MSNBC Takes Incendiary Hosts From Anchor Seat

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/media/08msnbc.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin

MSNBC tried a bold experiment this year by putting two politically incendiary hosts, Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews, in the anchor chair to lead the cable news channel’s coverage of the election.

That experiment appears to be over.

After months of accusations of political bias and simmering animosity between MSNBC and its parent network NBC, the channel decided over the weekend that the NBC News correspondent and MSNBC host David Gregory would anchor news coverage of the coming debates and election night. Mr. Olbermann and Mr. Matthews will remain as analysts during the coverage.

The change — which comes in the home stretch of the long election cycle — is a direct result of tensions associated with the channel’s perceived shift to the political left.

“The most disappointing shift is to see the partisan attitude move from prime time into what’s supposed to be straight news programming,” said Davidson Goldin, formerly the editorial director of MSNBC and a co-founder of the reputation management firm DolceGoldin.

Executives at the channel’s parent company, NBC Universal, had high hopes for MSNBC’s coverage of the political conventions. Instead, the coverage frequently descended into on-air squabbles between the anchors, embarrassing some workers at NBC’s news division, and quite possibly alienating viewers. Although MSNBC nearly doubled its total audience compared with the 2004 conventions, its competitive position did not improve, as it remained in last place among the broadcast and cable news networks. In prime time, the channel averaged 2.2 million viewers during the Democratic convention and 1.7 million viewers during the Republican convention.

and viewers!

As soon as the rightist in power scream "left wing media", the corporate owned MSM make their shift even further to the far right. the left wing media argument is now officially bunk.

Big mistake. Keith is incredible. Chris is fickle but still. Gregory is too conservative really. Not fair that there are all these conservative stations and the only one that leans even a little is shut down. Rebubli-cons are gleeful at this I am sure.

Wonder if they influenced this decision?

Commentators have often (but not strictly accurately) identified Amway as supporting the US Republican Party and other right-wing causes. Amway Corporation claims to support no political party, yet 100% of its political donations have been to Republicans. Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel, who fully owned the company until their retirement (when they delegated authority and substantial ownership to their children), have strongly supported the Republican Party and socially and economically conservative causes
http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Amway_-_Political_causesCulture/id/608502

to the horse race with Tweety. Fugg GEM$NBC. KO and Rachel are the only people who matter to me on that station.

Sick.

You know.... the paper with its head buried so far up neocon ass that it makes the Washingmoonie Times look reasonable by comparison.

Where the FUCK does that traitorous tool get off accusing anybody of being "partisan"?? :grr:

The article is only about taking them from the more "straight" news stuff. KO's show, with his special comments, is safe.

Back then, they tried hard NOT to be the news.

Now, it seems like there is more reporting on themselves than the issues.

with the GOP convention.

It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.. Remember folks, the corporatists stand to lose a LOT , come November, and they know it.

They HAVE to have at least the status quo, to remain in the catbird seat

Even though they SAY , ratings are everything, they are NOT... Phil Donahue proved that wrong.

Fox gets away with ultra partisanship, because they are toeing the corporate line...MSNBC tried an experiment, and it actually "worked".. they got more viewership by deviating from the norm, but in doing so, they pissed off the corporate hacks who are their own bosses.

This is why the "news divisions" USED to be SEPARATE from the rest of it all.. This is why we USED to have hard-hitting documentaries & exposés..back when there were only "the big three"..As long as something was informative and served the public good, it was ok... Go online and watch "Harvest of Shame".. This aired on REGULAR TV..on Thanksgiving weekend.. It would NEVER be "allowed" today.

We are all being set up..

And before the merger-mania of the Reagan years, before corporations like General Electric (NBC), Westinghouse (CBS) and Disney (ABC) got into the act, GE that donated $1.2 million to the chimp in 2000.

Olberman needs to be exactly where he is on Countdown.

FUCK Mostly Stupid Ninnies Boosting Conservatives....

KO is definitely a commentator all I really want is "straight news" in that kind of situation. "Here is what happened". Not " Here is what happened and here is what I think you should think about it".