Today near the top of the 2pm hour MSNBC gave a “Business Travelers Forecast” using Weather Plus. This is highly unusual as MSNBC has been using Accuweather for years for that segment. Could this be a sign that Accuweather has fallen out of favor at MSNBC and they’re planning to replace it with Weather Plus? Only time will tell…

MSNBC.com announced today that it has selected SS+K as its marketing agency of record.

MSNBC.com, the leader in breaking news and original journalism on the Internet, announced today that SS+K, a creatively-driven strategic communications firm, is its marketing agency of record. SS+K will provide the top-rated online news site with marketing communications services, including brand strategy work and an integrated marketing campaign, to further consumer engagement and fuel the site’s growth. MSNBC.com aims to launch a campaign in late summer 2006.

“We looked at several top firms, and SS+K’s commitment to a research-based, integrated approach clearly matched our need for an agency partner to help us determine creative new ways to connect with our audience,” said Catherine Captain, MSNBC.com’s vice president of marketing. “As MSNBC.com continues to grow and expand its thinking about how best to deliver online news and information, we’re excited to be able to tap into SS+K’s smart ‘asymmetric’ approach to marketing communications.”
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Howard Kurtz responded to questions about his Olbermann piece, among other things, today in his chat…

Nashville, Tenn.: Was your point in writing today’s column that Keith Olbermann is out of place in a conservative media and that he ought to find another line of work or that there ought to be more like him, more balance? For example the Google news robot shows 508 articles covering Sen. McCain’s statements on “Meet the Press” yesterday but only four articles covering General Zinni’s. (Among other things Zinni requested that Rumsfeld resign)

Howard Kurtz: My point was to say that Keith’s show is starting to get much more attention and somewhat better ratings, and that it stands out in a cable universe that has no liberal shows but a number of prominent conservative ones. Olbermann also happens to be a talented broadcaster and a very witty writer, but there’s no other daily cable show that I know of where the anchor gives Bush such a hard time night after night.

CNN announced that Ali Velshi will be hosting a radio special on the tax laws called “Cracking the Tax Code” on April 6 at 2pm ET on CNN radio affiliates…

With the tax-filing deadline approaching, CNNRadio will offer its affiliates a special one-hour program on the ins and outs of current tax laws. Hosted by CNN business news anchor Ali Velshi, “Cracking the Tax Code” will examine the federal tax system.
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For the special, Velshi will examine some of the proposed alternatives to the current tax code. He will talk with nationally syndicated radio talk show host and author Neil Boortz about his fair tax proposal which replaces the federal income tax with a retail sales tax on new goods and services. Additionally, Velshi will discuss flat tax proposals which require taxpayers to pay the same rate. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Washington, D.C., Senatorial delegate Paul Strauss will discuss Brownback’s flat tax proposal with Velshi.
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The San Bernardino Sun’s David Kronke writes about the Olbermann/O’Reilly feud but says there’s more to Countdown than just that.(via TVNewser)

“There are two conflicting schools of thought” about O’Reilly’s attacks, Olbermann continues. “Some have been trying to get him to calm down, which they tried (when he raged against) Al Franken, and that obviously didn’t work. And others are saying, ‘No, Bill, you have to respond.’” That O’Reilly hasn’t mentioned Olbermann in a couple of weeks, however, perhaps suggests a new strategy at Fox.

O’Reilly did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment. While not disputing an observation that O’Reilly seems to have ceased his pokes at Olbermann, a Fox News Channel spokeswoman declined comment.

But there’s much more to “Countdown” than a silly feud.

Yes, I know the writer is incorrect about O’Reilly mentioning Olbermann at all. He never has mentioned him by name.

Ad Age’s Lisa Sanders has more on the suit filed last week…

Mr. Deutsch’s lawyer, Judd Burstein, called the suit “merely a desperate effort by Steve Dworin to convince the world and himself that he is not the cause of his own failures.” In addition, Mr. Burstein gave Advertising Age a letter, dated Feb. 9, written by Mr. Dworin’s counsel, Keith Biebelberg, that says that Mr. Dworin is planning to open his own agency. The letter seems to admit that the lawsuit is, in part, aimed at garnering publicity.

“Under ordinary circumstances, Mr. Dworin would benefit by press coverage of his new undertaking,” states the letter. “Because of Mr. Deutsch’s book, the publicity that this lawsuit will generate is virtually essential to my client’s attempt to counteract the harm that Mr. Deutsch has caused.”

Howard Kurtz has a profile of MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann in The Washington Post. (Note to Kurtz: Olbermann Watch is not a “recently launched” website)

“Keith’s show is the best show on television, period — interesting, edgy and really well written,” says MSNBC President Rick Kaplan. He says Olbermann is “incredibly aggressive” toward anyone in power: “In the same way that people who think the president needs to be supported more have turned to Fox, a lot of people who think the president needs to be taken on more have found a friendly voice in ‘Countdown.’ ”

NBC News President Steve Capus says “there’s no question he’s stepped up his opinionated discussions, but the audience is smart enough to know what is straight news reporting and what is opinion-driven talk.”