensive.
Save your money on the books folks. We all know it was this simple.
On, Off, or grab it for a Media Shenanigans/Schadenfreude/PNMCH ping:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~anamusedspectator/
On, Off, or grab it for a Media Shenanigans/Schadenfreude/PNMCH ping:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~anamusedspectator/
This is IT. Without the dearth of ANY conservative viewpoint in this (cable news) medium, Fox News would not have had a chance.
And therefore, unfortunately, Shepard Smith will still have a platform for his idiocy.
CNN's problem is the next step -- the people who hate to stand alone will also move to FOX. When that happens, CNN's numbers will plummet.
Liberal media, consider this: People do have brains. Instead of agenda cramming, try treating veiwers as intelligent and informed, and capable of drawing their own conclusions. Drop the agenda, present unbiased or balanced views...
See, the people you treated as stupid and who really are buying your agenda still watch your channel. The people with brains and intelligence moved on--to FoxNews.
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