Michelle Malkin commented on the email she wrote that was eventually sent to ICN.

I did not plan on blogging it and making a big to-do. It is what it is. But some blabbermouth apparently forwarded the e-mail to a cable TV gossip blog. The left-o-sphere picked it up from there (interesting how all of these same blogs ignored the spitting threat in the first place), now spreading wild rumors that I’ve been fired, concocting imaginary scenarios of tearful resignations, tinfoil-rattling in hopes that there’s some other conspiratorial reason behind my decision, falsely asserting that it was somehow related to my coverage of the S-CHIP debate, etc., etc., etc.

The funniest comment by far comes from far Left zealots who couldn’t possibly believe that I would walk away from more airtime since I am, of course, such a media whore.

Two words: Stop projecting.

Though Malkin would disagree apparently, this was a news story. ICN blogged the original Rivera incident and followed the story as it unfolded. This wasn’t gossip. I could care less what talent does in their off hours as long as it’s not criminal. If it affects what goes over the air however, it’s news. And it’s fair territory.

Presidential candidate Fred Thompson appeared on Your World with Neil Cavuto this afternoon in an exclusive interview. Transcript highlight follows…

CAVUTO: So if Rudy Giuliani gets the nomination, you would actively work on his behalf?

THOMPSON: Well, I don’t like to think in terms of losing. I don’t want it to sound the wrong way. But I’m about the only guy, I guess, in the so-called top tier that’s never lost an election. And…

CAVUTO: That’s not what I asked.

THOMPSON: … I don’t like to think about that.

CAVUTO: You could definitely support if it came to that.
(more…)

Well it was bound to happen eventually, I’m just surprised it happened the first day. Jim Cramer debated over watching FBN and getting a root canal and he says he opted for the root canal. Ian Schwartz has the video…

Time.com’s Justin Fox expands upon his earlier review…

The question is: Are there hundreds of thousands of affluent Americans who aren’t obsessed with the market but do want to watch business news all day? I would think not, but then I wouldn’t have thought there were enough cranky, right-wing old people out there to make Fox News the No. 1 cable news channel. Roger Ailes knows a lot more about TV than I do.

I have in fact lasted until Happy Hour, broadcast from the Bull & Bear bar at the Waldorf Astoria. Hosts Cody and Rebecca are very animated. But the sound went out more than ten minutes ago (some sort of nefarious Time Warner Cable plot, I’m sure) so I can’t really tell what they’re being animated about.

Cable News Daily Ratings for October 12, 2007

P2+ Total Day
FNC – 794,000 viewers
CNN – 446,000 viewers
MSNBC – 270,000 viewers
CNBC – 216,000 viewers
HLN – 238,000 viewers

P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 1,316,000 viewers
CNN – 712,000 viewers
MSNBC – 454,000 viewers
CNBC – 251,000 viewers
HLN – 454,000 viewers

25-54 Total Day
FNC – 229,000 viewers
CNN – 149,000 viewers
MSNBC – 110,000 viewers
CNBC – 72,000 viewers
HLN- 88,000 viewers

25-54 Prime Time
FNC – 314,000 viewers
CNN – 264,000 viewers
MSNBC – 185,000 viewers
CNBC – 114,000 viewers
HLN – 126,000 viewers

Morning programs P2+ (25-54)
FOX & Friends – 961,000 viewers (397,000)
American Morning- 341,000 viewers (119,000)
Morning Joe – 225,000 viewers (71,000)
Robin & Co. – 260,000 viewers (109,000)
(more…)

The AP’s Jeremy Herron writes about today’s FBN launch…

The new network started with a standard morning program called “Fox Business Morning,” recapping the night’s news and major sports headlines before turning an eye toward the day’s events such as major corporate earnings reports.

That gave way to a program focused on corporate and economic news ahead of the stock markets’ opening bells. Subsequent shows revolved around regular reports from the New York Stock Exchange, tracking share-price movements and the Dow Jones industrials average.

“Not everything was perfect, but as a first day, I’ll take it,” said Kevin Magee, Fox News executive vice president in charge of the new network.

Alexis Glick, vice president of business news and co-host of the premarket show “Money for Breakfast,” best exemplified the channel’s goal of reaching out to Main Street.

This morning FBN sent a reporter to Englewood Cliffs to do a live shot across the street from CNBC’s complex. Apparently not willing to take the jab lying down, this afternoon CNBC parked one of its satellite trucks in front of the News Corp. building and left it there. Anyone want to send me a pic?

Update: I heard from another emailer that the satellite truck is frequently parked in that area on 6th. So maybe nothing PR related apparently going on here after all. Too bad. It reads better the other way…

MSNBC announced that it will be covering portions of the Tim Russert moderated “Houston’s Presidential Summit” on November 13th from 10am-1pm.

NBC News Washington Bureau Chief and Moderator of “Meet the Press,” Tim Russert will moderate a three-hour discussion on energy among leading Republican and Democratic presidential candidates at “Houston’s Presidential Summit” on Nov. 13, 2007, from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (EST). The Summit is sponsored by the Greater Houston Partnership. Portions of the event will air live on MSNBC. All three hours of “Houston’s Presidential Summit” will stream live on MSNBC.com.

Energy issues will be the focus of the Summit, the purpose of which is to have a constructive dialogue-in a non-debate format-on what policies would best meet today’s U.S. energy needs now and those of future generations. Topics will go well beyond oil and gas. Candidates will be asked to explore their views on alternative energies, biofuels, nuclear power and a host of energy technologies under development.

Said Russert, “Rank and file Democrats and Republicans want the tough questions asked and answered. This forum will provide an opportunity for Americans to learn where the candidates stand on the critically important issue of energy.”
(more…)

Senator Fred Thompson will be giving an exclusive interview to Your World’s Neil Cavuto today at 4pm…

At around 3:10 ET today I saw CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo interview former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. Incidentally, Greenspan is scheduled to appear later today with Neil Cavuto…

Update: Not Cavuto. It was on FBN at 4pm ET till about 4:10pm ET.

Time.com’s James Poniewozik blogs a review of FBN before the first day is even over…

I should note that I’m not a business writer, and thus am not expertly qualified to judge the quality of FBN’s information. (For that, visit my bizmeister colleague Justin Fox.) But I’m also not sure that that’s the main point, either for TV business news in general, or FBN in particular. FBN has said it’s aiming for an audience that’s more mass than elite–small investors and the casual viewer. So there was a lot of talk about “the stocks that affect your life” and, regarding the oil market, “What does this mean for you at the pump and for the oil that comes into your house this winter.”

The major early difference between CNBC and FBN is tone: FBN has imported Fox’s News’ earnest stare and 10%-above-normal volume, all calculated to tell you that, slow news day or big news day, something really important is right around the corner. Fox sells excitement–it doesn’t really matter the kind–and that attitude carried right over to an interview with an official in the Chicago Mercantile pit, in which the reporter spent more time asking about the “excitement” of working at the market rather than, you know, the market itself.

That approach might work in the long run, and who knows?, it may even produce compelling business news. Glick’s interview with The Naked Cowboy (Robert Burck) was a stunt, but it was actually an interesting little piece on how Burck–inspired by the works of Tony Robbins–has parlayed a good bod, a decent voice and the willingness to use them into a thriving merchandising-and-endorsements business.

Update: As does Time.com’s Justin Fox…sort of.

Paul Kedrosky has a more detailed review…though it appears to be based entirely on web clips. If you can’t watch the broadcast I don’t see how you can do a review.
(more…)

(via FishbowlNY)

CNBC may have been thwarted by Dow Jones regarding online ads being placed on Marketwatch and the Wall Street Journal today but in the print world it’s a different story. Portfolio’s Jeff Bercovici blogs about the dueling Times’ ads between FBN and CNBC…

This morning, Jeff Flock, FBN’s Chicago-based Correspondent, gave viewers a tour with the first-ever live and wireless roving camera on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) - or on the floor of any Chicago Exchange. This provided viewers with a unique look at the CME. Reporting, while moving from pit to pit. showed a comprehensive look at what’s setting the price of commodities and moving the markets. Flock also interviewed Terry Duffy, Chairman of the CME Group, live from the floor of the CME this morning.

CNBC announced that it will debut “The Billionaire Inside: Donald Trump” with Erin Burnett on Wednesday, Oct 17th at 9pm ET…

The one-hour special CNBC’s “The Billionaire Inside: Donald Trump” premieres Wednesday, October 17th at 9pm & 12am ET.

CNBC gives you exclusive access to Donald Trump in this ultimate hour of wealth building hosted by CNBC’s Erin Burnett.

Donald Trump says you have to own the keys to your financial destiny. Trump shares his secrets of the “Millionaire Mindset” and gives you the “Trump Traits” you need to create and sustain incredible wealth.

CNN put out a release this morning noting that CNN.com has been the #1 site in the Current Events and Global News cateogry according to Nielsen/NetRankins’ Home and Work Panel data…

The CNN Digital Network has staked a new high ground in September, topping not only all “Current Events and Global News” sites but also beating out all other “News and Information” sites including Internet stalwarts Wikipedia and the Weather Channel.

CNN has stood as the No. 1 site in the Current Events and Global News subcategory since 2005, according to Nielsen//NetRatings’ Home and Work Panel data, but this latest leap takes its performance to the top of a new level. CNN’s performance follows a major overhaul of CNN.com that includes new and innovative story-telling paradigms.

According to Nielsen, the network also registered more than 1 billion total usage minutes for the month. To date, the CNN Digital Network is the only Current Events and Global News destination ever to achieve 1 billion total usage minutes within a month, according to NetRatings data available back to January 2004. CNN last achieved that milestone in January 2006 and March 2006.
(more…)

CNN is announcing a change in its lineup, swapping Lou Dobbs Tonight and The Situation Room’s 7pm hour, in a move the network is positioning as part of its 2008 political coverage…

Leveraging the ratings successes and buzz around two of its signature political programs, CNN will flip the time periods of Lou Dobbs Tonight and the third hour of The Situation Room. Under the new schedule, The Situation Room becomes a single, three-hour program from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (ET), leading into Lou Dobbs Tonight at 7 p.m. (ET).

The new schedule creates a four-hour block of breaking news plus political analysis and opinion. CNN’s lead political anchor, Wolf Blitzer, will kick off the evening then hand off to Lou Dobbs. The new lineup debuts Monday, Nov. 5, one year from Election Day 2008.

CNN also announced that Blitzer, who led the network’s Emmy Award-winning Election Night 2006 coverage, will anchor the network’s caucus and primary coverage, Democratic and Republican conventions and Election Night coverage. He will also moderate three important upcoming presidential debates: a Democratic candidates debate in Las Vegas on Nov. 15, the Congressional Black Caucus debate in South Carolina on Jan. 17, and the final Democratic debate before Super Tuesday in Los Angeles on Jan. 31.
(more…)

With the launch of FBN this morning on TV, the Fox Business Network also made its debut on News Corp.’s Times Square Jumbotron. This shot was from Money for Breakfast…

TVNewser reports that former MSNBC’er Matt Saal is going to be the EP of Dan Abrams 9pm program…

Eat The Press’ Rachel Sklar looks at the early hours of FBN…

But — even a micro-managed Roger Ailes coup d’état isn’t immune from bloopers. Question: What’s a bigger deal, something not working or something being wrong? Anchor Peter Barnes reported from Times Square on a sleek Bugati speedster, and hyped what would happen when he slid behind the wheel — and then nothing. Aw! Sometimes it happens (NB check out his scribbled and note-laden script). Not ideal, but these things happen. More of a concern is a blatant error made by Jenna Lee, who reported that McDonalds in London would be offering Free WiFi, “taking a page from the Starbucks playbook.” That is roundly incorrect: Starbucks does not provide free WiFi, as anyone who’s ever tried to pick up a signal in there knows.

Eh…it’s just the first day. If we judged every network by its first day, nobody would still be on the air…

Update: This appears to back up Jenna Lee’s statement on Starbucks…

Travel at blazing speeds on the Internet — all from the comfort of your favorite cozy chair. Starbucks now offers wireless broadband Internet service, provided by T-Mobile, throughout the UK.

Update 2: The operative word in Sklar’s point is “Free”. Starbucks’ Wi-Fi is not Free…

We interrupt today’s flood of FBN coverage for a little Anderson Cooper news courtesy of Gatecrasher’s Ben Widdicombe…

Anderson Cooper thinks the media don’t pay enough attention to Britney Spears. “What is new with her?” he asked us with a straight face, so we told him.

“See, she must be underreported-on, because I didn’t know that.”

Cooper was at a preview of CNN’s environmental documentary, “Planet in Peril,” which he hosts.

“We’re at the point where practically 90% of the world’s scientists are in agreement on this, so it’s hard to look away,” he told us at the American Museum of Natural History.

CNBC announced this morning that John Harwood would interview Nancy Pelosi today on Power Lunch…

Live from The Four Seasons Hotel in New York City, CNBC’s John Harwood interviews Speaker of the House, Representative Nancy Pelosi, on CNBC’s “Power Lunch.” During the interview, Representative Pelosi will discuss the economy, the spending war with President Bush, Bush’s SCHIP veto and taxing private equity, among other topics.

Broadcasting & Cable’s Marissa Guthrie interviews Roger Ailes…

Are you getting more nervous as Monday approaches?

No. Look, when you die, the first 100 years in the ground is just the beginning. So you just can’t get yourself all worked up over things like this. You must stay calm. This is a job. [It] requires a professional approach, reliance on other people, an ability to delegate, determination and creativity. But I don’t get nervous about things like that.

You’re going into this venture to provide an alternative to what is out there, from CNBC to Bloomberg, to Business Week to The Wall Street Journal. What do you feel is missing in business news?

It’s a very broad subject matter and a very broad field. And the only thing you can do is present it sort of in a linear fashion. You can take the next three minutes and discuss housing, or you can take the next three minutes and discuss unemployment, or you can take the next three minutes and discuss the last quarterly earnings or a CEO getting fired or going to jail. But in effect, whatever you’re doing, everything else is not being covered. And there are probably a thousand things.

So it’s being able to select, make relevant, produce in a meaningful way, transition to the next thing. So in one sense nothing is being left out and everything is being left out. It sounds a little Zen-like but it is true, that whatever you’re doing I can do something else, and if it’s more interesting people will watch me.

Update: Guthrie also interviews Cavuto and Glick here.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post’s Howard Kurtz writes about the launch of FBN…
(more…)

When it was revealed that FBN would ring in the start of NASDAQ this morning, speculation arose whether CNBC would show it. Well, 9:30 just came and went and yes CNBC did show the NASDAQ launch with the FBN gang (and the Fox Business logo). Mark Haines even mentioned the “Fox Business Network” by name when noting the NASDAQ start. Classy move.

FBN’s Stocks Editor Liz MacDonald reported live at the top of Money for Breakfast this morning from across the street CNBC’s Englewood Cliffs…

Peter Barnes: Liz, you hanging out with the cows out there this morning in North Jersey?

Liz MacDonald: We’re out here in sleepy, bucolic Englewood Cliffs – it’s kinda cold out here…It’s hunting season and we hear that peacocks are in season. Who would have thought that anyone could cover the stock market out here, but here we are and we’re gonna give it a go!

Update: Video (via FTVLive)

At 5 am this morning Fox Business Channel launched with Fox Business Morning…(video via FTVLive)

Multichannel News’ Mike Reynolds…

Cavuto said context will also be a key differentiator.

“The news will not be in a vacuum. Why did this CEO resign and what is the impact on market conditions; it will be about this war and its effect on energy prices; how business scandals drive the market down. It’s about going deeper and how things correlate.”

Other clues can be gleaned from the channel’s teaser Web site, Foxbusiness.com. “Wall Street” and “Main Street” are the same street, it declares. There’s a hint that there will be news that addresses “the problems small business owners face.” And, there are profiles, clips and sound bites from network’s on-air personalities.

Meanwhile, Fox officials contend that many of CNBC recent changes — the introduction of its own Happy Hour segment, its recent talk of Main Street, the new tag line of America’s Business Channel, a revamped Web site and new graphics package — were made to gird up for FBN’s arrival.

On Oct. 10, CNBC debuted a metric-laden HD service and retooled its “after-market” schedule.

CNBC officials said “absolutely none” of those changes were made with FBN in mind.

Update: AdWeek’s Anthony Crupi interviews Paul Rittenberg, Senior VP of Ad sales at Fox News…
(more…)

The Fox Business website was launched this morning. What do you think?

ICN has acquired FBN’s programming schedule. All times ET…

5-6am - Fox Business Morning - Nicole Petallides and Jennifer Lee anchoring and Ashley Webster reporting from London.

6-10am - Money for Breakfast - Alexis Glick, Peter Barnes, and Liz MacDonald anchoring.

10-12 - Fox Business - Tom Sullivan and Cheryl Casone anchoring.

12-2pm - Fox Business - Stuart Varney, Dagan McDowell, and Connell McShane anchoring.

2-5pm - Fox Business - David Asman and “co-host TBA” anchoring. (I’ll bet the TBA is Liz Claman. If that’s the case, the reason it’s listed TBA is probably because of contractual issues with Claman’s CNBC contract non-compete preventing the FBN contract being signed until today.)

5-6pm - Happy Hour - with Cody Willard and Rebecca Gomez hosting from the Bull and Bear bar at the Waldorf-Astoria.

6-7pm - Cavuto - with Neil Cavuto.

7-8pm - America’s Nightly Scorecard - with David Asman.

8-9pm - The Dave Ramsey Show on Fox Business Network - with Dave Ramsey.

9-10pm - Cavuto (R)

10-11pm - America’s Nightly Scorecard (R)

11-12pm - Happy Hour (R)

The New York Times’ Bill Carter interviews Roger Ailes. But that’s not the lede for me (nor is it for Mr. Carter). This is…

In early September, CNBC negotiated and signed a contract with Dow Jones to buy advertising that was to run today on two Dow Jones Web sites, MarketWatch and The Wall Street Journal site (wsj.com). Last Tuesday night, CNBC’s ad buyers received a call from a Dow Jones representative saying that those ads could not run today, the first day of Fox’s competing channel.

In the case of MarketWatch, CNBC had bought both an introduction ad for the site — meaning that every user on the site today would have seen an ad for CNBC before getting to the MarketWatch home page — as well as what is called a “road block” of ads — meaning CNBC would have been the exclusive advertiser on the site’s home page today.

The decision to drop the ads from the Wall Street Journal site was even more significant because CNBC has been advertising on the site’s market data page every day since Oct. 1 and had a deal for ads to run daily for two months. The CNBC ads on the market data page were also to be removed for today only.