MSNBC to follow Air America?

[Gaspar]

Another month of big crime and disaster news saw the network struggle to keep up with rivals CNN, HLN and Fox News. MSNBC was presumably expecting some dropoff from its 2012 numbers, since that was an election year, but it still landed in fourth place behind the other channels, a victim of HLN's Jodi Arias-fueled surge and of President Obama's scandal-ridden, defensive month. Overall, MSNBC saw its lowest total day viewer numbers since 2007, and its lowest prime time numbers since 2009.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/30/msnbc-may-ratings-maddow_n_3354785.html?ref=topbar

What Huffpoo fails to mention is the how MSNBC continues to slow-play stories, until or unless they offer flattery to the White House.  All of the other media outlets, even if reluctantly, have begun to provide some objective reporting on current political situations, therefore beating MSNBC to the scoop every time.  MSNBC's opinion based reporting and commentary are becoming hard to watch.

When the emperor has no clothes, it's hard to take his tailor seriously.

[rebound]

MSNBC's opinion based reporting and commentary are becoming hard to watch.

Well, they said they were going to try to be more like Fox News, so it's nice to see that they are beginning to catch up with them in at least one area.  But they've got a long way to go before they are anywhere near as unwatchable as Fox News.   

[Gaspar]

Well, they said they were going to try to be more like Fox News, so it's nice to see that they are beginning to catch up with them in at least one area.  But they've got a long way to go before they are anywhere near as unwatchable as Fox News.   

CBS seems to offer the best alternative.  CNN was quite flat for a while, but it seems they no longer take their riding orders from political interests, and the reporting has improved. 

[sgrizzle]

ShopNBC is being retooled, and with no MS in MSNBC, I wouldn't be surprised if they design to redo that channel as well.

[Gaspar]

Wow!  Just Wow!
MSNBC seeks to reposition itself as more of a tabloid.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/msnbc-breaking-news-phil-griffin_n_3377700.html

"In a Monday interview with the New York Times, MSNBC president Phil Griffin essentially told viewers that they were right to go somewhere else for breaking news, since that was not what MSNBC is about."



Ok.  Let's see how that works for ya.  Perhaps the next Al Jazeera acquisition?

[Conan71]

I thought the "Madcow Through The Years" photo spread was a nice touch. 

When she's not doing her political schtick, she's actually pretty fun to listen to in a different forum like Leno or Letterman.

[Townsend]

 Perhaps the next Al Jazeera acquisition?

Excellent information outlet.

As for MSNBC, who really goes to a television station for the news?  It's all connected entertainment information.

Anyone relying solely on television for their news is getting a spittle of important info and a flood of entertainment information associated with the mother corporation.

Another reason to double the funding of PBS and OETA.

[Gaspar]

I thought the "Madcow Through The Years" photo spread was a nice touch. 

When she's not doing her political schtick, she's actually pretty fun to listen to in a different forum like Leno or Letterman.

She's a smart women when not politicking.

[RecycleMichael]

I am sure gaspar is truly concerned that a liberal media source has struggled in the ratings. He cares deeply that Americans have a choice in news coverage. Of course, American TV watching habits are the most important indicator of the well being of a nation.

Here are the top 6 rated syndicated TV shows for last month...

Judge Judy
Big Bang Theory
Wheel of Fortune
Jeopardy
Two and a Half Men
Family Feud

How these shows outdraw Dr. Phil, Law and Order, and Live with Kelly and Michael shows TV executives what Americans really want to watch.

[RecycleMichael]

The top TV shows for the week...

http://prepnet.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/tv

1.  Dancing with the Stars results show
2.  Dancing with the Stars
3.  Criminal Minds
4.  The Voice
5.  The Voice
6.  Modern Family
7.  The Big Bang Theory
8.  Hawaii Five-O
9.  NBC News - Oklahoma Tornado
10. Mike and Molly

[Gaspar]

I am sure gaspar is truly concerned that a liberal media source has struggled in the ratings. He cares deeply that Americans have a choice in news coverage. Of course, American TV watching habits are the most important indicator of the well being of a nation.

As Phil Griffin himself said, MSNBC is not news.

At least he gets it.

[rebound]

As Phil Griffin himself said, MSNBC is not news.

At least he gets it.

He said "breaking news".  His point is that they are not going to try to be first, but (at least as he would spin it) rather be more thorough.   Again, I'm not an MSNBC fan, but given the debacles of the other networks recently in trying to out-scoop the others it would be great if they would actually try to do deeper reporting rather than jump in the mud hole with everybody else. 

[Gaspar]

He said "breaking news".  His point is that they are not going to try to be first, but (at least as he would spin it) rather be more thorough.   Again, I'm not an MSNBC fan, but given the debacles of the other networks recently in trying to out-scoop the others it would be great if they would actually try to do deeper reporting rather than jump in the mud hole with everybody else.  

We will have to see if there is room for that.  Typically the concept of "news" is related to the reporting of events and information that are current.  It seems that MSNBC's downfall is that they seem to seek some form consensus for what is worthy of reporting.  They also offer a stable of commentators like Lawrence O'Donnell, Al Sharpton, and Rachel Maddow who do exactly the opposite of what you suggest by being the first out of the gate to offer a very strong stance on news before there is enough information to do so.  This makes them appear as practiced apologists and has gained them a reputation as an extension of the office of the White House press secretary.

It seems that tide is changing a bit though.  They seem to have been betrayed on the same level as the rest of the media, and perhaps they are beginning to regret that.  

[Hoss]

We will have to see if there is room for that.  Typically the concept of "news" is related to the reporting of events and information that are current.  It seems that MSNBC's downfall is that they seem to seek some form consensus for what is worthy of reporting.  They also offer a stable of commentators like Lawrence O'Donnell, Al Sharpton, and Rachel Maddow who do exactly the opposite of what you suggest by being the first out of the gate to offer a very strong stance on news before there is enough information to do so.  This makes them appear as practiced apologists and has gained them a reputation as an extension of the office of the White House press secretary.

It seems that tide is changing a bit though.  They seem to have been betrayed on the same level as the rest of the media, and perhaps they are beginning to regret that.  

Hmm...wonder what "news" outlet that sounded like from about 2000-2008?  And yet no complaining from the usual suspects from here about that.

[guido911]

Fox News has all those raging right wingers, such as Geraldo Rivera, Bob Beckel, Kirsten Powers, Mara Liasson, Juan Williams, Sally Kohn, Susan Estrich. Let's not forget Van Susteren, Shepard Smith, and Megyn Kelly, three other flaming righties that host shows. Now why doesn't Fox just stop the right wing propaganda, just as MSDNC and CNN has done by hiring all those rabid right wingers.

I laugh my hoss off every time I read about how evil Fox News is, as if that one, ONE TV media news outlet that leans right is destroying TV news. Bunch of whiners.