Something interesting I've noticed re: CBS, 60 Min's, O'Neill, and Clarke

[SeveneightyWhoa]

So, first we have 60 Minutes doing that interview w/ Paul O'Neill that set the stage for the release of his best-selling expose of the Bush administration.

Now, 60 Minutes does an interview w/ Richard Clarke setting the stage for the release of his probable best-selling expose of the Bush administration.

As you probably know, 60 Minutes is on CBS, which is owned by Viacom.

Viacom also happens to own Simon & Schuster, the company that publishes the aforementioned books by O'Neill and Clarke.

So in addition to these 60 Minutes interviews being proof of CBS as the most patriotic, pro-democracy, truth-telling network, this is also a VERY clever method of cross-promotion. I don't know if this has been mentioned or noticed by anyone else..

This is not a criticism of CBS/Viacom, just something I found interesting. I can't frown upon this practice if its not only helping the only apparently-centrist network make a profit, but also help save America (and the world!) by getting the truth out about these corrupt bastards.

[Momof1]

1. Any bets the FCC will announce the fines tomorrow

or sometime in the next week for the Super Bowl?

[w4rma]

9. Infinity Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Viacom, syndicates Howard Stern

Infinity Stations to Keep Howard Stern on the Air

By John Maynard
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 27, 2004; Page C01

Shock jock Howard Stern, whose radio show was yanked in six cities across the country, will continue to be aired on about 40 stations owned by his syndicator, Infinity Broadcasting, company executives said yesterday.

Clear Channel Communications, the nation's largest radio chain, pulled Stern's show Wednesday from stations in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla., Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rochester, N.Y., and San Diego after comments the company deemed "indecent" aired on his show Tuesday.

Infinity executives would not comment yesterday on Clear Channel's move and said only that Stern would not meet a similar fate on their stations. His show aired locally as usual on Infinity's Fairfax-based WJFK-FM yesterday. Two phone calls to WJFK General Manager Alan Leinwand were not returned.

Yesterday, a defiant Stern denounced Clear Channel on the air, saying the company's actions were equivalent to throwing "free speech out the window."
...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A10891-2004Feb26

[countmyvote4real]

2. OTH, CBS/Viacom caved about airing "The Reagans."

Your first impulse is right. It's about the $. It has nothing to do with the message, democracy or the ancient notion of "journalism." I'm glad that I tuned in because it won't get any further meaningful play in the media that can't make a buck from it.

They are all media whores.

Still, I might have to find a way to buy this book. I do believe this man.

[mouse7]

7. "The Reagans" wasn't the place for CBS to pick to make a stand

By everyone's admission, "The Reagans" was not truthful in the places most criticised. It was also not very good at all artisticly. While I agree it was pretty chicken to pull "The Reagans", it just wasn't a good place for those concerned about CBS being corporatized to pick to fight against creeping conservatism.

I'm waiting for the neo-cons to try to stop a serious factual 60 Mins segment from being broadcast. That's where we will see if CBS is completely bankrupt of ethics now.

[wtmusic]

3. No doubt

but it's a wondrous phenomenon that the profit motive occasionally results in positive social effects.

[neebob]

5. Yes, thank heaven

it's finally becoming profitable to criticize the Fraudministration.

[fearnobush]

4. I still have not forgiven CBS from banning the MoveOn ad.

Bush is allowed to plaster his deception on all networks, he's allowed to remove Howard Stern, but we are not allowed to air the truth. This is all about money, because the Bush Bashing books sell a hell of a lot more than the O'whorelies and the Hannitities. If we could make hating Bush a billion dollar industry, he'd be outed in no time.

[wtmusic]

6. Agree, but...

among the "big three' networks CBS has been the most fair, hands down. Interviewing Saddam? Rather admitting the Pentagon pressured him to color the news? You won't find that on any other American network.

[RBitt]

10. Rather in Viet Nam

Changed the world

[maggrwaggr]

8. making the media whores work in your favor

is something the Dems need to work on.

The media is our worst enemy right now, and I've said it before at DU, what we need is a leader who will FIGURE OUT how to get our message out, in other words, how to USE what media we have.

Just telling the truth doesn't work anymore.

Karen Kwiatkowski needs to write a fucking book, that's what I think. And quick!

[leftchick]

11. this connection was brought up on Imus this AM...

it will be the reich wing talking point to discredit Clarke. Whatever... :eyes: