Voices From Above Silence a Cable TV Feud

For years Keith Olbermann of MSNBC had savaged his prime-time nemesis Bill O’Reilly of the Fox News Channel and accused Fox of journalistic malpractice almost nightly. Mr. O’Reilly in turn criticized Mr. Olbermann’s bosses and led an exceptional campaign against General Electric, the parent company of MSNBC.

It was perhaps the fiercest media feud of the decade and by this year, their bosses had had enough. But it took a fellow television personality with a neutral perspective to help bring it to at least a temporary end.

At an off-the-record summit meeting for chief executives sponsored by Microsoft in mid-May, the PBS interviewer Charlie Rose asked Jeffrey Immelt, chairman of G.E., and his counterpart at the News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, about the feud.

Both moguls expressed regret over the venomous culture between the networks and the increasingly personal nature of the barbs. Days later, even though the feud had increased the audience of both programs, their lieutenants arranged a cease-fire, according to four people who work at the companies and have direct knowledge of the deal.



Mr. Olbermann, who is on vacation, said by e-mail message, “I am party to no deal,” adding that he would not have been included in any conversations between G.E. and the News Corporation. Fox News said it would not comment


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/business/media/01feud.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=voices%20from%20above%20silence%20a%20cable%20feud&st=cse

ratings.

First of all...this "meeting" was in May? Did they argue for hours over the shape of the table? What a pile of steaming cow pies.

This is all about ratings and money...consolidating bases. Both networks benefit from the polarization of politics. Faux is now the only bastion for the wingnuts and the 20% dead-enders. While a small portion of the electorate, they do love their lies and daily affirmations. MSNBC has benefitted from the void of a counter voice and are in the strongest position this network has ever been in. If there as anything going on at that table, it was a lot of backslapping.

The network where the party's over is Chicken Noodle Nuze...tried to pander to both side. They played "middle of the road" and as the old saying goes...the only things you find in that middle are dead skunks.

Not surprising that Microsoft wanted to host the talks which would encourage a lack of competition. I'm thinking they just don't get that competition thing.

I also guess that for the corporate rulers and owners, such competition isn't good for the cooperative spirit which our multinational corporations want to play, even though according to the rules of the free market they use against us when we ask for a raise, they should be vicious competitors.

Good on Mr. O to say he's not party to any such corporate deal.