Fox billboard sticks it to CNN again (with pic)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 10/09/03 | TONY WILBERT

[Pokey78]

Fox's new message on a billboard across
from CNN includes the line
"Brought to You by Your Friends at Fox News."

Paula Zahn's new show on CNN is performing so poorly that even archrival Fox wants CNN to bring back Connie Chung.

At least that's what a comical new billboard Fox erected late Tuesday catty-cornered to CNN Center says.

"Come Home Connie. CNN Needs You," the billboard reads. "Brought to You by Your Friends at Fox News."

"We thought this would lift the morale and bring a few smiles to the faces of the CNN staffers in Atlanta," Fox News spokeswoman Irena Briganti said Wednesday.

CNN officials were not immediately available for comment.

CNN canceled "Connie Chung Tonight" in March, prompting Chung to leave the Atlanta-based network. The network canceled the show, which did relatively well in the ratings but took flak for its tabloid style.

CNN replaced the show with one that featured Zahn and was designed to to sharpen CNN's hard-news focus. Last month, the show, which airs at 8 p.m., was relaunched as "Paula Zahn Now."

But the show's ratings have been disappointing.

During "Paula Zahn Now's" first month on the air, the number of viewers has fallen about 19 percent from the time slot a year ago, when Chung's program was airing. Zahn's show drew an average of 575,000 viewers during its first four weeks on the air.

The O'Reilly Factor, hosted by Bill O'Reilly, dominated the 8 p.m. cable news time slot.

Though the billboard's tone is meant to be comical, the message should hit a nerve at CNN, which has bristled at its declining ratings.

The Fox billboard at Centennial Olympic Park Drive and Marietta Street has featured several messages during the past several years, including ones welcoming Greta Van Susteren, who left CNN for Fox in December 2001.

Other messages on the billboard have promoted the morning show "Fox and Friends" and announced Fox's ascent to the No. 1 position in cable news.

In Manhattan, CNN has erected a billboard of its own across from Fox News. In February, CNN's billboard featured a smiling Paula Zahn and read, "Real News Makes the Difference."

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Priceless!!!

[Constitution Day]

Awesome! BTTT.

[Support Free Republic]

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[Chad Fairbanks]

In February, CNN's billboard featured a smiling Paula Zahn and read, "Real News Makes the Difference."

And they couldn't understand why the people at Fox were laughing at it so hard...

[Roscoe Karns]

Next to Crossfire, Chung's show was the worst on CNN.

[Humidston]

What's CNN?

[Howlin]

[gov_bean_ counter]

Gratuitous cheep shot ping...

Gotta love it.

[Mo1]

LOL .. now that is funny

[mhking]

To the right of this billboard is one for "Fox and Friends". Both of these are at the corner of Marietta St. and Centennial Olympic Park Dr. - catty-corner from CNN Center.

Just damn.

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[TLI]

Well, it USED to be the clinton news network, but he left. Now? Don't know really....

[Libertina]

ROTFLOL Getting up close and personal. ;)

[jern]

I love Fox news.

Yesterday was their 7th birthday!

[tonyinv]

How childish!

This is great. Ya know...it used to be the conservatives that were stuffy and straight laced and the libs were the pranksters.

Man how the roles have been reversed.

[radiohead]

Connie Chung story -

Years ago, I was at a McDonalds in Center City Philly. I'm sitting down eating when I sense the presence of someone behind me. A little perturbed, I turned around and saw two women talking, just as one said, "Yes, I'm Connie Chung."

Connie had a *big* bag of McDonalds. I could see a nice black sedan outside the door, with the driver standing beside the passenger door, awaiting her return. It appeared that Connie had stopped in, probably gotten enough food for the two of them for their trip back up to NYC.

Gotta give her credit for getting her own food, in a Mickie D's of all places!

[longtermmemmory]

suicide watch for CNN?

BTW: CNN everywhere else is going strong. Apprently they can't get enough of euroCNN's anti-american/anti-bush/anti-freedom/anti-capitalism bable in europe. (or is that will not allow anything BUT anti-american/anti-bush/anti-freedom/anti-capitalism bable to go out on european governments controled airwaves.)

[Chewbacca]

Just change Clinton to Communist and I think that pretty much nails it.

[Cold Heat]

WOW! Some hardball!

[jimfree]

catty-cornered - meow.