During the Iowa caucuses, I wrote that I thought that CNN’s lower thirds were too cluttered and it was hard to read the results. Well, it appears they changed things for New Hampshire because every time I flipped over to CNN tonight I saw these lower thirds which I think are much better for reading the results. However, on my 21″ TV it’s still very hard to read the percentage of the vote tally. And why is there an AC360 logo there?

I wonder how Tim Russert and Brian Williams feel about this?

A few minutes ago I was surfing between the three networks and noticed something. Both MSNBC and FNC were reporting the results with 63% of the results in. But CNN was still showing a 61% graphic. And just now I surfed again and noticed MSNBC was reporting 66% of the results in while FNC and CNN were still showing 63%. It’s interesting watching all this real time updating going on…

And now FNC just noted that the AP is calling it for Clinton. Brit Hume just tossed to Michael Barone at the Decision Desk explaining how predictions go down.

Our decision desk has decided, no we’re not going to call it. We don’t want to do something that we fear may have a less than 99.65% of being accurate and fair and balanced.

Hume then said that one of the other networks has called it for Clinton. That would be MSNBC…

Update: CNN followed suit around 10:45pm…as has FNC.

A few minutes ago I posted an entry based on an email from a regular reader in London saying that SKY News was reporting that FNC was calling the race for Obama, even though FNC had not made any such prediction on their air. At the time, I had thought SKY got it wrong on FNC and thought that was newsworthy. It turns out however that the emailer was leaving out one tiny little detail which changes everything. SKY was referring to an FNC exit poll. Here’s a link to the SKY article…

Voting has now finished in the primary with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in a close fight for the Democrat nomination.

A Fox News exit poll puts Obama ahead.

But with about 13% of precincts reporting, Clinton is currently leading Obama by 40% to 36%.

In hindsight I should have held up posting it until I had sorted this out. FNC hasn’t posted any exit poll data tonight, so I have no idea where SKY is getting the notion that FNC exit polls put Obama ahead. My profound apologies to FNC for this error.

Update: SKY has now modified its original article…

Earlier, a Fox News exit poll predicted that Obama would win by a narrow margin - but now pundits say it is too close to call.

Post your reactions to the coverage of the New Hampshire primaries here…

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The networks have already called New Hampshire for McCain. FNC called it at 8:11pm. CNN called it at 8:12 pm. What time did MSNBC call it? At least the Obama/Clinton race is too close to call otherwise the viewers won’t have a lot of reason to stay glued to their sets.

Update: TVNewser’s times - FNC- 8:11:20; MSNBC- 8:11:50; CNN- 8:12:30.

Update 2: Another set of times: FNC- 8:10:52, MSNBC- 20:11:32, CNN- 20:12:22

FNC’s Brit Hume said,“We believe based on a combination of exit polling and the raw data that we have that Jon McCain has indeed won the New Hampshire Primary making him at least on comeback kid tonight for sure.”

This was quickly followed by a report from Carl Cameron from the McCain HQ saying, “You’re going to hear a roar in a second because the “McCainiacs” are absolutely thrilled.”

Daily Live+SD Ratings for January 7, 2008

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CNBC announced a one hour prime time special today regarding the Detroit Auto Show…

In a CNBC special event, CNBC cameras go behind-the-wheel at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show-the most important auto show of the year. On Monday, January 14th at 9PM & 12AM ET, CNBC presents an original one-hour special, “CNBC Special Event: Detroit Auto Show All Access,” reported and hosted live by CNBC auto reporter Phil LeBeau. CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, is the official cable broadcast partner of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)

The one-hour special previews some of the more than 50 production and concept vehicles that will make their first appearance at NAIAS. The program also examines the state of the automotive industry, looks at the future of hybrid technology and reviews the Chinese-manufactured vehicles on display at the NAIAS 2008.

“The auto industry continues to be one of the strongest barometers for global economic and social trends,” said CNBC’s LeBeau. “In addition to giving our viewers a glimpse into the future of automotive design and technology, we will also focus on some of the economic, environmental, and safety-related issues that are driving the industry’s evolution.”
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CNN’s Veronica De La Cruz blogs about attending CES, including an interview with Bill Gates…

My mind wanders to my massage chair for a moment, but then I quickly shift focus to the present: my upcoming interview with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. I have just one hour until the interview and my mind races. What questions will I ask? What will he be like? Is he a nice guy? Is he a tyrant? Will he be a good interview or will he stare at me like I have two heads and I’m speaking in tongues? Watching the clock tick I realize I’m out of time and my crew is waiting for me downstairs.

Arriving at the Microsoft tent I’m pleasantly surprised. The place is crawling with Microsoft product and I find the people are nice and friendly. A publicist for Mr. Gates approaches me. His name is Chris and he wants to brief me on the parameters of the interview. I get ten minutes with Mr. Gates. I’m to keep my questions on topic. Any “off-topic” questions should be saved for last. I am sure they do this so I will run out of time during the interview before I ever get to the “off-topic” questions and therefore, Mr. Gates will never be subjected to them.

Walking up the stairs, Mr. Gates is sitting with a bunch of people. He stands, I shake his hand and give him a big smile. He returns his signature half-smile he’s famous for. So far, so good. Seems like a really nice guy.

I sit down and the whole thing goes by like a flash, in fact, looking back I can’t even tell you what I asked.

FNC’s Major Garrett interviewed Hillary Clinton today and the subject of her “teary response” to a question came up. FNC’s Embed blog has an entry on the interview with video links here.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Paul J. Gough writes about FNC’s Election Link vehicles…

It’s turned out to be very handy for Fox News correspondents like Carl Cameron, Major Garrett and Brian Wilson, who have a lot of ground to cover and not a lot of time. On Monday before 9 a.m., ElectionLink had already been to several campaign events around Manchester and would be to many more before dark. That has made Fox News more nimble and less reliant on satellite trucks for the live shots, though it still needs plenty of satellite trucks for a news event like this.

“When you’re dealing with a state like New Hampshire and you’ve got seven candidates running around in a 50-mile radius, you can go from one event to the other and actually see more,” Cameron said.

On Monday morning, Washington bureau chief Brian Wilson was able to interview Mitt Romney and John McCain at separate events within an hour of each other.

“We just rolled down the street from one event to the other and walked out the door and then boom, there you are, we’re live,” Wilson said. “It’s an amazing vehicle.”

Reuters a press release courtesy of PR Newswire on yet another poll on the media…

Update: It wasn’t an article, it was a press release. I just worded it wrong.

The most trusted national TV news organizations, for accurate reporting, in declining order included: Fox News (27.0%), CNN (14.6%), and NBC News (10.90%). These were followed by ABC News (7.0%), local news (6.9%), CBS News (6.8%) MSNBC (4.0%), PBS News (3.0%), CNBC (0.6%) and CBN (0.5%).

In 2003, CNN led Fox News on “trust most for accurate reporting” 23.8% to 14.6%.

I think it’s funny that NBC rates so high but MSNBC rates so low since they’re essentially the same organization on the reporting side. This indicates a disconnect in the respondents’ minds between NBC and MSNBC. Something the folks at 30 Rock may want to look into…

New York’s Daily Intelligencer goes out on a long limb in accusing CNBC and The New York Times of being in cahoots regarding the FBN ratings story. Where’s the proof? I say. I don’t see it. I see smoke and mirrors (and some inaccuracies and distortions) in the Intelligencer’s piece.

But the aggression in this story was put into a surprising new context yesterday when it was announced that CNBC and the New York Times are starting a content-sharing partnership that has been in the works for a while. From the Reuters story reporting the collaboration:

The deal also gives the Times and CNBC access to each other’s breaking business news as Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp prepares to fight them both with the nascent Fox Business Network cable channel and the recently acquired Wall Street Journal.

Um, huh. Is it us, or does it seem like CNBC and the Times had already started fighting side by side?

It’s you. Unless you can establish proof with incontrovertable facts to back it up you just come off looking like a blindfolded toddler swinging at a pinata. Melding hearsay and your interpretation of events which, frankly, are open to alternate interpretation, plus spinning the tone of the Times’ FBN piece into something it clearly wasn’t (attack coverage? tore down the new channel? aggression? cackle? Puh-leeze!), doesn’t make you look very credible.

CNN received a Technical Emmy last night for a portable kit it developed in 1999…

CNN’s digital newsgathering operations garnered its third prestigious honor for innovation in recent months during the 59th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards dinner on Monday, Jan. 7, for developing an unrivaled portable kit that enables journalists to report, edit and produce news packages from nearly anywhere on the globe. The National Academy of Television and Arts and Sciences presented the award at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

CNN opened a new chapter in the use of technology in newsgathering through the use of lightweight kits that combine cameras, editing tools and advanced satellite and Internet communications technology into a laptop-based system. This suite of new technologies enable journalists to employ immediate live and video FTP submissions, real-time content monitoring, editing and voice communication from anywhere in the field.
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Last night on Beat The Press, Dan Abrams took aim at Lou Dobbs over his dissapearing act during CNN’s coverage of the Iowa caucuses and his presidential aspirations (or lack thereof depending on who you believe)…

Sunday’s GOP forum on FNC turned in a big number. See bottom of the page for program breakdowns of the numbers

Daily Live+SD Ratings for Saturday January 5, 2008

Daily Live+SD Ratings for Sunday January 6, 2008
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Steve Capus’ internal memo on Frieda Morris leaving the NBC News Southeast Bureau. This includes a note from Morris herself…

It’s with great mixed emotions that I want to let you know our colleague and dear friend, Frieda Morris, will be leaving the Southeast Bureau and taking on a new consulting role within NBC News. I say mixed emotions because Frieda is as good as they get … both in her role as an outstanding journalist and as a friend to so many of us. To say she will be sorely missed doesn’t seem to go far enough… Frieda is one of those unique talents who surfaces in our industry all-too rarely. Her work over nearly 39-years at NBC News in places like Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago, London and so many others has resulted in some of the best work ever produced by this news division. She’s been a mentor, role model, principled journalist and tireless colleague. But I am pleased she has agreed to work with us in a new role within our news division - the details of which we will announce soon. So it’s not goodbye, but thank you to one of NBC News’ finest… for all she has given us, and all that she will continue to offer. Below is a note from Frieda that she asked me to pass along, as usual she is punctual and cuts right to the point.

–Steve

To My Colleagues,

I have now run my course at NBC News.

It has been an honor, for which I thank each and every one of you.

This note comes along with my heartfelt wish for your continued excellence and success.

All the best.

Yesterday when I posted the Friday Multichannel News interview with Kevin Magee I was concentrating on the interview. I didn’t notice the part on the new Comcast FBN rollouts on cable…

And there will be plenty of action with Comcast this month starting on Jan. 8 in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Denver and Colorado Springs, Colo; in Chicago, Minneapolis and Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose on Jan. 9; Boston and Detroit on Jan. 10; El Paso on Jan. 14; and South Bend, Ind., on Jan. 15.

Naamua Delaney has joined the CNN.com Live anchor team, it was announced today by Sandy Malcolm, executive producer of CNN.com video. CNN.com Live offers four streams of breaking news, live events and the best reporting from CNN’s global newsgathering operation directly to users’ desktop. It is available at www.CNN.com/Live. Delaney will anchor news reports and breaking news coverage during the afternoon and evening hours and “Now in the News,” a fast-paced hourly Web- and wireless-exclusive news update.

“CNN.com continues to stand as the only news site offering multiple live video streams as well as full-time anchors,” Malcolm said. “The addition of Naamua provides our viewers with yet another experienced, well-rounded journalist, enabling us to give our users the news they want, how they want it and when they want it.”
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The Journal Newspapers’ Cathy Herholdt interviews FBN’s Dave Ramsey…

Is debt weighing you down? Have you had it with living paycheck to paycheck? You’re not alone, according to talk radio host and author Dave Ramsey, who has been sharing his message of debt-free living and discovering financial peace for over 15 years. “The Dave Ramsey Show” is heard by more than three million listeners on over 325 radio stations nationwide each week and recently began airing as a television show on the Fox Business Network. He’s also authored several books, including New York Times bestsellers Financial Peace and More Than Enough.

“Debt is so ingrained into our culture that most Americans can’t even envision a car without a payment, a house without a mortgage, a student without a loan and credit without a card. We have been sold debt so aggressively and so often that most folks cannot conceive what it would be like to have no payments,” explained Ramsey in an e-mail interview with the Journal.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tim Cuprisin profiles FNC’s Carl Cameron…

By the time you read this column, it’s likely that Carl Cameron will have been working for hours.

The Fox News Channel’s chief political correspondent is planning to report on the first votes cast just after midnight Monday - that’s 11 p.m. Milwaukee time - in Dixville Notch before heading to Manchester, N.H., to continue a workday that could stretch into Wednesday, depending on how the nation’s first primary unfolds.

“Then we’ll get up the first thing in the morning on Wednesday and head to South Carolina,” says Cameron, whose most recent New Hampshire reporting stretch began when he flew in on Mitt Romney’scampaign plane just hours after the Iowa caucuses wrapped up.

Mika and Joe said they were going to be on for the next three hours (they have been on the air from 6-12 since Iowa). But at 10 am MSNBC switched to Tim Russert…

Update: Mika and Joe are back on the air at 11am…

Big Head D.C. writes that the start of Tucker was delayed for five minutes yesterday. MSNBC ran extended commercials in the program’s absence..

Update: An emailer says MSNBC update anchor Milissa Rehberger handled the show open while the technical issues were sorted out in New Hampshire…

The San Jose Mercury News’ Charlie McCollum profiles FNC’s Shepard Smith…

Smith acknowledges he was approached by the broadcast networks - and gave their offers serious consideration - before re-upping with Fox News.

“I wanted to stay here,” he says. “I’ve been here since it started and I love working for Roger and I felt it would all work out.

“But these are big decisions that you make, affecting the course of your career. Of course, I wanted to explore options as much as I could under the terms of my contract. But I’m glad to be staying.”

Smith is something of an anomaly at Fox News. While most of the channel’s top personalities have built their followings on opinion, he has built his on old-fashioned hard news and straight-ahead reporting - sometimes to the chagrin of Fox News’ generally conservative audience.

“I feel as long as half the mail is ‘you evil liberal’ and half is ‘you right-wing nut job,’ I’m doing OK,” says Smith with a laugh.

Bloomberg TV’s New Hampshire related highlights today…

- Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee appears at 9 a.m. to talk about his campaign;
- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison appears at 9:53 a.m. to discuss President Bush’s Mideast trip;
- New Hampshire Governor John Lynch appears at 10:30 a.m. to talk about the vote today;
- Presidential candidate Ron Paul appears at 2 p.m.
- On the “Money & Politics'’ show, former Bush adviser Terry Holt and former John Kerry adviser Stephanie Cutter appear at 7:03 p.m. to discuss the New Hampshire primary.

Earlier today I noted that a site said that embedding at MSNBC.com would go live Wednesday. Actually, it went live Monday. (hat tip: Lost Remote)

Update: Evidently some bugs in the system still. Several times I’ve noticed that the embedded video fails to appear and instead you get a “404″ and sometimes when you click on the embed button you don’t get any code to embed the video. And it’s relatively slow to appear compared to other embedded players out there. These all could be caching related issues though…