MSNBC changing format?

[Contrary1]

We need to start writing letters. If they move Keith to CNBC, I think his ratings will go down, which will be an excuse to dump him. He's the only real voice we have these days, we can't let this happen.

A Modified MSNBC?

"There has been speculation for months about MSNBC’s future as a 24-hour cable news channel—or, maybe more to the point, its lack thereof. But one indication may have come last July, when the 10-year-old network launched a newsmagazine, MSNBC Investigates. From what I’ve heard coming out of 30 Rock lately, that may be a sign of things to come.

Word is that the perennial also-ran in cable news is considering the possibility of virtually dropping out of the live-news business and devoting itself entirely to taped, newsmagazine-style programming —much of it likely repurposed from NBC News. In other words, “The Dateline: NBC Channel.”

That’s just one option under consideration. But that such a drastic idea is even on the table speaks volumes about the state of the cable news business.

If such a modification occurs, it would certainly mean changes for MSNBC’s business-news sibling, CNBC. One scenario has successful MSNBC personalities Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann moving their respective acts to CNBC in the hopes of turbo-charging its ratings-challenged primetime. In this case, NBC News still would have both channels at its disposal should it want to go live 24/7 in the event of a terrorist attack or a major natural disaster..."

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6374608.html?display=Search+Results&text=msnbc

[WCGreen]

1. The people will look for KO and Tweety....

Now the good news is we would be rid of Pucker and Joey the Scar....

[hsher]

4. About Tucker

Hi everybody. :hi: I'm a newbie.

Aw? What's the matter with Tucker?

I'm brand new on DU tonight, and I am a liberal - and a Socialist. So I'm kind of radical, and I hope I don't scare you guys. How does this post relate to Tucker? Well, Tucker Carlson is a friend of mine actually. :pals: He knows I'm a Socialist, and I know he's a (cough) Libertarian (cough*Republicanapologist*shillfortheright*completesellout*cough)... but he's friendly as h*ll and he makes me laugh. Plus he's incredibly fair, for a conservative. You can actually have a conversation with the guy.

As a massive Jon Stewart fan, I know a lot of us have reason to dislike the Tuckster, but remember: it was Tucker Carlson who broke the anti-Bush story in Talk Magazine about Bush snickering at and making fun of born-again female death-row inmate Karla Faye Tucker; and Bush's team exiled him from the White House press corps forever because of it. We on the left have Tucker on the center right to thank for that story. Take it from me, Tucker's misled, but he's actually a sweet guy.

(DU regulars' heads explode, reacting in disbelief and horror.) (Yes, I know. Him of the bowtie.)

It's true. Somebody needs to play Ben Kenobi to his Anakin Skywalker, because Tucker has an actual soul and can be turned to the good side of the Force. OK, I will shut up and resume lurking now...

And now, to prove I am indeed liberal despite that friendship, and a Jon Stewart fan...
www.yourmorningleibowitz.blogspot.com
The Daily Show comic strip

[REP]

5. Welcome!

It's okay with me if you're actually friends with ... with ... him. I'll take your word that he has redeeming qualities! In real life, a lot of us have sweet-but-misled friends; yours just happens to be well-known.

As for being Socialist ... I'm more of a Shavian Fabian myself.

[hsher]

6. Shavian Fabian!

I know just what you're talking about! I have another friend who's into Fabian philosophy too, he's a Brit and lives out in LA... married to my sister. Thank you for not reaming me a new one for... um... being kinda friends with... er... yeah... that... um...

... well, him.

I'm workin' on him ;-)

I've been a DU lurker forever, and I finally came out tonight to say hi to everybody, because... well... I think there should be a revolution, and I need to feel better about thinking that. I'm very sad it's come to this, and I'm trying to feel less guilty about my passion for America, my need to defend her on a less cuddly level than I have these past few years. So yes, I am a bit of a radical... and I think we're moving past the point of protest marches. Looks like some stronger stuff might be needed to preserve this Republic...

Well, yes: Tucker is one of a few true conservatives outraged by the GOP covering Mark Foley's crimes. I figured he would be before I even watched his show to see his reaction. I did a little comic strip cartoon of his reaction instead, and emailed him a link to it. He visited my site and pronounced the cartoon "outstanding". Later that afternoon, on his show, he lunged like a pack of vicious dogs at two neocon guests who were attempting to spin Foley's behavior, and called Foley's sudden attempt at victim status "insulting and disgusting". I imagine he's bewildered by the GOP right now, unsure what to make of a bunch of thugs he and his Dad once believed in. (Well, his Dad still does.)

I think over the next few months we're going to see Tucker open his eyes wider at what the right has been up to these few years. He changes his mind if he learns something new and the opposition can prove it to him. He was eagerly "for" Bush and the Iraq War when both messes started years ago, and he's openly, outspokenly against both now. He may become more outspoken about it. One thing about Tucker Carlson, he's nobody's coward, and he definitely, fearlessly speaks his mind!

Btw, I promise this is not a plug to make you visit my site, but if by chance you want to see the cartoon I did of Tucker's nonRepublican reaction to Foleygate, which he raved about, it's here:

www.yourmorningleibowitz.blogspot.com

Thank you again for saying hi to me :hug:

[hsher]

7. Oops

Y'know, I posted the darn link already. Stupid me posted a second time.
PROFUSE apologies...

[Kurovski]

22. Bill Press said that Tucker is a good guy. Now's his chance to live up to

that good press. Pass it on.;-)

Howdy, hsher. :hi:

[Kahuna]

8. Welcome to DU. Let me tell you about your friend Tucker...

Tucker seems like a nice enough guy. My problem with him is his lack of on air personality. To me he just doesn't have one. He comes across as juvenile and shrill. Especially when he's lying about the democrats. It's like, every time he has to admit that the republicans suck, he has to get shrill and goes overboard in his "Democrats suck too" schtick. He'll start doing his O'Reilly act and start pulling things out of his butt to malign the Dems. Not attractive and very annoying. So to put my impression of Tucker into one word, I find him annoying. He's a bit of a putz. This is constructive criticism that you might want to share with your friend.

Scarborough on the other hand has a great on air personality (until he starts his Democrats suck too schtick) and I'm surprised that his show doesn't do better. When Joe is being fair and honest, I think he is very engaging, mature and personable.

So, again welcome to DU. :hi: :toast:

[hsher]

13. Hi Kahuna!

Thanks for welcoming me to the community. I love it here. About Tucker's shrillness, oh boy, you and I could talk. You know, Kahuna, to me he comes off as LYING when he starts in on the Democrats. I've taught acting courses, and when I watch his eyes as he starts shrilling, they get this weird, dancy gleam to them and wall off like they're saying "I'm being false right now". It couldn't get more obvious. Off-camera, he's calmer and more thoughtful about Democrats and liberals, and he asks a lot of peculiar, interested questions. But at sometime I'll pass your comments on to him. Don't expect much. Tucker laughs and puts up a "wall" when you criticize his TV performances. I get the wall too. He hears you but won't listen. Does that make sense?

Thank you again for welcoming me here!

[WCGreen]

9. Well, he places himself out in the spotlight and I see...

the result of his dem bashing all the time...

So I don't care what he is like in real life, he is aiding and abetting the destruction of our way of life so yea, I'm gonna keep calling him Pucker....

[hsher]

14. Hi WC

I wouldn't have it any other way. Neither would he! Thanks for saying hi to me. I'm new here.

[WCGreen]

19. Stick around....

It get's better....

Wait until we are a week from the election....

[nosillies]

12. Welcome!

It's OK to be friends with the crazies...some of us are even (shhh!!) related to them.

[hsher]

15. Heh heh heh, point taken

Hi Amy! Chuckling at "shhh"... let's just say that as a part-African American person who is alleged to have a certain fully African-American third cousin who's female, conservative, shrill, evil, and works for a very high Bush Administration department as its Secretary with a big S, I know exactly what you're talking about. Shhh... let's not attract any derision because of our crazy kin! :7

[originalpckelly]

16. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[hsher]

20. Hi Original! I answered your poll

:hi:

[LiberalArkie]

18. The bad news would be moving from Microsoft/NBC to

Wall Street Journal / NBC channel.. Keith would have to go with that channel

[Scribe]

2. We need to write letters because you think his ratings will fall?

[w4rma]

3. They are looking at dropping the channel when their ratings are finally

moving upwards?

I wonder if there is another reason why they are thinking about dropping 24/7 news.

[WCGreen]

10. They have two live netwroks...

That is expensive...

[LunaC]

11. MS Quit MSNBC TV

Originally posted Dec. 05:

Microsoft Quits MSNBC TV, but Web Partnership Remains

Ending a partnership that soured long ago, Microsoft and NBC announced yesterday that they would dissolve their joint ownership of the cable news channel MSNBC, with NBC taking control.

NBC has completed a deal to assume majority control of the channel immediately, with an 82 percent stake, and it will become the sole owner within two years, NBC executives said yesterday. The two companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal.

But the partners will continue their 50-50 ownership of the MSNBC Web site, which, partly as a consequence of its affiliation with Microsoft, is the most-used news site on the Internet.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=5681068

or

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30610F93E540C778EDDAB0994DD404482


This might explain why they're experimenting with their format.

[high density]

17. Just kill the channel

Countdown is the only useful show on there and it can be easily moved to CNBC. NBC News is kidding themselves if they think viewers will flock to a mothballed "news" channel during a major event. Either have a news network or don't have it. The current "news coverage" on MSNBC is pretty much dead anyway, with the important exception of Olbermann. If an event is important enough, they can commandeer the NBC broadcast channel, CNBC, or USA Network.

[LTR]

21. This article is a few weeks old

And I remember seeing it posted here.

Olbermann's ratings have skyrocketed in the past several weeks, so this may have changed things.

Above all, this article seems like pure speculation and rumor. If MSNBC were smart, they'd scale back the Dateline reruns and the prison documentaries and build themselves into a credible news outlet. They could carve a niche with it. NWI is history, FOX is propaganda, CNN is fluff and Headline News is fluff for people with ADD. If the people at NBC/Universal pulled their heads out of their asses, they'd realize that they actually had something there.

[Eric J in MN]

23. If Keith Olbermann goes to CNBC I'll watch him there.

His ratings would drop in the short term, but everyone would understand it.

[UTUSN]

24. Here's an idea for Dan ABRAMS: How'bout COMBINING C&MS-NBC?

Putting some LIVE CNBC stuff, prime time, WITH KO (& Tweety & the rest).