NBC News should spin off MSNBC

Broadcasting & Cable ^ | 9/15/2008 | Ben Grossman

[outfield]

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.

[outfield]

If NBC News spun off MSNBC, the cable network would have a green light to be as liberal as it wanted. On the other hand, NBC News would be unloading a toxic property and might be able to salvage some decency.

[mgc1122]

“NBC News and MSNBC are like great beer and fine whiskey. “?

More like bath tub gin and radiator moonshine ... toxic yet appealing to the dregs.

[BenLurkin]

Hard to imagine MSNBC being more liberal than it is now.

[Question Liberal Authority]

I’m thinking more like vomit and diarrhea. They’re disgusting by themselves, but together they’re just unbearable.

[xDGx]

They both suck, just one sucks way more than the other.

GE owns em, yet does nothing. Boycott General Electric.

[pnh102]

When did we start getting news links from Bizarro World? NBS and MSNBS being “ratings successes?” On what planet?

[flowerplough]

Great beer? Fine whiskey? Are you drunk, Grossman? NBc and MS are more like store-bought, diet, iced tea and the scum that drains from the rotten apples near the bottom of the barrel.

[Doug TX]

NBC was and still is a liberal opinion leader. Today Show, Meet the Press, Brokaw, Williams, SNL, etc.....push the liberal agenda. Nothing is going to change if they jettison MSNBC.

[scooby321]

GE might have to sell NBC it stock was down over 8% over concerns of financial risks.

[kevinm13]

Just hit the button on your remote to change the channel. MSNBC gets its order from above at NBC. Nothing new and completely biased, just like at NBC. Low ratings will drive them to make a business decision, eventually. They aren’t man enough to own up to being liberal and in the tank for Obama.

[xDGx]

GE has been shopping NBC/MSNBC for some time - it’s about (coincidentally) 8% of their revenues.

Buyers are (understandably) cautious.

[maggief]

There’s a difference between the two?!

[maggief]

There’s a difference between the two?!

[Hildy]

Is that true? Wouldn’t it be fabulous if Rush could start a consortium to buy it?

[NewMediaFan]

And what of MSNBC? With personalities like Olbermann, Matthews and now Rachel Maddow, the network has forged a fantastic programming groove.

lol, they're *groovin* to last place in the ratings.

[rose]

Why? They are one and the same. NBC is no different

[pgkdan]

If NBC News spun off MSNBC, the cable network would have a green light to be as liberal as it wanted.

LOL...how much more liberal do you think they can be?

[sanjuanbob]

Don’t you love seeing Olberman as a commentator at half time of Sunday Night Football on NBC? If he’s sick, maybe
Alan Colmbes could fill in. Wonder how the left would respond to seeing Bill O’Reilly as a half time commentator?

[Iron Munro]

Alert! Alert! Alert!

[pgkdan]

Wonder how the left would respond to seeing Bill O’Reilly as a half time commentator?

BOR is a blowhard but we know how they reacted to Rush.