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CNBC Pulls Tina Brown Show
Broadcasting & Cable ^ | 05/06/05 | John M. Higgins

Posted on 05/06/2005 4:50:08 PM PDT by abb

CNBC Pulls Tina Brown Show

By John M. Higgins -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/6/2005 4:25:00 PM

The subterranean ratings of Topic A with Tina Brown have finally prompted CNBC to pull the weekly interview show.

A memo sent to CNBC employees late Friday said that Brown was leaving the show to work on a book on the legacy of Princess Diana.

But Brown's ratings tell a more compelling story. Last Sunday, Topic A's prime time airing managed to draw just 4,000 souls in the key news demo, adults 25-54. Total viewership reached just 26,000.

The weekly show debuted in February 2004, hinging on the ability of Brown -- former editor of Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Talk magazines -- to secure high-profile guests. She got the guests, but never the ratings. The show will wrap up May 29.

Here's the memo from CNBC's new president, Mark Hoffman:

"As many of you may be aware, our very own Tina Brown has recently secured a major book deal with Doubleday to write about the legacy of Princess Diana. The book is set to be published in 2007, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Princess' death.

This book will be a major undertaking for Tina. She is under a very tight deadline and will be required to travel frequently to London. Therefore, she has asked me if she could relinquish her "Topic A" duties to focus on the book. I have much respect for Tina and understand the amount of time she will need to dedicate to her new project, so I am announcing to all of you that the last episode of "Topic A" will air on Sunday, May 29.

Though I have only personally worked with Tina and her show unit a short time, I have always been very impressed with the high quality of guests that they secured and the engaging conversation that Tina hosted week after week. Tony Blair, Sumner Redstone, Sen. John McCain, Les Moonves, Annette Bening and George Clooney are just a few of those who made time to speak with Tina.

I ask that you join me in thanking Tina and the entire "Topic A" team for all of their hard work and tireless dedication. They have done great work and I know that we all wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors.

Mark


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cnbc; liberalmedia; televison; theend; tinabrown
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Another one bites the dust.
1 posted on 05/06/2005 4:50:08 PM PDT by abb
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To: abb

Tina Brown was a harlot. Literally.


2 posted on 05/06/2005 4:51:12 PM PDT by Clemenza (I am NOT A NUMBER, I am a FREE MAN!!!)
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To: abb

So sad.............not!


3 posted on 05/06/2005 4:51:52 PM PDT by tiredoflaundry (Some stories have more spin cycles than my Kenmore washer!)
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To: abb

THANK GOD!

That show was a waste of time. I didn't like how she stabbed one of her former guests in the back on-air, either.

She only got the show because she does neat dinner parties in New York and has a British accent. That's my take.

Of course, knowing NBC, the replacement is probably going to be even more unbearable.


4 posted on 05/06/2005 4:52:27 PM PDT by AZ_Cowboy ("Be ever vigilant, for you know not when the master is coming")
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To: Clemenza
Tina Brown was a harlot. Literally.

"Harlot," or "harpie?"

5 posted on 05/06/2005 4:52:38 PM PDT by paulat
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To: abb
Topic A... more like Topic a$$.

See ya Tina don't let the door knob hit ya where the sun don't shine... maybe you could hook-up again with your "friend," Hollywood lefty Harvey Weinstein.

Trajan88

6 posted on 05/06/2005 4:53:13 PM PDT by Trajan88 (www.bullittclub.com)
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To: paulat

Both. ;-)


7 posted on 05/06/2005 4:53:13 PM PDT by Clemenza (I am NOT A NUMBER, I am a FREE MAN!!!)
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To: paulat

She was the mistress/"kept woman" to several wealthy men in London.


8 posted on 05/06/2005 4:53:51 PM PDT by Clemenza (I am NOT A NUMBER, I am a FREE MAN!!!)
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To: abb
The doyenne of liberalism was attracting a measly 4,000 viewers a week? It tells you Tina Brown's influence in this country's on the wane. The shakers and movers purportedly fear her but no one else's impressed. Indeed, the number of people willing to put up with liberal gab keeps on shrinking. They just can't win and its an indictment of the people who call President Bush, "loser!" (laughing)

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
9 posted on 05/06/2005 4:54:10 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: abb

The only people who want to listen to or look at Tina are her Manhattan dinner party friends.


10 posted on 05/06/2005 4:54:18 PM PDT by LibFreeOrDie (L'chaim!)
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To: abb

They should have done this a year ago.


11 posted on 05/06/2005 4:54:57 PM PDT by MisterRepublican
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To: abb

I'm overwrought with indifference...


12 posted on 05/06/2005 4:54:57 PM PDT by Keith in Iowa (Life's a beach - and Liberals are like the sand that gets in your swimsuit...)
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To: abb
...Tina Brown has recently secured a major book deal with Doubleday to write about the legacy of Princess Diana.

I wonder if the legacy-according-to-Tina will be, "Marry rich and dump the dupe post-spawn for the boy-toy"?

13 posted on 05/06/2005 4:55:21 PM PDT by randog (What the....?!)
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: abb

If they filled her time slot with a blank screen would viewership rise.


15 posted on 05/06/2005 5:04:50 PM PDT by SKI NOW
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To: SKI NOW

If they put on a show called 'drying paint with fingernails on chalkboard soundtrack', the ratings would rise!


16 posted on 05/06/2005 5:06:35 PM PDT by flashbunny
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To: flashbunny

Oooh the humanity!


17 posted on 05/06/2005 5:08:19 PM PDT by DugMac ((Regan Rules))
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To: abb

Please please please replace her with Phil Donahue.


18 posted on 05/06/2005 5:11:15 PM PDT by umgud (FR, NASCAR, NRA, GOP)
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To: abb

That's gonna realy upset her viewers; all six of them.


19 posted on 05/06/2005 5:11:46 PM PDT by Riptides
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To: goldstategop
I'm thinking that the forecast of 4,000 viewers probably has a margin of error of ± 6,500 - so it is possible she had zero viewers. After watching a few fragments of the show - I kind of had the feeling she knew there was no one out there.
20 posted on 05/06/2005 5:14:17 PM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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