Opinion: FNC and CNN cover Alito; MSNBC Alito…then returns to Imus
All three networks covered the Alito nomination at 8 am EST this morning. But while CNN and FNC both followed up with lengthy analysis, MSNBC went back to Imus In The Morning. NBC’s David Gregory did a phone-in for a few minutes but by 8:30 Mike Wallace, who is hawking his new memoir, was being interviewed.
This just has to drive MSNBC staffers nuts seeing this happen. And it’s not the first time. To even suggest, as NBC/MSNBC News brass will, that Imus is capable of covering a story like this, is patently ludicrous. They crammed in sports scores within 15 minutes of the announcement! They talked about a Bill Clinton radio ad on John Corzine! Now Wallace is being interviewed. What does this have to do with Alito? Where are the all star analysts? Where are the NBC/MSNBC reporters, besides Gregory? Unbelievable…
How is MSNBC suppose to attract viewers interested in the story when they aren’t covering it? By the time they goto MSNBC live any viewers interested have already found it elsewhere. So they’ll be reporting (roughly) 2 hour old news by the time they take over from Imus. “MSNBC, your news station if the event doesn’t happen on the weekend or before 10am EST…”
Comment by Terance — October 31, 2005 @ 9:52 am
I don’t know what they think they can accomplish by returning to regular scheduled programing when this announcement falls right in line with all of the confusion, struggle, and everything else that happened last week.
Comment by Anthony — October 31, 2005 @ 10:07 am
Another reason I call it “MESS-NBC”.
Comment by Roger C. — October 31, 2005 @ 12:00 pm
From daytime news to primetime programming, it’s a weak channel.
Comment by Gregg — October 31, 2005 @ 1:52 pm
Blame the NBC broadcast affiliates. They did not want MSNBC to air a hard news show that would compete, at least in the Eastern and Central time zones, with NBC’s “Today” show.
Comment by Bob — October 31, 2005 @ 2:04 pm
Funny how the Pacific Time Zone gets ignored if their affiliates have a beef with MSNBC doing live news in the middle of Today’s slot…
Comment by Spud — October 31, 2005 @ 4:03 pm
I’d rather watch/listen to Imus anytime!
Comment by cas — October 31, 2005 @ 4:25 pm