If you haven't read this yet….I think you'll find it very revealing. I know I did.
Most cable news viewers, who are aware of the larger picture around them, agree that Fox News is simply an arm of the Republican Party which slants and distorts and hides the truth on many news stories while simultaneously bashing Democrats 24/7. Many from the left have remarked on how radically worse Fox has gotten since Obama's election….a view I concur with.
Apparently, from the NY Times piece I link to below, an agreement was reached between Fox and NBC's head haunchos on June 1. An agreement where Keith Olbermann would cut back or eliminate altogether his nightly exposure of Bill O'Reilly's lies and propaganda….and in return Bill O'Reilly would cut back or stop altogether his ambushing of NBC officials and any negative attacks on GE, MSNBC's parent corporation.
I knew the corporate media was rotten and corrupt…..I just didn't fully appreciate, I guess, the putridness of the stench.
Just one small piece of the NY Times article to consider…..
….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.
The emboldened words prove that the "feud" between Olbermann and O'Reilly was profitable for both Fox and NBC. Corporate heads don't usually stop profit builders from….umm…..building profits, so there is much more here than meets the eye.
It would appear that Fox doesn't want anymore attention drawn to the role they're playing as official teevee network for the Republican Party, and GE's big brass doesn't want any surprise revelations being broadcast to millions about their corporate activities.
What's your take?
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Big business republicans against Olbermann because Olbermann's effective.
They fear him.
Not the other way around.
Not really. Counting you two Olby's got about 13 viewers. Two fall asleep before Rachel comes on. She's got 11.
It will be most interesting to see if Keith addresses the issue this week.
Speaking of numbers….did you see that 47% Southerners number on the birther belief question, larry?
What do those Southerners have in common that no other region of the country has in common?….hmmm…..I wonder.
I`m trying to look at this from an equal plain. Olberman is ok, however, he is too much of a brown noser. O`Reilly is nothing more than a bully. He is mean, nasty, and a jerk. Between the two……..Olberman. At least he will carry on a conversation with the guest without demeaning them.
Rev,
I agree with Fred. I think Olbermann is a smug, self centered individual. What I value most about his program is when he exposes the lies and distortions of what you call the Village. I haven't watched O'Reilly for a long time, but from Fred's remarks, it looks like he hasn't changed. In addition, I'd say that he's about as dumb as dirt.
I'm really disappointed that this rivalry is being called off by their superiors. We need someone to call bullshit on these guys. I've watched and read some of these pundits for 40 years. When I see someone like Fred Barnes, or Thomas Freidman, I want to yell at them, "you were wrong 40 years ago, you were wrong thirty years ago, and you are wrong now. How do you keep your job?" Anyone else in the private sector would be fired for incompetence long ago.
Hmmm, I wonder where the NY times gets their stats? I see nothing but downward numbers for MSNBC in all time slots. I used to watch Olbermann, but it was always the same point of view. I don't like O'Reilly but he does have opposing views on his show (ie. Alan Colmes) and if you've ever watched O'Reilly he does say some good things about BHO. Whatever happened to Tucker Carlson? He was the best at telling what was good and bad about both parties, perhaps I can get him to head up my third party?
Rev,
The first thing I found revealing was this statement by you:
"Most cable news viewers…agree that Fox News is simply an arm of the Republican Party which slants and distorts and hides the truth on many news stories while simultaneously bashing Democrats 24/7."
Yet, no acknowledgement by you that MSNBC is the exact same thing in reverse, favoring the Democratic party. Hmmm. Wonder why.
I'll say one thing in O'Reilly's favor. He has guests on his show who DISAGREE with him. That sparks a more balanced discussion. Olbermann is an intellectual coward who only has people on who agree with Olbermann and/or the Democrats. His show is a liberal echo chamber.
And about Andrea's contention that the right fears Olbermann….LOL. Very funny. At least 10 Fox News shows have higher ratings than Olbermann does, regardless of their time slot. O'Reilly is annihilating Olby in the ratings head to head.
I'm wondering, if Olby isn't going to talk about Fox News anymore, how will he fill up an entire hour ? Is he going to rag on Limbaugh the whole time ? FYI – Olby does WAY more of that kind of thing than O'Reilly does. O'Reilly just mostly brags about his ratings lead over MSNBC, though he has talked about the NBC-GE-Obama connection, which is a legitimate news story. That shouldn't stop. GE has a lot riding on Obama's agenda being implemented. That compromises NBC's integrity.
OH rev,you couldn't tell if anyond were pro lib or anti republican because YOU are unable to see ANYTHING but the far left company line.Continue being fooled. Copperhead Keith is out for himself only- and like you has this hate and loathing thing for the U.S. You both want to see the country fail.FOX has nothing to do with your poison.
What about the larger question of media CEO's agreeing between themselves to censor their "news" information?
Would it be okay for all the big corporate media CEO's to strike a deal limiting the information they were willing to share with the American public?
Or does it even matter anymore? Is American media so far gone that even mutual corporate self-censorship of information won't make any difference?
"What about the larger question of media CEO's agreeing between thems andelves to censor their "news" information?"
That's the problem with the media Rev. Who do we believe? What do we believe? It's all about ratings. The worst offender of this is Glenn Beck, he actually merges his advertsing in with his stories. That's why I don't listen to him anymore.
Mr. averagejoe5,
You shouldn't believe any of these millionaire news readers. The news, especially on cable, is just another form of entertainment. But the Rev is right. MSNBC's parent company, GE gets to keep its ties to the military-industrial complex quiet while Fox's Murdoch keeps criticism of its overwhelming right wing bias muted. Helluva a trade, and accomplished before the trading deadline.
The good news is, we have so many alternate news sources these days. In the old days, we didn't have that. We were spoon-fed the company line and didn't have access to anything else. The people we really have to watch out for are the ones who want to start controlling the alternate media (Fairness Doctrine, localism, internet censorship, etc).
Here is another form of entertainment that is really scarey. If this is the station that Rev listens to to get his take on the Christian Right I am with him and understand why he feels the way he does. I was listening to 900AM this afternoon. These men were coming up with stuff so off the wall it was crazy. All spoken without definite sources and all spoken as a "matter of factly". It reminded me of a brainwashing session. (if I knew what that was). Unbelieveable. Talk about promoting "no hope".