MSNBC FUTURE IN DOUBT

DrudgeReport.com ^ | August 18, 2002

[Paul Atreides]

"The fall may be the make-or-break time for MSNBC," NEW YORK TIMES TV hotshot Bill Carter is preparing to write in Monday editions.

According to newsroom sources, Carter is set to warn how "future investment and promotion budgets for the channel" may be at risk during the coming months, as the all-news network continues to slump in the ratings, lead by the nearly still-born DONAHUE.

The pressure is coming from the very top of the MSNBCNBCGE tree.

Earlier this year, at a meeting of NBC's top management, Jeffrey Immelt, the chairman of GENERAL ELECTRIC, specifically cited MSNBC as the area of NBC that most needed attention. "He gave the order," a senior NBC executive has told Carter said, "and the order was, 'Fix it."'

As for the ailing DONAHUE, MSNBC prez Erik Sorenson tells Carter: "We're in the silly season. The news is so slow; it's been the summer of kidnappings. That plays more toward [CNN's] Connie [Chung]. Her show is cotton candy. It's all tabloid, all the time."

Sorenson said that come fall DONAHUE will start to take advantage of more hard news developments. "We'll have an election to cover and a war in Iraq," Sorenson said.

Beyond that, look for Donahue to book more celebrities. "He's going to have Oprah on and Harrison Ford and George Clooney," Sorenson said. "I don't honestly expect to have an answer on this until November."

Developing...

[mystery-ak]

LOL....thank-you....the resemblance is scary!

[IronJack]

their own little flat-Earth society.

Hey, man. Like, Phil Donohue was The Man three decades ago, y'know? He, like, interviewed important people 'n' stuff. Wasn't he at Woodstock and Altamont and all the cool gigs? He's where it's at, a total groove machine.

[Paul Atreides]

Heh heh...the only thing that the landPhil will be remembered for is wearing a skirt on national television.

[JimSEA]

I agree. Overseas I am stuck with CNN International, BBC, Discovery and CNBC for English language programs (Well HBO too but it is more entertaining to watch rice grow). With that lineup CNBC is a blessing.

[mware]

Just leave CNBC alone. I like Kudlow and Cramer.

Ditto, along with Wall Street Journal Opinion, with Stuart Varney and Paul Gigot.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

My theory is that the networks are financing time travel research so that they'll have the ability to rerun shows before they're made.

[cpdiii]

FOX RULES! I feel MSNBCs pain. It feels good.

[jalisco555]

Ah, Soledad, the thinking man's dream woman!

[jalisco555]

Even if it hadn't been canceled when it was, there's no way it would be around today

The thing that really got me was the reason they canceled it. They did it so they could fill the hour with stories about Princess Di. That told me all I ever needed to know about MSNBC.

[glock rocks]

LOL! it's him!

[jalisco555]

Lamb's interview of Ann Coulter was very good. Philth, Katie, and others should have been taking notes.

I've heard Lamb's views are to the left but he is a scrupulously fair interviewer and has numerous conservative guests. His show is incredibly informative. A real pro.

[leilani]

"Just leave CNBC alone. I like Kudlow and Cramer. Ditto, along with Wall Street Journal Opinion, with Stuart Varney and Paul Gigot." Me too. Leave CNBC alone (you can ditch that walking-dumb-blonde joke Tyler M. and cut the horribly grating music, though). Really, any ten year old could have told the suits at MSNBC that Donahue was gonna be "stillborn" (LOL, his sonagram had D.O.A. written in boldface type all over it), but I guess I am the only one in the world who likes Nachman, evidently.Sigh.

[MissAmericanPie]

While they are at it, ditch NBC news also.

[jalisco555]

Ditto, along with Wall Street Journal Opinion, with Stuart Varney and Paul Gigot.

They're all right but the sight of Dorothy Rabinowitz is enough to frighten small children.

[Paul Atreides]

NBC, NBC......isn't that the network with Tom Brokejaw on it? ;-)

[stands2reason]

5-year old sitcom adding the movie has-been to their cast

Or, the Snotty-but-Cute Kid...

[MissAmericanPie]

Is he still there? I wouldn't know, I haven't watched in 4+ years now. I'm a Fox Fan.

[Madcelt]

Buh Bye,BUH BYE! Darn thought they would never leave.

[Mark]

Couldn't they just have played with their books a little? A little expense shown as profit....????????????

[C.C. Pelican Brown]

Definitely intend to read it. Rush says much the same thing about conservative writers being on the top of the NYTimes bestseller lists. He should know. :)