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Voices From Above Silence a Cable TV Feud (Olbermann, O'Reilly Feud Ended Early June)
New York Times ^
| August 1, 2009
| Brian Stelter
Posted on 08/01/2009 11:27:11 AM PDT by lbryce
It was a media cage fight, televised every weeknight at 8 p.m. But the match was halted when the blood started to spray executives in the high-priced seats.
For years Keith Olbermann of MSNBC had savaged his prime-time nemesis Bill OReilly of the Fox News Channel and accused Fox of journalistic malpractice almost nightly. Mr. OReilly in turn criticized Mr. Olbermanns bosses and led an exceptional campaign against General Electric, the parent company of MSNBC.
It was perhaps the fiercest media feud of the decade and by this year, their bosses had had enough. But it took a fellow television personality with a neutral perspective to help bring it to at least a temporary end.
At an off-the-record summit meeting for chief executives sponsored by Microsoft in mid-May, the PBS interviewer Charlie Rose asked Jeffrey Immelt, chairman of G.E., and his counterpart at the News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, about the feud.
Both moguls expressed regret over the venomous culture between the networks and the increasingly personal nature of the barbs. Days later, even though the feud had increased the audience of both programs, their lieutenants arranged a cease-fire, according to four people who work at the companies and have direct knowledge of the deal.
In early June, the combat stopped, and MSNBC and Fox, for the most part, found other targets for their verbal missiles (Hello, CNN).
It was time to grow up, a senior employee of one of the companies said.
The reconciliation not acknowledged by the parties until now showcased how a personal and commercial battle between two men could create real consequences for their parent corporations. A G.E. shareholders meeting, for instance, was overrun by critics of MSNBC (and one of Mr. OReillys producers) last April.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: leftwingagenda; liberal; media; msm
The messages hit nerves on both sides. Mr. Immelt remarked to MSNBC staff members last summer that he would never forgive Rupert Murdoch for Foxs behavior, according to two people who were present. In private phone calls, the Fox News chairman, Roger Ailes, told NBC officials to end the attacks. This article, as is all reports by the New York Times about conservative, right wing media, news organizations internet, follows the same format whereby references about them are made in a seemingly objective, calm, non-judgmental perspective, only to set you up by dropping some disjointed inexplicable comment, one that egregiously impugns the conservative source, without explanation,follow-up.
What "behavior" is it that Mr. Immelt won't forgive Mr. Murdoch for? The New York Times does not provide any background, prior reference to why Mr. Immelt feels so uncharitable towards Mr. Murdoch only portraying Mr. Murdoch of doing something "unforgivable". without ever telling us what he did.
It seems an absolutely decisive victory for Fox News.
1
posted on
08/01/2009 11:27:12 AM PDT
by
lbryce
To: lbryce
The New York Times does not provide any background, prior reference to why Mr. Immelt feels so uncharitable towards Mr. Murdoch only portraying Mr. Murdoch of doing something "unforgivable". without ever telling us what he did. Murdoch gave conservatives some air time - for a liberal - that's "unforgivable".
2
posted on
08/01/2009 11:29:50 AM PDT
by
GOPJ
(Destroy cars to stop nonexistant global warming & tax citizens $4,500 each time? Crazy.)
To: lbryce
To: lbryce
4
posted on
08/01/2009 11:38:10 AM PDT
by
rom
(Israel got Saul before they got David. Where's our David?)
To: lbryce
“What “behavior” is it that Mr. Immelt won't forgive Mr. Murdoch for?”
Stomping MSNBC’s guts out in the daily ratings?
5
posted on
08/01/2009 11:40:11 AM PDT
by
Beagle8U
(Free Republic -- One stop shopping ....... It's the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
To: rom
Olbermann is German for “cannot perform sexually for the ladies”
6
posted on
08/01/2009 11:47:10 AM PDT
by
Armedanddangerous
(I think youre so full of inconsolable rage you don't care who you hurt)
To: lbryce
It was time to grow up,...
It's impossible for the (adult)children of MSNBC to grow-up. For that matter, Liberals and 'Progressives' are defined by their childish tantrums over not getting their way 110% of the time.
O'Reilly is just a d*ck that has sold-out to try and be all things to all people to stay #1. Whatever.
The fact that this report of the 'truce' is in the NYTimes makes me wonder why I even read it.
7
posted on
08/01/2009 11:53:17 AM PDT
by
CaptSkip
To: lbryce
Both men are a couple of losers who should have remained in their previous professions.
8
posted on
08/01/2009 11:56:14 AM PDT
by
Extremely Extreme Extremist
("President Obama, your agenda is not new, it's not change, and it's not hope" - Rush Limbaugh 02/28)
To: lbryce
For years Keith Olbermann of MSNBC had savaged his prime-time nemesis Bill OReilly of the Fox News Channel and accused Fox of journalistic malpractice almost nightly. Mr. OReilly in turn criticized Mr. Olbermanns bosses and led an exceptional campaign against General Electric, the parent company of MSNBC.Who cares if trashy people talk trash to one another? I am little impressed by either of these shallow propagandists.
9
posted on
08/01/2009 12:03:31 PM PDT
by
olezip
To: CaptSkip
Bill, Greta, Sean, Keith, Rachel, Larry.
I am sick of all of them. Rather watch rasslin or poker.
10
posted on
08/01/2009 12:04:56 PM PDT
by
mono
To: Armedanddangerous
To: lbryce
[Charlie Rose asked Jeffrey Immelt, chairman of G.E., and his counterpart at the News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, about the feud.]
Like his spiritual mentor, the late Mr. Rogers, Rose is regarded as “a bridge over trouble waters” in TV Land.
What an absurd crock of sh*t. Broadcast and cable news products are 80 percent commercial entertainment. The weekly “documentary” 60 MINUTES is a textbook example. Olbermann and O’Reilly employ theatrical techniques to manipulate their audiences and maintain ratings. Their feud is like the “feuds” in professional wrestling that lead to a “grudge match.” In stage comedy the Yiddish term is "shtick."
12
posted on
08/01/2009 12:13:38 PM PDT
by
Brad from Tennessee
(A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.)
To: lbryce
Last night was really nice, O’Really wasn’t on and he had Laura Ingraham sitting in with Anne Coulter as a guest. I was in seventh heaven. Funny last week O’Really didn’t seem to have a problem with Lou Dobbs getting fired then I hear Michelle Malkin is Hannity’s guest on the same day.
13
posted on
08/01/2009 12:19:13 PM PDT
by
BerryDingle
(I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
To: BerryDingle
Last night was really nice, OReally wasnt on and he had Laura Ingraham sitting in with Anne Coulter as a guest. Amen to that. I only watch The Factor when Laura is Hosting. I can't take BillO and his overinflated ego anymore.
14
posted on
08/01/2009 12:44:00 PM PDT
by
RedStateGuyTrappedinCT
(I'm one of the undecided. Is BamBam more corrupt than Clinton or more incompetent than Carter?)
To: lbryce
Charlie Rose has a “neutral perspective”?? Yeah, sure, just like Bill Moyers. Considering this is a NYT piece, I'd guess what it really means is that NBC was getting hurt and told Olberboy to STFU. Especially when Olbermann based his whole show on bashing O’Reilly and Fox News, and O’Reilly refused to even mention Olbie’s name.
I'm betting that when Uberboy gets back from the nut house, rehab, or wherever he's been, he won't be able to resist dropping O’Reilly’s name, as if O’Reilly doesn't drop his own name enough. His bragging, ignorance of common knowledge and weird sex obsession are becoming unwatchable.
To: lbryce
Charlie Rose has a “neutral perspective”?? Yeah, sure, just like Bill Moyers. Considering this is a NYT piece, I'd guess what it really means is that NBC was getting hurt and told Olberboy to STFU. Especially when Olbermann based his whole show on bashing O’Reilly and Fox News, and O’Reilly refused to even mention Olbie’s name.
I'm betting that when Uberboy gets back from the nut house, rehab, or wherever he's been, he won't be able to resist dropping O’Reilly’s name, as if O’Reilly doesn't drop his own name enough. His bragging, ignorance of common knowledge and weird sex obsession are becoming unwatchable.
To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
To: 1FreeAmerican
18
posted on
08/01/2009 3:41:39 PM PDT
by
Armedanddangerous
(I think youre so full of inconsolable rage you don't care who you hurt)
To: Armedanddangerous
for the ladies? Did you leave out a d?
19
posted on
08/01/2009 4:27:07 PM PDT
by
shaft29
(Just your typical black woman.)
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