Countdown to re-air at 9 am ET?
ICN is hearing that MSNBC is mulling a programming change in daytime. The change would be a repeat of the previous Countdown with Keith Olbermann airing after Imus In The Morning at 9am ET instead of live news. Live News (MSNBC Live) would now begin at 10 am ET.
It’s bad enough that MSNBC can’t compete directly with FNC and CNN in the mornings with live news because Imus is on. To delay the start of live news to 10 am further undermines MSNBC’s credibility as a cable news network. The only reason I could see this happening is as another budget cutting move; brought on by NBC Entertainment’s dive in the ratings and resultant loss of advertising revenue. And there have been plenty of those cuts at MSNBC already. We’re long past the “trimming the fat” stage at MSNBC. Now the marrow is getting gutted.
I guess we’ll find out whether this is for real or not pretty quickly.
UPDATE: It’s for real. It was announced this morning in an internal memo from Rick Kaplan.
UPDATE 2: Re-wrote the first paragraph because it was overly meandering to read the way it was originally written.
Is this supposed to be a correction course? Someone is delusional!
“Countdown” in the morning? Barf!
Comment by Cara — April 18, 2006 @ 3:21 pm
I guess I can see it doing some good. Amy Robach is rapidly approaching maternity leave, so the timing would be good. And it could get some additional eyeballs on Keith, folks who don’t watch at night.
Comment by Doug — April 18, 2006 @ 3:37 pm
Gee, Spud, TVNewser quoted you on his page regarding this matter. I’ll be darned!
Comment by Goldfish — April 18, 2006 @ 4:06 pm
Spud, here’s what I think you SHOULD have said:
To replay Keith Olbermann’s biased opinion program that he calls ‘news’ further undermines MSNBC’s credibility as a cable news network.
Comment by benllv — April 18, 2006 @ 4:12 pm
Obviously, Mr. Olbermann is underutilized by MSNBC, but I don’t think this is the best way to use him. A better way would be to rebroadcast the regular segments during Imus and/or MSNBC News Live (i.e. Oddball, Top 3 Newsmakers, Nominees for Worst Person in the World) and then tell people “For more news, Olbermann Style, tune in tonight”.
This could also ward off the typical Faux News viewers, the ones who have already allowed their intelligence to meet the puree button, and allow MSNBC to pursue a more enlightened viewership.
Comment by The Truth — April 18, 2006 @ 5:14 pm
Olbermann is building them a really good demographic. He is the most important growth area for them right now in terms of ad revenue.
Comment by Ad Industry Guy — April 18, 2006 @ 5:22 pm
“It undermines MSNBC’s credibility as a news network”? You meant like what HLN has disintegrated in to? Gossip shows, the train wreck that is Nancy Grace and the planned addition of a right-wing mouthpiece? If you want to talk about credibility problems, there’s always Fox which isn’t a news network at all but instead a propaganda outlet for the GOP. I mean really Spud, don’t you think you were a little overwrought with your “credibility” statement here? Say what you’d like about Imus–and I don’t actually like the man—but you have to admit he manages to get interviews with newsmakers, journalists, and the like that no one else can get. And his ratings DO compete with CNN and Fox’s so I’m not sure what you mean exactly by the word compete. Imus DOES deliver live news–albeit in a different form that some apparently care for. Who decides exactly what a “news network” should be? All of the news networks long ago abandoned the notion of bringing us 24-hour news since most of them are in tape in the overnight hours. Is going to tape that much different during the day? And what if–miracle of miracles–Olbermann actually does better with that 9am repeat than the other two nets? What then? Will someone be calling Kaplan smart in retrospect? I say don’t knock it until it’s had a chance to air.
BTW–”The Truth”: Are you out of your mind? Imus hates Olbermann and most of the rest of the MSNBC primeline up and makes frequent jokes about them/swipes against them. Not only do I not think Imus wouldn’t go along with the notion of having segments of other’s shows played in his timeslot, I don’t think the talent themselves would be too happy about it given Imus’s frequent slams at them.
And to Benllv I say this: “biased” programming? That’s a joke right? I guess Fox’s programming is “fair and balanced” in your book right? Thanks for the laugh my friend. It’s always amusing to get a snapshot of the mind of the average Fox viewer.
Comment by Stan — April 18, 2006 @ 5:28 pm
How well will “Olbermann Style” fit in with security moms and retirees? They’ll be watching The View, Today and other happier, warmer-and-fuzzier morning shows. Countdown is an evening show and I don’t think it’s format will fit well with daytime viewers. The writing, presentation and aesthetics of the show will have to change for it to gain any traction during the day.
Comment by Goldfish — April 18, 2006 @ 5:46 pm
I meant “its” not “it’s.” Sorry.
Comment by Goldfish — April 18, 2006 @ 5:47 pm
When did I ever even mention Fox? O’Reilly is clearly a right-winger and he says up front that his show is opinion. Olbermann is clearly a left-winger and he continues to say his show is a straight news program that doesn’t promote a point of view. That’s irresponsible, my friend.
You can rant all you want about Grace, but her show is labeled as a crime talk show and that’s what it is. Paula Zahn is labeled as a straight news program and it seems to make every effort to be balanced, I can’t think of an occasion where Zahn has injected her own opinion. Yet Olbermann does so on a nightly basis, and has even admitted to only booking guests that have liberal views because he “doesn’t want to argue.”
If you want to watch that kind of program, feel free. Few other people in the United States are.
Comment by benllv — April 18, 2006 @ 5:49 pm
Olberman and Jon Stewart may be the only true newspeople left. They do more in depth reporting in one evening than ALL the other “news” programs combined.
Pull your head out.
Comment by rphwa — April 18, 2006 @ 6:01 pm
Stan-
Thank you for your concern about the status of my mind ;)
I was not aware of any change of Imus’s opinion of Mr. Olbermann. Mr. Olbermann did thank Imus during his last “Big Show” in 1998, so I assumed things were cordial. Of course, things change. References would be appreciated.
I was aware that Imus has significant problems with Contessa Brewer and Tucker Carlson, however any other show-based rumblings would be something that I’d have to consider the possibility of simple schtick for entertainment. I believe Tweety has been on Imus’s show lately without incident.
In any event, I’m sure Imus has been around long enough to be a team player when mutual benefit can be realized (an IITM ad during Countdown may help with balance) while realizing Mr. Olbermann is hardly a threat to his TV simulcast. His radio broadcast, eminating from Viacom, would be unaffected, obviously.
Comment by The Truth — April 18, 2006 @ 6:06 pm
“has even admitted to only booking guests that have liberal views because he “doesn’t want to argue.”
Link please? Until then, please be advised that Mr. Olbermann has had Pat Buchanon, Tucker Carlson, Joe Tacopina (who admitted he liked Bush on Imus), and a protester near Camp Casey protesting against Cindy Sheehan. What Mr. Olbermann doesn’t like is two guests with opposing views, increasing the likelihood of mindless bickering that is seen far too often. On the few occasions this double booking has occured, Mr. Olbermann did warn the guests, equally, prior to interviewing to maintain civility.
Comment by The Truth — April 18, 2006 @ 6:13 pm
Sure, no problem.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/04/03/BL2006040300434.html
“While his main guests are journalists, he sometimes interviews Democratic lawmakers but almost never brings on Republicans or conservatives, except for MSNBC contributor Pat Buchanan. “There are not a lot of conservative guests who are happy to be on the show,” Olbermann admits.”
Also, please note that Pat Buchanan split from the Republican party 6 years ago, and is firmly against the war in Iraq.
That was easy.
Comment by benllv — April 18, 2006 @ 6:32 pm
It undermines MSNBC’s credibility as a news network”? You meant like what HLN has disintegrated in to? Gossip shows, the train wreck that is Nancy Grace and the planned addition of a right-wing mouthpiece?
Look I’m not giving a pass to HLN for what its doing with talk shows. But even HLN starts out the morning with hard news. I’ve heard all the reasons for Imus being on (affiliate revolt at NBC, etc). Imus holds his own in the ratings and he gets high profile guests (but rarely breaks news on his show) but if it wasn’t for NBC’s affiliates do you really think he’d still be on the air at MSNBC given how shabbily he treats the network?
I don’t see how MSNBC can continue to call itself a cable news channel if it keeps cutting back on NEWS during the week the way it has been. Just in the past six months…
1. MSNBC dropped two hours of hard news to double shift Hardball and The Abrams Report.
2. Installed a wheel format from 12-4 which started out positively awful. It has loosened up a bit the past couple of weeks and gotten a tad better but it’s still a far cry from what you get on FNC or CNN.
3. Cuts an hour of news in the morning by adding a Countdown re-run.
Does anyone seriously think that MSNBC would be making these moves if it wasn’t under serious budgetary pressures? I don’t. It runs counter to how you run a cable news channel. Tape of Countdown from the previous night is going to be hit and miss in terms of how current it is. And on Mondays, after a three day layoff since Friday, it’ll be positively stale.
Comment by Spud — April 18, 2006 @ 7:08 pm
I still can’t believe they’re doing this. I’m verklempt. Where is the news? It will take a lot of editing and frequent news breaks to make a recycled Countdown look fresh the day after. That is, if MS cares to make it appear fresh.
Comment by Goldfish — April 18, 2006 @ 7:26 pm
Spud: Re:Inserting an Olbermann rerun in the morning and the other hard news cuts you describe.
Sounds like MSNBC may be recreating America’s Talking, which was its predecessor network during the mid 1990s. It also flopped!
Comment by Ira — April 18, 2006 @ 7:49 pm
I don’t think it’s MSNBC’s choice. I think it has a budgetary gun being held at its head.
Comment by Spud — April 18, 2006 @ 7:55 pm
I agree, Spud, but it stinks nonetheless.
Comment by Goldfish — April 18, 2006 @ 7:58 pm
“Olberman and Jon Stewart may be the only true newspeople left.”
Thing is, if it were a democratic administration they would BOTH go after them. Stewart will nail anyone who deserves it. The cult takes that to mean he is all liberal all the time when if fact we have the most decepetive and secretive administration in the nation’s history headed by a national security risk who is also a head clucking clown. Easy mark. Do good for the country and snipe at an easy mark clown.
Face it, outside of Olberman and a comedy show you have propaganda everywhere. Do you think it was just an accident that everyone left off the fact that Gov. Ryan was another corrupt republican?
http://mediamatters.org/items/200604180003
Really is silly watching anyone complain about anything resembling a liberal view getting more air time. Only a cultee would find a problem with it. No, if you aren’t spewing the 24/7 Pravda Cult Fox Network “News” the right will moan and moan.
Comment by Ned — April 18, 2006 @ 9:01 pm
I don’t think it stinks. I think it’s a great way for Olbermann to build his audience with people who may not be able to watch him at night–and Rick Kaplan is going to end up looking “crazy like a…”
Well, I won’t say it! LOL!
Comment by tanne — April 18, 2006 @ 9:31 pm
Olberman’s show is the only worthwhile program on MSNBC. It is the only one that departs from the pathetic, and failed Fox Lite format that the rest of MSNBCs programming adheres to.
Comment by Captain Video — April 18, 2006 @ 10:44 pm
Anyone who calls the Daily Show as a reliable source of news or citing mediamatters as a neutral source has big problems. It’s like calling MTV News is the best news source in the world. For God sake, the Daily Show w/ Jon Stewart is on COMEDY CENTRAL!!! It’s a funny show, no question, I like it very much, but call Jon a great news man is a stretch.
Let’s analyze this move, not spinning like some liberals or conservatives. Repeating the show at 9am is an interesting move. Who would be watching? Not the 25-54 demo, who are most likely working. Not the college kids who may be still sleeping at that hour, or some maybe in class at that time. Definitely not high schoolers or younger for obvious reason. That left with the AARP folks. I remember a big demo for the O’Reilly Factor is the elder folks, so I think it’s what they’re trying to get viewers away from FNC. We’ll find out would that work real soon.
Comment by The Real Truth — April 19, 2006 @ 10:06 am
Real Truth, you’re forgetting the other potential viewers at 9 am: 1. The unemployed (who don’t necessarily have no money, and may only be between jobs–these would include parents choosing to stay home and raise their children, at least for a while). 2. People on the East Coast who work odd hours other than the usual 9-5. 3. West Coasters/Mountain Timers who may decide to tune in at 6-7 am to watch before work. 3. The self-employed who set their own hours.
These may not seem like the biggest potential audience in the world, but there might be more of them than some people think.
Comment by tanne — April 19, 2006 @ 7:22 pm
And I don’t know any cable news viewer who wants to watch day-old stale news.
Comment by Goldfish — April 19, 2006 @ 8:16 pm
I think NBC Universal should consider shuttering MSNBC.
Comment by Bob — April 19, 2006 @ 8:26 pm
Ah, yes. More people who think something should be eliminated simply because THEY don’t like it. Self-centered, anyone?
Comment by tanne — April 20, 2006 @ 7:02 am