There have apparently been rumors circulating today that Monica Crowley had been fired from MSNBC. I got two emails today asking if she had been fired. I don’t know where these rumors started but to the best of my knowledge these reports are false and Crowley is still at MSNBC.

UPDATE: Of course if you came across this you’d think she was still with FNC…(hat tip: Johnny Dollar)

UPDATE 2: The source of the Crowley firing rumor has been traced and apparently it goes back to Bill O’Reilly on his radio show yesterday. Transcript courtesy of Johnny Dollar…

(O’Reilly talking about NBC on the Radio Factor)

There isn’t one person in that organization–they just fired Monica Crowley, she would’ve probably been the only one–that has any use for Bush at all.

Sure enough, as predicted, Olbermann responded to last nights O’Reilly Talking Points Memo tonight in Countdown’s WPITW segment. I’m not going to quote it though because I just didn’t feel comfortable writing that up. It’s like I alluded to last night, O’Reilly fires a gun, Olbermann responds with a bazooka…

But this wasn’t the only tit for tat between O’Reilly and MSNBC this evening. Earlier on The O’Reilly Factor, O’Reilly did a segment on NBC being an anti-Bush network. Here’s a synopsis from Johnny Dollar…

Bernie Goldberg said MSNBC is trying to be the anti-Fox channel, going after the left demographic. Jane Hall agreed in part but wouldn’t take it that far–she said that doesn’t prove NBC Nightly News is biased. O’Reilly said there isn’t one conservative commentator that works for “NBC News”. Jane Hall named Scarborough. O’Reilly retorted he doesn’t work for NBC News, apparently referencing the broadcast network, and rattled off a bunch of network people he felt were not conservative (Lauer, Ann Curry, Meredith Viera, etc). Hall said NBC’s reporting is worthy of respect and fair. Mr Bill predicted ABC will overtake NBC news this year.

UPDATE: Dollar emailed in the following clarification…

O’Reilly said no conservative commentators at NBC News. Jane Hall brought up Joe Scarborough on MSNBC, and then this is verbatim:

O’REILLY: He doesn’t work for—

Then there was a bunch of overtalking. I could’ve sworn he said NBC, even watching it twice. But he didn’t.

(more…)

An emailer said that MSNBC dumped out of the Tucker 6pm repeat to cover the Bush/Merkel joint press conference live at the 6pm hour but apparently FNC and CNN stayed with regular programming. Is that accurate?

Johnny Dollar has the video of Barney Frank jousting with Neil Cavuto on today’s Your World over CEO Pay. Cavuto is as animated as I’ve seen him in quite a while…

Broadcasting & Cable’s Jim Benson has a little more information on the story…

The magazine show was averaging a 1.6 rating season-to-date, not enough to justify its hefty production budget, which was estimated to be $500,000-$1 million per week. FNC is expected to absorb a majority Rivera’s forty person staff, which was informed of the decision at a meeting Thursday.

Cable News Ratings for January 3, 2007

P2+ Total Day
FNC – 813,000 viewers
CNN – 638,000 viewers
MSNBC – 419,000 viewers
CNBC – 245,000 viewers
HLN – 238,000 viewers

P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 1,453,000 viewers
CNN – 1,098,000 viewers
MSNBC – 532,000 viewers
CNBC – 266,000 viewers
HLN – 376,000 viewers

25-54 Total Day
FNC – 228,000 viewers
CNN –225,000 viewers
MSNBC –152,000 viewers
CNBC – 106,000 viewers
HLN – 92,000 viewers

25-54 Prime Time
FNC – 360,000 viewers
CNN – 355,000 viewers
MSNBC – 222,000 viewers
CNBC –87,000 viewers
HLN –154,000 viewers

Morning programs P2+ (25-54)
FOX & Friends – 707,000 viewers (273,000)
American Morning – 408,000 viewers (175,000)
Imus in the Morning- 391,000 viewers (161,000)
Robin & Co. – 197,000 viewers (111,000)
(more…)

CNN aired a Cal Perry interview with Baghdad teens. Transcript follows…

TONY HARRIS: They are the future of Iraq, but many see no hope in that future.

CNN’s Cal Perry talks with the boys of Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): So, Abraham, yes? And your last name?

ABRAHAM, IRAQI YOUTH: I don’t have any last name. My name is Abraham (INAUDIBLE).

PERRY: Yes, I understand. And you’re how old?

ABRAHAM: 16.

PERRY: 16. When you were 12 years old, the Americans came to Baghdad, yes?

ABRAHAM: Yes.

PERRY: What do you remember about that day?

ABRAHAM: I don’t remember anything, because I — yesterday I see like boy is killed, another boy. Here is no good.

PERRY: Here is no good. Since the Americans came, no good?
(more…)

Geraldo Rivera returns to Fox News Channel weekends with “At Large with Geraldo Rivera” and his syndicated show is cancelled. Here’s FNC’s release…

At Large with Geraldo Rivera will return to FOX News Channel (FNC) on Saturday and Sunday evenings (timeslot to be determined) as part of a new multi-year deal with Geraldo Rivera and the cable network, announced Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO, FOX News and Chairman, FOX Television Stations. In addition to hosting his signature program, Rivera will continue to make guest appearances on The O’Reilly Factor and serve as a correspondent at large during major breaking news events.

Because of his return to FNC, the syndicated Geraldo at Large will cease production in mid-January at which time FOX Television Stations will explore new syndicated fare to replace the program.

In making the announcement, Ailes said, “Geraldo is a great talent and did a tremendous job for us in syndication. His ratings were climbing in several markets, including New York. However, with the soft ad marketplace, the lack of an early news lead-in for his show in several cities and the timeline for financial success, I’ve asked him to come back to FOX News Channel. We look forward to bringing his special journalistic skills back to FNC.”

Geraldo Rivera added, “I’m proud to work for Roger and I’m a team player. FOX News Channel is the best outfit in the business and the new deal allows me to cover breaking news and work with one of the most talented group of reporters in the world. Roger and I go back decades and I want to thank him for another great opportunity.

(more…)

While MSNBC and CNN were dueling press releases over their coverage and whose political team is best, FNC quietly scored a major coup by having correspondent Major Garrett be the first television journalist to ever report live from the House Chamber. Major was on air first today shortly before noon from inside the House of Representatives and provided updates as the 110th Congressional Session commenced. FNC’s coverage and analysis continues throughout the day with Garrett, Brit Hume, Wendell Goler, and Carl Cameron.

Cable News Ratings for January 2, 2007

P2+ Total Day
FNC – 969,000 viewers
CNN – 624,000 viewers
MSNBC – 422,000 viewers
CNBC – 203,000 viewers
HLN – 210,000 viewers

P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 1,543,000 viewers
CNN – 726,000 viewers
MSNBC – 570,000 viewers
CNBC – 383,000 viewers
HLN – 275,000 viewers

25-54 Total Day
FNC – 245,000 viewers
CNN – 219,000 viewers
MSNBC –152,000 viewers
CNBC – 92,000 viewers
HLN – 92,000 viewers

25-54 Prime Time
FNC – 381,000 viewers
CNN – 243,000 viewers
MSNBC – 212,000 viewers
CNBC –134,000 viewers
HLN –118,000 viewers

Morning programs P2+ (25-54)
FOX & Friends – 582,000 viewers (219,000)
American Morning – 308,000 viewers (135,000)
Imus in the Morning- 328,000 viewers (129,000)
Robin & Co. – 176,000 viewers (79,000)
(more…)

Dan Abrams’ memo to MSNBC staff on the network’s Gerald Ford coverage…

From: Abrams, Dan
To: @MSNBC Everyone
Cc: Griffin, Phil; Capus, Steve
Sent: 1/4/2007 11:25 AM

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone involved in our week-long coverage of President Ford’s death. With Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews at the helm, we were literally in a class alone. From the historical perspective to the insightful anecdotes, we provided our viewers with the most dignified and informative coverage.

I also want to especially thank Bill Wolff, Susan Sullivan, Phil Alongi and the specials team, Debbie Finan, Ann Klenk and Rich Stockwell for their tireless efforts over the past week with both the Ford and Saddam stories.

It’s extra effort like this from everyone that will continue to make us –the- place to turn for the most important news.

Thanks again,

Dan

Johnny Dollar has video from this morning’s Fox News Live showing what appears to me to be space junk burning up in the atmosphere. The last time I saw something that dramatic was when the shuttle disintegrated…

From the moment I first heard Lou Dobbs say it on Tuesday’s Lou Dobbs Tonight I knew I had to write about it. Here is Lou Dobbs’ unbelievably tone deaf opinion piece on Presidential funerals and Museums…

I want to extend my condolences to Mrs. Ford and the entire Ford family.

And I want to offer now a few of my thoughts on the funeral of President Ford, a good and honorable man who served this nation well in uniform and in government service.

And I hope what I have to say here isn’t taken the wrong way, but I’m sure there are some who will insist on doing so.

It seems to me the pomp and circumstance that is becoming a national tradition in bidding farewell to our former presidents is reaching unseemly proportions. Unseemly for any American, it seems to me, and more in keeping with European royal prerogative and pretense that the founders of this great nation renounced more than 200 years ago.

(more…)

The Hollywood Reporter’s Paul J. Gough has more info on the new FNC program, Hannity’s America…

Hannity said there will be a debate element to “Hannity’s America,” but the centerpiece will be a report from a Fox News correspondent.

“There are so many stories that are not covered, and we are going to devote time, money, energy, reporters and resources,” Hannity said. “We’re going to send a reporter to cover a particular story on a particular week and let the reporter go behind the scenes in depth and tell a story.”

UPDATE: They Houston Chronicle’s Mike McDaniel also writes about the show…
(more…)

The L.A. Times Matea Gold writes about 2006’s numbers with a lede that must make MSNBC’s PR dept very happy…

2006 marked a decline in the cable news audience — except on MSNBC.

Paul J. Gough’s headline in the Hollywood Reporter? Probably not as happy…

Lowly MSNBC improved ratings in 2006

Gough does some analysis in the article though…

Despite the flurry of stories in the last weeks of 2006, it was a slow news year for the industry. There weren’t the major breaking stories that spiked audience interest such as the south Asia tsunami and the death of Pope John Paul II in the first half of 2005 and Hurricane Katrina and the London terror bombings in the second half.

The Canadian Press writes about Paula Zahn Now visiting the set of Canada’s Little Mosque on the Prairie…

American newswoman Paula Zahn and a crew from CNN visited the set of the CBC’s highly anticipated “Little Mosque on the Prairie” on Wednesday in advance of the TV show’s premiere Jan. 9.

A CBC publicist says Zahn was on the show’s temporary set in west-end Toronto for a story she’s working on for the cable news giant about “Little Mosque,” the brainchild of Zarqa Nawaz, a Muslim filmmaker and mother of four who’s lived in Saskatchewan for 10 years.

CNN will run a small segment on “Paula Zahn Now” on Thursday at 8 p.m., just hours after “Little Mosque” publicists hand out more 100 kilograms of free halal chickens in downtown Toronto to promote the show.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Paul J. Gough writes about the Time Warner/FNC carriage deal…

Sources said TWC would give the Fox Business Channel analog placement in Manhattan and the digital tier in the rest of its 11 million-13 million homes nationwide. TWC also would pay a little less than 15 cents per subscriber per month for the business channel, which Fox News has said wouldn’t be launched until it got adequate distribution.

News Corp. has said that it wants to bow the business channel — which would directly compete with CNBC, a cash cow for General Electric’s NBC — this year.

Until recently, preparations for the business channel have been below the surface, though Fox News recently hired former CNBC and “Today” show co-host Alexis Glick to play a behind-the-scenes role in its development. And it’s closing in on the amount of distribution that Fox News said would be required before a channel was launched.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Jill Vejnoska has a profile of Daryn Kagan, post CNN…

Back in the old days; last August; technical problems weren’t really Daryn Kagan’s problem. Someone else at CNN usually handled those hiccups and glitches.

But Kagan doesn’t work at CNN anymore, which partially explains what the ex-hotshot cable news anchor was doing outside an Atlanta sandwich shop well before it opened one recent morning when her Internet service went down at home.

After 12 years as anchor and reporter with CNN, Daryn Kagan was told last winter her contract would not be renewed. But instead of brushing off her resume and heading for another TV spot, the Ansley Park resident launched www.darynkagan.com, which lets Kagan focus on feel-good, positive stories. The site has been up for six weeks, and it got about 475,000 hits its first month.

I had thought that ICN would have a quiet evening once all the 2006 ratings data flood was over with. But then I happened to listen to Bill O’Reilly’s Talking Points Memo tonight and there went the quiet evening. The subject was “Blaming America for Saddam’s execution” and one of the targets was “NBC News”. But was it really NBC News? Let’s examine…

The attack on NBC News started with this graphic…

Elements at NBC News led the way, calling the execution a PR disaster for the U.S.

Followed by this graphic…

An NBC commentator says President Bush is putting troops in harm’s way for money. That’s insane.

Elements at NBC News? An NBC commentator? Pretty vague. Fits a familiar pattern though, doesn’t it? Here we go again. Perhaps the putting troops in harm’s way for money comment refers to this part of Keith Olbermann’s special comment from last night…

And the war’s second accomplishment — your second accomplishment, sir — is to have taken money out of the pockets of every American, even out of the pockets of the dead soldiers on the battlefield, and their families, and to have given that money to the war profiteers.

Because if you sell the Army a thousand Humvees, you can’t sell them any more until the first thousand have been destroyed.

But is it really? Only O’Reilly knows and true to form for the feud he’s being deliberately vague. When O’Reilly wants to blast someone he doesn’t mess around when he knows the person’s identity…he names them. We’ve seen it over and over and over again. But not in this case. In this case it’s “Elements at NBC News” and an “NBC Commentator” even though NBC doesn’t have commentators on its nightly news broadcast. I wonder why? Well, actually I don’t. I know why. And so does anyone who’s been watching this feud for the past year.
(more…)