In the competitive landscape of cable television, different outlets go after each other in a fierce manner. Sometimes it gets so bad it would make politicians (the masters of attack and spin) blush.
I often tell people who live outside of Wisconsin that we don’t know how spoiled we have it here. Our local media outlets do compete against each other. However, the people working at different TV and radio stations sort of know each other. And, overall, they get along pretty well.
I’ve been out at scenes and have seen staffers hold microphones for others at different stations to make sure everyone has a chance to get audio at a press conference.
But on a national scale, where news outlets have taken a slant for their non-news shows … it can be cutthroat. Sometimes it is funny to watch.
One example in the business news networks I recently wrote about. CNBC has tried to implement a policy with different CEOs and business leaders it books. CNBC recently added to its playbook, asking these talking heads not to appear on a competitor’s station for 24 hours if they hit its airwaves. It’s competitor, Fox Business Network, created an ad showcasing what CNBC was trying to do.
Recently, CNBC ran the ad that Fox Business Network created on its air. Not sure how that happened. Either CNBC needed ad revenue so badly that it didn’t bother to check the ad before it ran on its air, or if Fox Business Network made the ad buy through local cable outlets, purchasing rotating ads on different channels. Either way, this is mudslinging at its worst … and both sides should be ashamed.
You can see the Fox Business Network spot run on CNBC here.
FELINES: Now, I have cats at home. I like them, they have personalities and follow me around the house. Sometimes they get moody and cause messes, but overall they are very social.
I can’t relate to this, but I could see it being amusing television. "My Cat From Hell" returns to Animal Planet with 17 new episodes starting on April 6.
"(Jackson) Galaxy takes on the most 'cat'astrophic cat cases anyone ever has encountered," the producers spelled out in a press release.
"Armed with a proven training program and his signature guitar case filled with cat toys, Galaxy is on a mission to help cat owners find the sources of conflict with their furry friends. In each episode, Galaxy helps felines and repairs the relationships they're ruining. Whether it's the cats or the owners behaving badly, leave it to Galaxy to save the day!"
DECENT START: Mid-season replacement show "Golden Boy" on CBS did so well in its first two airings that it will keep its Tuesday night time slot. "Vegas," which normally held the 9 p.m. slot, will move over to Friday night at 8 p.m. after the run of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball championships. "Golden Boy" stars Theo James as a police officer that becomes New York’s youngest commissioner. The first two episodes of "Golden Boy" averaged nearly 10 million viewers and a 1.7 rating among the key adults 18-49 demographic.
Media is bombarding us everywhere.
Instead of sheltering his brain from the onslaught, Steve embraces the news stories, entertainment, billboards, blogs, talk shows and everything in between.
The former writer, editor and producer in TV, radio, Web and newspapers, will be talking about what media does in our community and how it shapes who we are and what we do.