Cheatwood and the dissapearing FNC wheel…
Normally I don’t engage in this sort of mindless uninformed speculation (I prefer the mindless informed variety) but it’s 4 am, I’m sick, and this isn’t going to leave me alone until I write something. So here goes…
One of the least explored angles in the whole Cheatwood hiring news may turn out to be the most key; FNC’s stated desire to abandon the wheel format and how Cheatwood could facilitate that move. According to this leaked Bill Shine internal memo, FNC is already working on moving toward branded programming. Cheatwood’s big claim to fame at CNN was how he overhauled HLN prime with branded programming and how it has succeeded in boosting the channel in the ratings. Sounds like a perfect marriage to me; bring in a guy who brought HLN primetime alive just when your own network is looking to brand its daytime programming.
Wait a minute! Cheatwood was responsible for HLN’s enormous success with Headline Prime??! I thought that was Ken Jautz?
Comment by Terance — April 6, 2007 @ 7:41 am
Cheatwood…isn’t he the dude who made Jerry springer a reporter for one of the stations he was responsible for. Yep, sounds like the perfect marriage to me. He’s finally found his way home. No wonder he’s so excited!
Comment by Me — April 6, 2007 @ 8:49 am
Good point spud. Hope you get feeling better!
Comment by myview — April 6, 2007 @ 8:54 am
When a new report shows that FNC spent more time covering the ‘Anna Nicole Smith death’ than any other news outlet, does FNC really need someone who specializes in tabloid? Looks like FNC could use someone who knows what real news is, not how to turn FNC into a televised version of the National Enquirer.
Comment by malone — April 6, 2007 @ 10:34 am
Ok I need someone to explain what is wheel programming and what is branded programing to me please. I’m just a viewer junkie…but not someone who “understands” the behind the scenes stuff. Thanks in advance !!! :-)
Feel better soon Spud.
Comment by Wenchie — April 6, 2007 @ 11:26 am
I might be wrong but hey it won’t be the first time. Branding programming means individual titles for “shows” as opposed to calling everything Fox News Live, MSNBC Live, The Newsroom. And wheel format is like what HLN does during the day..and what NY1/other local cable only news channels still do.
Comment by Terance — April 6, 2007 @ 11:46 am
In other words he takes the news out of a news channel. i miss the 24/7 news on hln. dont know what he can do the fnc to make much more tabloid. when you run stories about strippers, prostitutes, five legged frogs, o and keepin the story of anna nichole smith alive, fnc has the cheatwood format down pat i would say.
Comment by Me — April 6, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
The problem with the wheel, is that it’s just not profitable anymore. People have the internet… they can look up and read the stories they want, or watch clips on their own time. Who wants to watch more than a few minutes of unfocused national news? Just doesn’t bring in the crowds.
Comment by ImNotBlue — April 6, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
Maybe that’s why you’ve seen far fewer news updates weekdays on FNC than in the past.
Comment by Bob — April 6, 2007 @ 7:48 pm