After CBS's Decision, Networks Face Many More

NYT(The Grey Whore) ^ | Oct 27, 2005 | BILL CARTER

[ForGod'sSake]

That has helped create the circumstances that are driving some of the broader reconsiderations of the business. Leslie Moonves, the CBS chairman who made the switch to Mr. McManus, had stirred the pot most aggressively by stating last January that he was looking for something radical and even revolutionary to replace Mr. Rather - a move away from what he called the "voice of God" anchor. At one point Mr. Moonves was quoted suggesting that he would like to blow up CBS News entirely.

Yesterday, Mr. Moonves said that comment was never serious and he had made it "out of frustration." That he wants changes at CBS News is still true; but with Mr. McManus, the longtime head of the CBS sports division, he has installed a solid, highly respected mainstream broadcast executive, not a revolutionary.

[ForGod'sSake]

Really?! Big changes coming to cbs news? Whatever could Moonves have in mind??? Installing a crawler at the bottom of their screen. Revolutionary!

And so it goes...

[ForGod'sSake]

Several articles posted here re Heyward's departure; none of which made it into breaking news for whatever reasons. I suppose this is now old news...

[adamsjas]

a move away from what he called the "voice of God" anchor

Its been my observation that those networks that use unknown news readers for most of the news do a much better job than those that stick to the old dogs.

First, they have to at least attempt to be believable rather than simply making pronouncemts from on high.

[dsc]

"a solid, highly respected mainstream broadcast executive"

These people must live in their own world.

In my world, such a person is called a "leftist talking head."

[Paleo Conservative]

At one point Mr. Moonves was quoted suggesting that he would like to blow up CBS News entirely.

I'm sure he's not the only one.

[ForGod'sSake]

Its been my observation that those networks that use unknown news readers for most of the news do a much better job than those that stick to the old dogs.

Could be. Consider the talent coming out of the likes of the Columbia School of Journalism. Airheads would probably be a compliment. Likely steeped in Marxist idealogy moreso than their predecessors.

First, they have to at least attempt to be believable rather than simply making pronouncemts from on high.

I would take some issue with that. The "room" they are playing to doesn't care. Put them in the same class as the O.J. jury. All they want is something to hang their hat on. Doesn't matter if it's true or not, IMO.

FGS

[iowamark]

he was looking for something radical and even revolutionary to replace Mr. Rather - a move away from what he called the "voice of God" anchor.

That isn't God they're following!

[Tall_Texan]

Maybe McManus will put a stat tracker on the screen for all us fantasy news junkies.

[ForGod'sSake]

These people must live in their own world.

Insulated and isolated. True elitists in the sense they know what's best for the unwashed and they will do their damndest to prove it whether we like it or not. Lo, the burdens of the ruling class...

[ForGod'sSake]

I'm sure he's not the only one.

Safe bet ;^)

[ForGod'sSake]

That isn't God they're following!

True enough; that would be God's nemesis they follow, eh?

[hsalaw]

"One of the reasons the whole process is so difficult," Mr. Wald said, "is because the networks know whatever they decide to do, the whole world is watching."

Yup. They live in their own world, all right. "The whole world is watching," indeed; watching them go down the tubes.

[ForGod'sSake]

Maybe McManus will put a stat tracker on the screen for all us fantasy news junkies.

Heh. It might be interesting to follow the meanderings of cbs news over the next few months. My bet is that little will change in the "newsroom". Lipstick on a pig comes to mind. Even if McManus were to be interested in changing the direction of their presentation, I don't see it happening any time soon; likely never. The Bolsheviks are entrenched within the system. To make any meaningful changes would require a housecleaning IMO.

Sortof a side note: Would you be more interested in capturing an audience with sizable disposable income that spends wisely, or an audience with less disposable income that spends foolishly(that is, a fool and his money, so to speak).

FGS

[raccoonradio]

Not sure if this is true but i heard on the radio that McManus is the son of sportscaster Jim McKay (McManus may be the real surname of McKay). For what it's worth.

[Lancey Howard]

At one point Mr. Moonves was quoted suggesting that he would like to blow up CBS News entirely.

Gilligan reruns would be more credible than CBS News and would definitely bring better ratings to the time slot.

[kcvl]

Sean McManus is the president of CBS Sports, but he is also the son of Baltimore’s own Jim McKay.


Jim McManus (McKay's real name) gave up his job as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun newspapers to join that organization's new TV station, WMAR-TV, in 1947. His was the first voice ever heard on television in Baltimore. He functioned as writer, producer, director, newsman, sports commentator and on-camera personality for WMAR-TV until he came to CBS in New York in 1950, as host of a variety show.

Through the 1950s, sports commentary more and more became his primary assignment for CBS. He was the anchorman for the Masters and PGA Golf Championships, and also covered college football, horse racing and other sports.


McKay lives with his wife, Margaret, in Monkton, Maryland. Mrs. McManus is a member of the Board of Trustees of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (her alma mater), and founder of a day care center on the campus, known as A Child's Place. They have a son, Sean McManus, president of CBS Sports; a daughter, Mrs. Alex Guba, a national board-certified counselor; a 23 -year-old grandson, James Fontelieu; Mary's son born in 1982; also a five-year-old granddaughter, Maggie McManus, named for her grandmother and Jackson McManus, born in 2001. When time permits, McKay enjoys playing golf.

McKay is also the author of two books, "My Wide World," published by MacMillan in 1973, and "The Real McKay," by Dutton in 1998.


Sean McManus is a man who worked his way up the ladder from a production assistant at ABC Sports to becoming a producer at NBC and finally an executive landing as the president of CBS Sports.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"At one point Mr. Moonves was quoted suggesting that he would like to blow up CBS News entirely."

That thought has occurred to many of us over the years.

The condescending paternalistic liberal patriarchy of cBS has generally been rather insufferable over the years. Dan Rather's just-arrived-from-Mt.-Olympus righteousness was almost campy in its silliness. Only a superhero leotard, cape, and mask could have made it sillier. Perhaps finally "our national nightmare is now over."

McManus is McKay's real surname. No idea whether this is his son though.

[ForGod'sSake]

Interesting side note. What, if anything, do you know about his/their politics?

[dk/coro]

All kinds of oxymorons herein. lol

You made my evening.

[Landru]

"Interesting side note. What, if anything, do you know about his/their politics?"

More of that great, wry Texan humor? {g}

OK, let's consider the question with the utmost seriousness requiring we reverse engineer the facts.

"...a move away from what he called the "voice of God" anchor."

What's rattling around inside the empty cranium of someone who'd *perceive* Blather in this way?
What're his politics because after all it'll be this guy who chooses, eh?

"At one point Mr. Moonves was quoted suggesting that he would like to blow up CBS News entirely."

Yessssss!

"Yesterday, Mr. Moonves said that comment was never serious and he had made it 'out of frustration.'"

Nooooooo!

"That he wants changes at CBS News is still true; but with Mr. McManus, the longtime head of the CBS sports division, he has installed a solid, highly respected mainstream broadcast executive, not a revolutionary."

HA!!
Meet the "new" Boss.

...same as the old Boss. ;^)