FNC’s 10th: Roger Ailes profile…
The Washington Post’s Howard Kurtz has a profile of FNC’s Roger Ailes…
While Fox remains No. 9 among all cable networks, some slippage in the ratings over the past year has Ailes concerned. For the last three months, Fox is down 28 percent from the same period last year, compared with declines of 21 percent for CNN and 12 percent for MSNBC.
Ailes responded with a recruitment ad that included such lines as “Can You Work Well With People Without Being a Territorial Jerk?” and “When You’re Tired, Can You Keep Going Without Whining or Making Mistakes?” He also summoned executives to a 5 a.m. meeting to critique morning programming. “Sometimes we get ourselves thinking our job is to send memos to each other. I wanted to make them justify their paycheck.”
Fox executives have been touting a proposed business channel, but Ailes has resisted the idea unless the new network can get distribution in at least 30 million homes. Fox has now cut a deal with YouTube to provide the Web site with video of “the craziest moments in news.”
And what does he get in return? Keith Olbermann calls him a “fat ass” on national TV and “blogs” like TVNewser go silent.
Comment by Phil — October 2, 2006 @ 10:43 am
It’s a competitive world out there, and those numbers come and go, as it is with network TV. Those percentage declines ought to be taken in context, realizing that FNC has larger numbers to start with, so comparing 28% and 21% declines does not mean CNN’s numbers are more stable.
Roger Ailes hss been an adroit CEO, and I’m sure minor aberrations like what were posted will be straightened out.
As for Olbermann, the less said about this annoying pest, the better.
Comment by RGL — October 2, 2006 @ 1:01 pm
That was a pretty good article by Kurtz - he gives credit where it is due; and Ailes deserves a lot of it for the success of that network.
Comment by Skippy — October 2, 2006 @ 4:26 pm
I can’t wait to see what Ailes has in store for the next 10 years.
Comment by Clara — October 2, 2006 @ 6:24 pm