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Can anything save ABC News from extinction? (Dinosaur Media DeathWatchâ„¢)
Marketwatch.com ^ | September 10, 2010 | Jon Friedman

Posted on 09/10/2010 6:58:44 AM PDT by abb

Forget, for a moment, that ABC News is in disarray.

Forget, too, that the network news business is regarded as a dinosaur. Forget, finally, that ABC News's chief rival, NBC, has a lead over CBS and ABC that brings to mind Secretariat at the Belmont Stakes.

Now, I have the audacity to ask: Can anything save ABC News from extinction?

Right now -- and for the foreseeable future -- the smart answer would be a curt "no."

The question took on deeper resonance Monday night when David Westin announced his plans to step down after running ABC News for nearly 14 years. Read about Westin's departure.

ABC News, a division of Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) , looks like a mess. It has sliced about 25% of its staff in recent years. Daring moves to install George Stephanopoulos at "Good Morning America" and Christiane Amanpour on "This Week" were applauded by critics. But neither has really put a scare into network news pacesetter NBC News.

(Full disclosure: I thought both of those decisions were sound at the time; now, I'm having some doubts.)

Disney will be calling the shots when it comes to the future of ABC News. The parent has kept "Nightline" intact, despite strong rumors over the years that the parent lusted after Jay Leno and others to compete against NBC and CBS on equal, entertainment late-night footing.

"I suspect Disney would like to see a hybrid news division that is either partnered with a cable channel to handle its newsgathering chores -- Bloomberg does not really fit this bill since it doesn't really do what ABC's bureaus and costly staff do -- or more closely linked with its owned stations to try spreading the costs around that way," a former TV news executive told me.

snip

(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abcnews; advertising; dbm; television
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1 posted on 09/10/2010 6:58:47 AM PDT by abb
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To: 04-Bravo; aimhigh; andyandval; Arizona Carolyn; Bahbah; bert; bilhosty; Caipirabob; carmenbmw; ...

ping


2 posted on 09/10/2010 6:59:32 AM PDT by abb ("What ISN'T in the news is often more important than what IS." Ed Biersmith, 1942 -)
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To: abb

Oh..not to worry comrade .
Dear leader would never let a Marxist news outlet fail.

You should be more worried about FOX.


3 posted on 09/10/2010 7:01:59 AM PDT by AlexW
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To: abb

Who cares. Nothing but lies and liars in the Network news anyway.


4 posted on 09/10/2010 7:02:28 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: abb
Firing all of the clintonistas and start telling the truth no matter what... so no... there is no hope because that is NOT going to happen.

LLS

5 posted on 09/10/2010 7:03:17 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!)
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To: abb

“Can anything save ABC News from extinction?”

I sincerely hope not.


6 posted on 09/10/2010 7:04:03 AM PDT by Hacklehead (Liberalism is the art of taking what works, breaking it, and then blaming conservatives.)
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To: abb
ABC was never the same after the passing of David Brinkely.

"He (Bill Clinton) is bore, and he will always be a bore"

7 posted on 09/10/2010 7:04:22 AM PDT by AU72
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To: abb

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-09-09/michael-eisner-on-his-new-book-working-together/
Michael Eisner on Media’s Future

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-10/nbc-all-action-no-talk-as-last-place-network-tries-to-rebound.html
NBC All Action, No Talk as Last-Place Network Tries to Rebound

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Sports_TV_52/Lockout-looms-as-NFL-season-kicks-off.asp
Lockout looms as NFL season kicks off


8 posted on 09/10/2010 7:07:09 AM PDT by abb ("What ISN'T in the news is often more important than what IS." Ed Biersmith, 1942 -)
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To: abb

The truth.


9 posted on 09/10/2010 7:07:53 AM PDT by curth (SarahPac: Over 2 million members! Are you in for $20.12?)
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To: abb
Can anything save ABC News from extinction?

GEEZ I hope not!

10 posted on 09/10/2010 7:08:15 AM PDT by Bigun ("It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." Voltaire)
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To: abb

Oh I hope not!


11 posted on 09/10/2010 7:09:17 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
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To: abb
Can anything save ABC News from extinction? (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Why bother?

12 posted on 09/10/2010 7:12:40 AM PDT by The Sons of Liberty (Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few and let another take his office. - Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin)
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To: abb

Good riddance, Commie mouthpiece MSM.


13 posted on 09/10/2010 7:14:37 AM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (Professional Politicians are a Threat to the Republic! Remove them on 11-2-10!)
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To: abb

Go right. Espouse more conservative views.

It works.

They, of course, would rather die than take the cure.


14 posted on 09/10/2010 7:15:02 AM PDT by LeonardFMason
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To: abb
Photobucket
15 posted on 09/10/2010 7:15:30 AM PDT by Clay Moore (The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2)
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To: abb

Isn’t ABC composed of nothing more than those filthy humans who consume a disproportionate amount of the worlds energy and food? We are supposed to supported filthy humans that consume and reproduce and subsidize them? I don’t think this fits with Al Gore’s plan. I think the environmentally responsible response would be to kill them off fast to save the planet. Just sayin.


16 posted on 09/10/2010 7:16:25 AM PDT by equalitybeforethelaw
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To: abb
Can anything save ABC News from extinction? (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

The one thing that would have a chance to save them would be like Madalyn Murray O'Hair carrying a Bible.

17 posted on 09/10/2010 7:16:49 AM PDT by N. Theknow (Barack Hussein 0bama = Wagonmaster for the Donner Party. Mmmmmmm-Mmmmmmm-Mmmmmm!)
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To: abb

http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/phoenix-press-operators-picket-meeting.html
Phoenix | Press operators picket meeting


18 posted on 09/10/2010 7:19:10 AM PDT by abb ("What ISN'T in the news is often more important than what IS." Ed Biersmith, 1942 -)
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To: abb

Here’s a suggestion:Start Doing investigative Reporting On This Administration And Stop Being One Of It’s Many LAPDOGS?The head of ABC News(just stepped down)was identified as a”Friend”of POTUS!


19 posted on 09/10/2010 7:30:57 AM PDT by bandleader
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To: abb

Doubtful, as long as the network newsies continue to be more infomercial for drug companies, big business, and political persuasions than actual news agencies.


20 posted on 09/10/2010 7:32:10 AM PDT by TomGuy
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