NewsNight Moves: Aaron Brown's Must-Read Note
NewsNight aired its last program from its "ratty old building on 34th and 8th" in NYC. The program and its staff has moved to Columbus Circle. Quoting Aaron:

"...If ever there was a program that was in some way defined by a building, this one is it. It is on top of this building, on the roof two and a half years ago, that the program was born. On that horrible day of 9-11, NewsNight, which had no name at the time but did have an idea, began."

It's a must-read newsletter. He even takes a jab at FOX: "We are a place where 'fair and balanced' isn't someone’s pr slogan, but a treasured value." Here's the full letter... 2:10:45 AM

Olbermann Reveals Pressure From White House
The DU'ers are getting a kick out of Keith Olbermann's conversation with Amb. Joesph Wilson Tuesday night:
OLBERMANN: You do know that they are still going after you, right? We promoted the fact that you would be on this show tonight. Today we received three separate copies of the same e-mail with talking points from the White House, one asking a contact here “Can you please get this to the Olbermann people. Wilson is on the Olbermann show.” Misspelled my name, by the way, but that‘s neither here nor there. Another one asks one of our producers “I understand you have Mr. Wilson on. Can you please call me on this?”
WILSON: No, I‘m not surprised at all. I tell you this administration has tried to manage and direct the news from the very beginning.
Here is the transcript... 6:09:01 PM

If You Were Rupert Murdoch...
If you were Rupert Murdoch, what new FOX channel would you create? It's feedback time, and I will send your letters to News Corp. Give me details -- name, strategy, programming, hosts. Use the form above, or e-mail [email protected]... 2:32:35 PM

G. Gordon Liddy Enters The Crossfire
Quoting a CNN press release: "Crossfire co-host Paul Begala will be joined on the show by conservative talk radio host G. Gordon Liddy on Friday, May 7, when they will debate the news of the day." 2:02:44 PM

Lionel Richie Talks To Debbie Tonight
A press release copy/paste: "Music legend Lionel Richie gives a rare one-on-one interview tonight with MSNBC's Deborah Norville, discussing his longtime friend Michael Jackson's troubles, his daughter Nicole Richie and her struggle with drug abuse, and his new album, 'Just for You.'"
Update: 6:01pm: "MSNBC saying it has a 'rare' 1 on 1 interview with Lionel Richie is laughable," an anonymous e-mailer says. "He is on a publicity tour for his new album." 1:36:37 PM

No More 'News:' CNBC Cancels Primetime Program
It's a sad day. Beginning May 14, there will be no more 'News.' CNBC has announced the cancellation of the flagship hour-long news program to make way for "programming with broader appeal in primetime," TV Week reports. "Our decision to move in a different strategic direction with our programming has necessitated this change," Pamela Thomas-Graham said. A different strategic direction? "Does that mean the N in CNBC means no more news?," flotsam asks in an e-mail... 12:46:38 AM

No More 'News:' Employees To Be Shifted To "Important New Initiatives"
So what about the 16 employees of 'The News?' They will apparently be shifted to other projects in the "family:" "I am pleased that the talented of group of professionals at 'The News' will still be able to contribute to other programs in the NBC News family," Neal Shapiro said in a P.R. quoted by TV Week. "We know that NBC News will be putting them to work on several important new initiatives," Thomas-Graham said. Important new initiatives?... 12:45:54 AM

No More 'News:' History Lesson; Who/What Will Replace It?
> "The News" premiered on MSNBC and CNBC in 1996. It became exclusive to CNBC in 2002. John Seigenthaler took over anchoring duties from Brian Williams last December.
> 'Cover to Cover' repeats will fill the time slot for the time being.
> Just a random question: Is the spot being cleared for Al Sharpton? Howard Dean? Heck, maybe even Kwame? How about Apprentice reruns? Just thinking out loud... 12:45:53 AM

Stock Tips From A Pro Wrestler!
What is this world coming to? CNBC has retained World Wrestling Entertainment star John 'Bradshaw' Layfield as a contributor. He will appear on Bullseye and Squawk Box, among other shows. "Layfield, best known as one of World Wrestling Entertainment's top attractions, has always had a keen interest in finance and Wall Street," the press release says... 12:45:22 AM

A Snag For FOX's CNN-Bashing Billboard
Recall the post earlier this week about FOX's new billboard? There's a hitch. Quoting the trusty AP wire: Fox claims the owners of the billboard, across the street from CNN's Atlanta offices, refuse to post a message trumpeting Fox's successes in the ratings war between the cable networks. Fox lawyer Dianne Brandi said in a letter that Atlanta company Camfaux may have buckled to pressure from CNN not to put up the message. 'Should you choose not to put up the billboard immediately, we will consider all options available to us, including, of course, legal options,' Brandi wrote"... 12:44:57 AM

Scarborough Insults His Bosses
Mark writes in with a note from Scarborough Country: "[The topic was Gore's new TV channel.] One of the panelists says something along the lines of they laughed when NBC started THIS channel. Scarborough lets out a laugh and says, "Some still are!" But a few minutes later he interrupts the discussion to explain that he was referring to his particular show, not MSNBC as a whole: "I was attempting some self-deprecating humor, and I insulted my bosses." (I wonder about that hasty explanation--for some reason I get the impression something he heard in his earpiece may have encouraged it!)" 12:42:46 AM

Rupert's New Channel: What Will It Be?
The Financial Times has a quote from Murdoch: "We're looking at a number of [channel] genres, ones in which we have particular expertise and which would be natural extensions of the Fox brand. I'm highly confident that whatever we choose will have an immediate effect on DirecTV and our other platforms." Mark says Murdoch was on Cavuto this afternoon: "They discussed the new channel, and it was not at all clear that it was to be a news channel. Murdoch said it could be in the area of news, entertainment, or sports." 12:42:15 AM

CNN Hires Former P.O.W. For Iraq Analysis
CNN has hired a former U.S. Army officer and pilot who spent 22 days as a prisoner of war in Iraq, the network announced Thursday. He is hired from Saturday, May 29, through Sunday, July 4 "as a special contributor to the network's coverage of the war on terrorism," a press release said. "Ron's unique experience as an Army helicopter pilot and prisoner of war in Iraq will help us provide perspective of the situation in Iraq and the challenges facing the men and women of the armed forces," said Princell Hair... 10:43:48 PM

CNN Announces New International Correspondents, Anchor
"CNN has appointed three new international correspondents in London, Bangkok and Tokyo as well as a new London-based anchor for CNN International," a press release Thursday says. Paula Hancocks and Aneesh Raman have been promoted to the position of video correspondents; V.C. Alphonso Van Marsh has been deployed to Turkey; Atika Shubert has been named full-time correspondent in Japan; and Andrea Sanke has been hired as an anchor... 10:40:19 PM

FOX News To Launch New Channel By End Of 2004
Rupert Murdoch says FOX News will launch another channel by the end of the year. Quoting the AP wire: "On a conference call with investors and reporters, Murdoch said the company planned to launch a new Fox channel by the end of the year, and other channels over the next several years, but he declined to offer more specifics. Fox News Channel has been considering the launch of a business news channel." 8:01:59 PM

Introspection: I Try To Be Nice To The Nets...
My pro-CNN comments and pro-FOX ratings data Wednesday resulted in some interesting e-mails. "Thanks for carrying some positive news about CNN," one person said. "I'm sensing a change here lately, has there been a change in the writer or editor?," another person asked (joked?) But Shelley was annoyed at me: "I realize that Fox has no doubt been kissing your butt since they keep 'leaking' info to you but please recognize that you are being manipulated just as the American viewers are." Careful with the assumptions, eh? Raw numbers are hard to manipulate. Besides, any person with access to ratings data is welcome to send over their side of the story... 7:01:40 PM

In Washington D.C. all afternoon, then up to Baltimore...updates late tonight. 12:29:45 PM

Last Week's News Viewer Index
Cynopsis has the data: In total day, "Fox News had 49% of the viewing, CNN 27%, MSNBC 13%; and Headline News 11%." In primetime, "Fox News had 51%, CNN 29%, MSNBC 12% and Headline News 7%." 8:38:03 AM

CNN's Ed Henry 'Feted'
Robert beat me to it: The National Debate reprints the Hardball Briefing newsletter's description of a party for new CNN correspondent Ed Henry. He names the attendees and even describes the food... 8:36:16 AM

Wallace: Nightline Came Out Like A Ratings Stunt
Chris Wallace thinks Nightline’s ‘Fallen’ ended up being a ratings stunt: “I'll take Ted at his word that ABC did not intend it as a political statement or a ratings stunt. But when you look at all the factors - the one-year anniversary of President Bush declaring major combat over, the fact the U.S. has just had a rough stretch there, all the promotion he did for it - I think it came out that way." Chris will air a ‘corrective’ Sunday morning on FOX News Sunday… 8:33:47 AM

Comparing The Ratings: FOX's Double Digits vs. The Others
Let’s play a comparison game. Tuesday’s ratings:

O'Reilly -- 2.0 Zahn -- .4 Olbermann -- .3

Hannity & Colmes -- 1.9 Larry King -- 1.1 Deborah Norville -- .3

Greta -- 1.3 Aaron Brown -- .8 Scarborough -- .3

In total day on Tuesday, FOX averaged a .8, compared to CNN’s .4 and MSNBC’s .3. Drudge says Shep had a 1.5 last night, Hardball had a .5, and Dennis Miller had a .1... 6:32:04 PM

"MSNBC and FOX have nothing on CNN today"
'EdinUSA' agrees that CNN did a great job today: "MSNBC and Fox have nothing on CNN today. The use of Octavia Nasr repeatedly throughout the day is genius. She is well-connected, fluent in Arabic and explains it all very clearly to American viewers, even saying things we may not be willing to admit. Furthermore, questioning of her by Daryn Kagan and Wolf Blitzer has been very simple and insigtful...Blitzer's conversation with Nasr about the language Bush used and how it would translate into Arabic was terribly insightful. The best MSNBC could do was find an Arab journalist based in DC to discuss what he THOUGHT Arab reaction would be. Any viewer watching CNN today ACTUALLY LEARNED SOMETHING during the Q&A;'s, something that BARELY happens during breaking news coverage. Furthermore, the networks, save for Fox, were good to not jump to Dubai, Riyadh, Beirut, Gaza and Baghdad for immediate Arab reaction." 3:05:12 PM

Kudos To CNN For Bush-Interview Coverage
CNN's coverage of Bush's Aarab TV interviews was top-notch this morning. Daryn Kagan moderated a dialogue with Judy Woodruff, Suzanne Malveaux, CNN senior editor for Arab affairs Octavia Nasr, and a rep from Human Rights Watch. They avoiding slapping the "breaking news" banner on the coverage, thankfully. CNN offered "rolling coverage" and skipped commercials for the first third of the hour. On FOX, it was an "Alert" in between commercials. By 11:16am, Bridget Quinn was tossing to Jeff Goldblatt to ask about reaction in the Arab world." Bridget, there is no excuse for such stupidity... 11:20:49 AM

MSNBC Wants To Know About Your Love Life
MSNBC is looking for couples to feature in a new documentary series called "Love and Marriage in the 21st Century: How Men and Women Get Along." They are looking for couples who are "successful," "just starting out," having problems, going through a divorce, etc. Click here to submit your story... 11:18:44 AM

Fun With Lower-Thirds
> Is CNN pushing its producers to use lower thirds as a promotional tool? It certainly seemed that way during Live From yesterday, as teases for Larry King Live, Inside Politics and 360 were flashed repeatedly.
> This chyron on Hannity & Colmes made me laugh last night: "Coming up: Is Hillary less liberal than you think?" Assume much? 9:10:10 AM

Gore: "This is not going to be a liberal network"
Quoting the Hollywood Reporter: "Gore made a point of countering previous reports speculating that the channel would provide a left-wing counterbalance to Fox News Channel." Quoting Gore: "This is not going to be a liberal network or a Democratic network or a political network in any way, shape or form." Let's keep this quote in mind years from now... 12:46:01 AM

Harrigan's Compelling Videophone Reports From Karbala
Mark says FOX had a great exclusive tonight: "Steve Harrigan's live reports from a firefight in Karbala. Pretty good green-tint images; you could actually make out the people (barely). It took up most of the 7:30pm half hour, but they dropped out of it for Mr. Bill at 8:00pm." Greta aired a package from Steve at the top of the 10pm hour; Harrigan said they had waited a long time for an embed spot, but it was worth it... 12:45:58 AM

It's Moving Week At NewsNight
If his Wednesday newsletter is any indication, Aaron didn't have a great day: "Whoever invented meetings should live in a special part of hell. Other than that, and the fact that the office is in that "we are moving this week" state, all is well at NewsNight." To Columbus Circle? 12:44:50 AM

Applying The "Only On FOX" Logic To Other Stories
DCRTV Dave made me laugh out loud with this e-mail: "Neil Cavuto logic. Yeah, the Fox News biz dult is back today. And he promises "good news" from Baghdad - the news you won't find on other nets. OK, fine. So, how about applying that news "logic" to other stories on Fox. How about the millions of acres in California NOT being plagued by "raging wild fires?" Or all the pop stars NOT being put on trial for allegedly molesting young boys? Or how about all the beautiful young co-eds that have NOT gone missing? Or all the pick-up trucks being driven around LA or Houston NOT leading cops in copter-covered sensationalist chases down the freeway? Sheesh..." 4:55:15 PM

"CNN's Ratings are Gone With the Wind," FOX Says (on Billboard)
The new billboard going up outside CNN's Atlanta headquarters tomorrow, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution: "Now that CNN's Ratings are Gone With the Wind, Our Work on This Board is Done. We Love You Atlanta. --- Brought to you by your friends at Fox News Channel. --- Sign up with AMERICA'S NEWSROOM! Forward resumes to [email protected]." 2:24:13 PM

Quote(s) of the day
From AJC: "In fact, [FOX spokesman Paul] Schur argued, the ratings war is over. Finished. Mission accomplished. Fox is No. 1, and CNN is battling for a humiliating second place with MSNBC." Quoting Schur: "We feel the [ratings] war is over for now. CNN is closer to MSNBC, and we wish them well in the battle for second place." 2:24:10 PM

FOXNews.com Triples Broadband Traffic
"Foxnews.com has more than tripled traffic to the broadband section of its Web site since it launched a greatly expanded package of video content in January," MediaChannel reports. Quoting site GM Bert Solivan: "We've had some significant growth"... 10:53:59 AM

O'Reilly Guest Stars On 'Judging Amy'
Quoting TV Guide: "Fox News braggart Bill O'Reilly charged Judging Amy producers a fair and balanced fee for his guest appearance on the May 18 season finale. "He worked for scale," says Amy executive producer Joe Stern in the current issue of TV Guide magazine. "He didn't try and stick us." In the episode, O'Reilly — playing himself — blasts Amy for setting free a would-be killer." (Hat tip: The National Debate) 9:14:46 AM

Gore To Announce Acquisition of Newsworld Today
...Wonkette reports that the announcement will come at 1pm ET. "The content of channel will not change, says our operative, 'They bought a full-functioning network. . . they're probably gradually going to change it.'" 9:14:40 AM

Louis Rukeyser Sidelined For Several More Months
CNBC host Louis Rukeyser will be off the air for "the forseeable future" because of a "low-grade malignancy." He last appeared on his weekly show in October. Quoting a statement from Louis: "The treatments for that have been ongoing and will continue. Progress has been evident and I thought by now I would be back in action on my regular schedule. Unfortunately, although the tests indicate that a complete recovery is in the cards, my doctors have told me that further rest is needed and not to consider going back to work for several more months." The WashPost and LA Times have more... 9:13:32 AM

MSNBC.com Cuts Cartoon; "Standards of Fairness and Taste" Weren't Met
MSNBC.com ran Ted Rall's controversial cartoon concerning Pat Tillman Monday afternoon. A note on the web site says: "The cartoon, like others on MSNBC.com, is published daily on the site via an automated syndication feed. Such feeds are rarely reviewed. However, MSNBC.com Editor in chief Dean Wright concluded Monday’s Rall item did not meet MSNBC.com standards of fairness and taste."
> Also: Ted Rall's web site response 12:14:00 AM

FAIR Complains That 'March' Was Under-Covered
FAIR has issued an action alert surrounding limited coverage of the March for Women's Lives last month. "Of three Fox News stories found on Nexis related to the march, two focused on anti-abortion activists...even CNN failed to treat the march as the historic occasion that it was, running just a small handful of brief march-related stories on Saturday and Monday." 12:11:14 AM

MSNBC Covers Tillman Memorial; FOX, CNN Barely Mention It
"FOX and MSNBC should be ashamed," Zoey writes on TVHeads today. "MSNBC, via Lester Holt, is providing beautiful coverage of the memorial service for Pat Tillman, a true American hero. Meanwhile, Lou Dobbs on CNN is yaking about the presidential campaign, and the slimeballs at Fox are doing what they always do, shilling for Bush. As far as I can tell, neither CNN nor Fox has even mentioned that the memorial service is ongoing. Shame on them both." CNN offered a two minute live report in the second half of the 6pm hour... 11:50:24 PM

WHCA Dinner: "The media's answer to prom night"
Greta calls the White House Correspondents Dinner "the media's answer to 'prom night'" in a photo essay from the event. The most interesting photo: MSNBC/Hardball's Ron Reagan interviewing Apprentice runner-up Kwame Jackson, who happens to be in talks with CNBC/MSNBC... 11:47:40 PM

First Impressions of Bud
How'd you like MSNBC's noon anchor? "He did really well, has that Lou Dobbs type delivery/look, very professional, and I hope they hire him," an MSNBC MSN poster says. Some of the TVSpys weren't as impressed: "He's a chubby, bland, deer-in-headlights, middle-aged white guy named Bud," one writes. "He's a 1950's type anchor," another person says. One site visitor writes in with a note: "It worries me a little that MSNBC is willing to hire someone as an "objective" anchor role who has already let his views be known. If this guy gets hired, everytime that I see him interviewing political pundits, I will have it in the back of my mind that he is a conservative." He'll be back at noon tomorrow... 11:45:56 PM

Conservative Radio Host On A "Trial Run For MSNBC"
"Veteran TV anchorman" Bud Hedinger is doing a "trial run for MSNBC this week," the Orlando Sentinel reports. "If they like what I do, they'll hire me," he says. Bud currently hosts an afternoon radio show. Quoting the newspaper: "Hedinger reports that he loves the radio gig and wasn't searching for the new job opportunity, which came as a "complete bolt out of the blue. Hedinger also says he's not too worried about questions about his objectivity -- which he largely abandoned when he made the switch from TV anchor to radio commentator...Everyone in the news business has an opinion, he says. The trick, which he says he knows well, is to not let it affect your job." He's very pro-Bush... 12:42:52 PM

WHCA Dinner: The Cable Tidbits
> Wonkette points out that "you can tell where the Fox table is by where the applause starts at each mention of "brave fighting men" or whatever."
> AdAge dissects Jay Leno's Geraldo joke: "...He mocked Geraldo Rivera's disclosure of American troop movements in Iraq by depicting the stunt-journalist in mock-newscasts over the years, divulging that the Trojan Horse was full of enemy soldiers, and telling Wold War II-era "viewers" he was standing in front of Holocaust victim Anne Frank's hideout -- a report he then offered to repeat in German." Jon Fine says one of the night's highlights was "Geraldo Rivera's burgundy-tinted granny-glasses"...
> Rick Kaplan sighting (from Wonkette:) "MSNBC's would-be savior, Rick Kaplan...is escorting around Morgan Fairchild, who is impressively wasp-waisted, heavily made-up, and seems in danger of being thrown off-balance by her hair." 12:42:08 PM

Dave's On Bias Watch
DCRTV Dave is on bias watch: "When its talking heads talk about Bush, Fox runs pics of the prez proudly strutting his stuff across the White House lawn. Today, when doing the same about evil lefty John Kerry, Fox ran pics of the Dem decending stairs from an airplane and tripping on the final step. I bet Roger Ailes' goons got a chuckle out of that one..." 12:41:19 PM

"We came under fire:" Palestinians Shoot At CNN Crew
Haaretz reports that a CNN film crew came under Palestinian fire Sunday and attempted to warn a family who was subsequently killed. "Four of us in the CNN crew were driving from Israel on the main road going into the Gush Katif settlement bloc in Gaza," Paula Hancocks told Israel Radio. "We came under fire. Multiple rounds were fired at our car, the first one an armored car that I was in. My producer sitting on the near side said he saw two gunmen shooting and running towards our armored car. Behind, our cameraman was in a non-armored car, in a normal Land Rover. He was also shot at but luckily he escaped unhurt. We drove on to the nearest army checkpoint, told them what happened, stopped the cars from coming the other way. Then they sent the soldiers and the ambulances in to see what had happened." 12:07:46 AM

Bill O'Reilly Defends Himself Against Canadian Complaints
From Canadian Press: "Fox News Channel commentator Bill O'Reilly wants it known he's not really as rabidly controversial as he's being portrayed by other media outlets, including at least one in Canada." He denies that he dislikes Canada... 12:06:02 AM

FNS's Wallace Promises Nightline Corrective Next Week
Thanks to everyone who e-mailed the answer to my question. NewsMax quotes Wallace:

"After listening to all the debate, then watching the show, we think the folks at 'Nightline' made a mistake this week, listing all the brave men and women who have died in Iraq, but without providing the context of what they went half way around the world to do. "So next week, we here at 'Fox News Sunday' are going to put together our own list, a list of what we've accomplished there, with the blood, sweat, and yes, lives of our military. "We think the point is not just that those hundreds of troops died, but what they died for. And we hope you watch next week."

On Scarborough Country Sunday night, Joe referenced FNS's plans and said that "I'm sure all of us at MSNBC will be watching that with bated breath" (thanks Mark). 12:05:39 AM

Mailbag, Part 2: Nightline v. Sinclair
The e-mails about the Nightline/Sinclair controversy keep coming. Here is another round of comments:
> Mailbag: Nightline v. Sinclair 11:32:36 AM

Ralph Reed Only Watches FOX
Ex-Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed says he only watches FOX News. "The gatekeepers of dominant media have lost their monopoly on information," he says. The AP has more... 11:29:22 AM

MSNBC Airs Correspondents Dinner Live (on a Saturday Night!)
Mark notices that "MSNBC and FOX are both covering the President at the Correspondents' Dinner tonite (maybe CNN too, don't know). I think this is the first time a cable news network has carried this live (other than C-SPAN of course)." MSNBC scheduled a special hour of MSNBC Live to air the Correspondents Dinner... 11:29:05 AM

What Was Chris Wallace's "Corrective?"
Did anyone watch FOX News Sunday this morning? Newsmax says that Chris Wallace planned a "corrective" to Nightline's reading of Iraq names... 11:28:02 AM