"Week of Media Shitcanning Madness Continues! " CNN's Jon Klein, NBC's Jeff Zucker!

[KoKo]

Week of Media Shitcanning Madness Continues!CNN's Jon Klein, NBC's Jeff Zucker

By Foster Kamer, Fri., Sep. 24 2010 @ 11:45AM
​Locally, we've seen some pretty intense media cannings take place, specifically at the New York Daily News, which also goes without mentioning Katy Perry being booted off Sesame Street. Well, this morning, news went wide of two more big ones: CNN president Jon Klein is out, and NBC-Universal President Jeff Zucker is out.


Klein, who had long resisted the rising tide of "partisan" news programming of his cable rivals, took a bit of a left turn this summer -- hiring a pair of ideological sparring partners (Eliot Spitzer, the former governor of New York, and Kathleen Parker, the conservative columnist) for a new primetime show.

vernor of New York, and Kathleen Parker, the conservative columnist) for a new primetime show.

Klein's going to be replaced by Ken Jautz and a managing editor to be hired sometime soon. Jautz was the executive VP of CNN Worldwide, where he oversaw the trash that's Headline News Network, which, if I'm not mistaken, still employs Nancy Grace, who is good for nothing but making fun of on The Soup. So that should be an interesting change. Which goes without saying, it apparently already is:

More at......
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/09/week_of_media_s.php

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Posted on Fri, Sep. 24, 2010

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NBC’s CEO to leave after Comcast takeover

By Bob Fernandez

The meeting was amicable and cordial, but Comcast Corp. executive Stephen Burke got his point across: "Steve made it clear that they wanted me to go at close," said Jeff Zucker of NBC Universal Inc.

So it's official. NBC Universal's top executive, Jeffrey Zucker, and Comcast will part ways when Comcast acquires control of NBCU late this year or early next year. Zucker, 45, a former executive producer of NBC's Today who started working at the network in 1986 and climbed the corporate ladder to head NBC Universal, told his employees of his decision today morning in an e-mail.

In an interview this afternoon, Zucker noted: "It would have been stranger for me to stay. . . . They have their own culture and their own values."

Zucker's departure was anticipated for months, although the executive told the New York Times that coming to terms with the decision was "incredibly emotional" and "gut-wrenching."

With Zucker's fate decided, speculation now focuses on whether Burke will run NBCU himself, hire someone, or promote an executive from one of the two organizations to the role. Some believe there is little margin for error with NBC's broadcast-TV network, which trails its competitors in prime-time offerings.

Comcast has said it bought NBCU for USA, CNBC, and other cable networks, and believes it can heal the NBC broadcast-TV network with management attention and additional investment in TV shows.

Today, Comcast had no comment on who would lead NBCU or the timing of an announcement. An organizational chart on the NBCU structure likely will be released before the deal closes.

-snip-

In December, Comcast announced it had reached a deal to buy 51 percent of NBCU from General Electric, which agreed to sell the content company to concentrate on its industrial businesses. The deal values NBCU at $30 billion. NBCU will be operated as a joint venture, with Comcast in charge of running the businesses.

The Comcast/NBCU deal is being scrutinized by the Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Communications Commission. Experts expect approvals but with conditions that limit Comcast's ability to hurt competitors through its control of the nation's largest cable-TV network and one of the largest entertainment and news providers.

Zucker's announcement caught Comcast somewhat by surprise. Officials in the two companies have met regularly to discuss the joint venture and the integration of the companies. But NBCU still reports directly to General Electric, its corporate parent.

-snip-

Said Zucker in his e-mail to employees: "I have enjoyed nothing but sheer pleasure in having the names NBC and Universal on my business cards. Sure, there have been ups and downs in the last quarter-century. But when I step back, and think about what we've been through, I feel nothing but pride and joy."

[napi21]

1. I wonder what big changes we'll see at CNN? I know their ratings have been in the

dumper and that's got to be one item close to the top of the to do list.

[KoKo]

2. CNN has been so to the "Dark Side" for Years...it's hard to know...But to Lose Dem Voices at MSNBC?

That would be hard for many Democratic Activists of the Grassroots/Netroots to deal with.

BECAUSE: We would lose the only Cable Media Opposition to FAUX News and CNN's WAR HYPING...

If we lose Dem Voices on MSNBC...what do we have Left for the Left that is "MAINSTREAM?" for the Average Person who turns on their TVEE when they get home whatever time...and want to hear a little something "different" from FAUX NOISE or RUSH and RELIGIOUS when they are in their Car all day going from JOB TO JOB...GRINDING ON...and what about ALL OF US DEMS?

Wouldn't losing the few Dem Voices we have on Cable be a terrible BLOW if MSNBC goes to the RIGHT?

[napi21]

4. I honestly doubt we'll lose any Dem slant on MSNBC. The

heads of these co's are really only interested in $$, and you get more $$ via ratings, and MSNBC, at least between 6 & 11 PM EST has been doing quite well. I'm thinkin' the ones who should be worrying are Blitzer, King (not Larry), and all CNN's old established anchors who have been failing badly.

[Uzybone]

3. They will become more like Headline news

that means even more vapid and right wing

[ClarkUSA]

5. This is bad news. COMCAST President& CEO Brian Roberts is a huge Republican donor = $72,900 in 2008

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/brian-roberts.asp?cycle=08

[KoKo]

6. I have Time-Warner Basic Cable..so don't know much about Comcast...thanks for Heads Up..

That doesn't give me much hope for keeping MSNBC's Night shows that swing Dem, then. Firing Zucker (much as he seems to be hated for the Conan thing) seems bad for MSNBC not becoming some sorto of ENFOTAIMENT FAUX LITE..in the future.

Somehow this Comcast Deal seems to smack of Anti-Trust...If we still had laws about that kind of thing. And that GE still own's 49%? Yet Comcast can fire Zucker when GE seemed to want him enough to sign a new contract that he would continue?

It's not good news...for any kind of media that isn't going to go further Right into Faux Territory.

[ClarkUSA]

7. I have Comcast. I'm going to switch to Dish TV, which is owned by a liberal.

<< That doesn't give me much hope for keeping MSNBC's Night shows that swing Dem, then. Firing Zucker (much as he seems to be hated for the Conan thing) seems bad for MSNBC not becoming some sorto of ENFOTAIMENT FAUX LITE..in the future.>>

I'm afraid you may be right. If KO, Rachel, and Lawrence O'Donnell get canned, we'll know.

<< Somehow this Comcast Deal seems to smack of Anti-Trust...If we still had laws about that kind of thing.>>

Let's see what safeguards the FEC demands. The head of the FEC is no dummy. He's a big supporter of net neutrality and a tech genius who guided the Obama web campaign.

<<And that GE still own's 49%? Yet Comcast can fire Zucker when GE seemed to want him enough to sign a new contract that he would continue?>>

51% means you're the boss.

<< It's not good news...for any kind of media that isn't going to go further Right into Faux Territory. >>

This potential merger bodes ill, I agree.