Cuts to NBC/MSNBC News: Update…
TVNewser has a bit more detail on what’s going down today. Meanwhile, Jossip tries to finger the leaker. I think it’s barking up the wrong tree. The key in the “left on their own volition” quote isn’t that maybe Haddad or Sullivan would want to write their own histories, but whether they’d still be in a position to know what’s going on to the point that they could feed Lauria. I don’t think that’s likely.
The question I would ask is who at 30 Rock would have it in their interest to spin these staff cuts that way so as to not make it appear they were basically firing people? Sullivan was loved by the MSNBC staff so her departure was probably a pretty big morale blow. I would expect that NBC is going to have to have a Town Hall meeting before the end of the week. The damage being caused by all the leaks to the blogs and the Post surely must have the news division’s staff reeling. NBC News needs to get back out in front of this.
Jossip also has this must read entry on the cuts. Here’s the nut graph…
“Zucker does not give a shit about the ratings of the daytime news block on MSNBC,” says a well-placed network insider. “The sales people are always telling this to the NBC News management. All they care about is MSNBC ’sales prime,’ because that’s where they think the money is. This in my view is so fucking stupid as to be unimaginable, but that’s NBC U.”
I’m not particularly interested in this story, but that “finger the leaker” phrase keeps making me chuckle.
Comment by Marty — December 6, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
NBC you better change or you will DIE!It’s just the way it is!
Comment by Shane — December 6, 2007 @ 2:44 pm
Why not just cut some of the high salaries they are paying to Keith, Abrams, Matthews. Their ratings do NOT warrant the pay they are getting. Keep Bill Wolf he is a funny man, an should replace Abrams. Also bring back his wife.
Comment by Homjett — December 6, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Or else the christians will get them, right Shane?
Comment by Jordan — December 6, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
TVnewser has a story about the NBC/MSMBC Christmas Party going on this afternoon—-not too uncomfortable, I’m sure.
Comment by Obama in 08! — December 6, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
NBC doesn’t have any Christians Jordan?So what are you talking about?
Comment by Shane — December 6, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
That party was last night before the Post story hit. Of course by then between what I and Jossip had written it had to have been a major discussion point.
Comment by Spud — December 6, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
It’s true they may be mostly secular progressive as BO notes, but I think the source of the Christians ( certainly a metaphor, in case you did not figure this out already ) may come from without, if NBC does not become more self-aware of a possible implosion.
Comment by Jim — December 6, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
Spud: Something stinks with this budger cuts story.
Surely the “Today” and “Tonight” shows produce enough revenue to fully fund MSNBC & CNBC. Not to mention the cash cow known as USA Network and their interest in Telemundo (or is it Univision?).
Comment by Ira — December 6, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Its not like MSNBC is actually losing money… It’s just not making as much as it could. Cutbacks=more profits? Not if it means a much worse product.
Comment by jmkaib — December 6, 2007 @ 11:24 pm