RNC's Hollow Threat to Boycott NBC News and CNN

The Republican National Committee is making a false threat to NBC News and CNN. 

The RNC chairman Reince Priebus threatened to boycott NBC News and CNN during the 2016 debate season because of their planned productions about Hillary Clinton.

But, if the RNC wants to get their message out to swing voters, they need NBC and CNN more than the networks need the RNC. 

If the RNC wants, they can just grant access to Fox News. But, the thing is the people that watch FNC are going to vote Republican anyway. So talking to FNC is akin to preaching to the choir. 

It would be the same if the DNC claimed they were only going to grant access to MSNBC. 

To garner the swing voters, you have to get your message out to the middle. Two of the better places to do that is NBC News and CNN.  

The RNC is pissed because NBC Entertainment (NOT News) recently ordered a miniseries starring Diane Lane as Hilary Clinton. CNN also has a Clinton show in the works. 

If some network runs the movie Lincoln, will the DNC object and cut off access to the network?  

The RNC needs the media and they know it. They will not boycott CNN or NBC News. It is a hollow threat to try and get the GOP fired up.

Yes, they might boycott MSNBC, but those viewers are voting Democrat already. Plus no one watches MSNBC, so no big loss.

But the RNC will NOT follow through with their boycott of CNN or NBC News. 

And you can take that to the bank.  

CNN Confused on Pennsylvania Shooting

If you believe CNN, then bullets fired by a gunman near Philly, killed people all the way across the state in Pittsburgh. 

CNN got confused when three people were killed and several more were wounded in a shooting at a town supervisors' meeting in eastern Pennsylvania.

The shooting occurred in Ross Township. A quick Wikipedia search shows that there are 3 Ross Townships in Pennsylvania.

CNN had a 1 in 3 chance in getting it right and they missed.  

In a graphic repeated over and over, CNN erroneously reported that a fatal shooting had occurred at the Ross Township municipal building north of Pittsburgh.

The phone started ringing at the Ross Police Department outside of Pittsburgh and the Ross Municipal building after CNN reported, in the graphic, that the shooting occurred in the Ross Township north of Pittsburgh.

"We decided to issue a news release to clarify the situation," said Ross Detective Brian Kohlhepp. "CNN called and I told them it wasn't us, but the graphic was still on TV."

Kohlhepp said he talked to the network shortly after 8 p.m., but even an hour later, the incorrect graphic remained (picture).

While CNN has shown ratings growth under new boss Jeff Zucker, it appears that the network has been more prone to making mistakes in their reporting. 

Which may mean that the network has adapted the old slogan "Never let the Facts get in the Way of a Good story."

H/T Richard Cook 

The Streak is Over for Al Roker

Al Roker did something that he hasn't done in 39 years. 

He overslept and missed his show "Wake up with Al" on the Weather Channel. 

Roker is known for his punctuality and he never misses making it to the show.

Until this time. Al Twitter the news that the streak is over: 

Lunch with Lauer

Matt Lauer is hoping that breaking bread will help break the Today Show's losing streak to Good Morning America.

Radar Online reports that the embattled Anchor is taking a top-down approach to the issues on the show he has helmed since 1996, taking show staffers out to lunch TWICE a week in an effort to boost morale and encourage a team atmosphere.

The “rallying of the troops” comes in the wake of Ann Curry‘s firing as the newsman’s co-anchor, the demise of nine staffers and routine losses in the ratings war to ABC’s Good Morning America.

During the past 12 months, 55-year-old Lauer “has gone out of his way to take staffers of the show out to lunch at least twice a week at his favorite midtown Manhattan hotel restaurant spot,” a source revealed.

“Matt wants to hear from producers and other staff about ideas for stories to cover, concerns they have — or any other issues. No one from the network told Matt to do this. This is something he wanted to do.

“The lunch group might be the cast one day, producers the next. No one wants the show to return to the glory days more than Matt and he’s fostering an open door approach and team atmosphere.”

Will it work? 

Stay tuned...  

Jeff Bezos: Print will be Dead in 20 Years

News that Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post for $250 million has people wondering what the "Amazon Guy" has planned for the paper. 

It will be interesting, since back in 2012 Bezos said that he felt people won’t pay for news on the web and that print will be dead In 20 years.

Going by that logic, it doesn't seem like buying the WoPo was really in plane for Bezos. 

In 2012, in an interview with the German paper, Berliner-Zeitung, Bezos said at the time that no one would bother paying for news online and print would be dead in 20 years.

“There is one thing I’m certain about: there won’t be printed newspapers in twenty years. Maybe as luxury items in some hotels that want to offer them as an extravagant service. Printed papers won’t be normal in twenty years.” said Bezos.

So what plans does Bezos have for WoPo and will he pressure his new newspaper to accelerate abandonment of their print version?

Time will tell and you can bet no one is more excited than Howie Kurtz.

H/T TechCrunch  

Internet to Pass TV in Viewing

When it comes to viewing, the Internet is expected to pass TV this year. 

According to eMarketer average time spent with digital media per day will surpass TV viewing time for the first time this year in media consumption among US adults.

The average adult will spend over 5 hours per day online, on nonvoice mobile activities or with other digital media this year, eMarketer estimates, compared to 4 hours and 31 minutes watching television. Daily TV time will actually be down slightly this year, while digital media consumption will be up 15.8%.

The most significant growth area is on mobile. Adults will spend an average of 2 hours and 21 minutes per day on nonvoice mobile activities, including mobile internet usage on phones and tablets—longer than they will spend online on desktop and laptop computers, and nearly an hour more than they spent on mobile last year.

Bezos Buys the Washington Post, Howie Kurtz Wets Himself

People are making a big deal that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post for $250 million bucks.

Let me correct that, newspaper people are making a big deal that Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post for $250 million bucks.

In case you have been living under a rock, newspapers are dying or in fact dead, depending on who you talk to. 

The NY Times basically just gave away the Boston Globe because it was bleeding cash.

John Q. Public could care less that one of the last dinosaurs  (i.e The Washington Post) was sold.

But Howie Kurtz is just about peeing himself with the news.

If Howie Kurtz kisses Bezos' ass any harder, Roger Ailes is going to get jealous.

Memo to Howie...no one outside the newspaper industry or under the age of 60 could give a hoot about this DC post deal. 

Just saying....  

Say Whaaaaat?!

Hey.... when it comes to typos and misspellings, FTVLive ranks up near the top. Then again we are pumping more content then anyone else and working 7 days a week. 

I'm sure if we quit using voice recognition software to update out site, it might be better. But not nearly as cool or fun. 

That said, even we had to shake our head when we saw this chyron from WGCL in Atlanta. The station must do countless stories per year from the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. 

You would think by now, they would know how to spell it. correctly.

The New Boss at NBC News

Today, Deborah Turness started as the new President of NBC News.

And as with a new teacher, the kids at NBC News are a bit nervous. Turness did her best to calm the nerves with an memo to the class.  

No word if everyone will get ice cream later.  

Here's the internal memo: 

Dear friends and colleagues,

As I take up my role as President of News I already owe you thanks for the warmest reception possible. I have received such warm messages from so many people from right across the company.

It is both an honour and a privilege to be asked to lead NBC News. The power of the brand, the scale of the legacy, the depth of the talent all make this organisation truly great.

I am here to work with you all at an exciting time. Together we will plan how NBC News will meet the challenges it faces now and in the future - on TV, online and on mobile.

My first job is to listen. To hear from you and to gain an intimate understanding of how you operate. So whatever your role, department or location, I am interested in what you can tell me. This week I plan to spend time in key editorial meetings and to be 'out and about'. So please don't be surprised if I turn up in your edit bay or at your desk. I want to know how you work!

I look forward to getting to know you and to getting started.

Deborah

Ouch!!!

TV News Crew Robbed at Gunpoint

The thugs in the Bay Area are getting more brazen with their thefts of camera gear.  

Scores of news cars have been broken into and camera gear stolen. But now it has gotten really scary.  

A KGO news crew was robbed at gunpoint of their gear while accompanied by a security guard in West Oakland in broad daylight.

The crew and security guard were held up shortly after 2:30 p.m. Friday by three men, at least one of whom had a gun, police said.

The punks got away with the camera equipment.

Luckily none of the KGO news crew were injured.

So far, the  station  is not commenting. 

Karma is a Bitch

When "To Catch a Predator" Reporter Chris Hanson had a reported affair with West Palm Beach Reporter Kristyn Caddell, it seemed to derail her career.

She claimed that she could not land another job and that she felt that if she can’t work because of their affair, then Hansen also should not be allowed to work either. 

Well, it appears that Caddell is getting her wish.  

NBC News says that Hansen's contract was not being renewed and he's out the door. "Chris has been a valued member of the team and we thank him for his many contributions to Dateline and NBC News over the last 20 years," the network said in a statement. They added "We wish him the best."

Karma my friend.... is a bitch. 

Miami Weatherman Headed for the Exits?

Word is that WFOR Weather Anchor David Bernard might be packing up his Doppler Radar and heading out the door.

Gossip Extra reports that  Bernard is telling friends he rejected the CBS O&O's proposal for a new contract and has notified his bosses he’s leaving after hurricane season, in early November.

He is the station’s main forecaster and presents his reports weekdays at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Bernard is also the network’s official extreme weather specialist and is often seen discussing tornadoes and blizzards on CBS This Morning and CBS Evening News.

“I never comment about my personal work situation,” Bernard said when reached at his studio.

Neither station General Manager Adam Levy nor News Director Liz Roldan replied to emails seeking comments.

WFOR Spokesman Lee Zimmerman said: “We do not comment on personnel matters.”

Word is the new contract they presented Bernard would pay him less than his current one.

WFOR is going through a big time shake up. As FTVLive FIRST told you, the station has hired Rick Folbaum from Fox News. Folbaum is expected to takeover shows currently anchored by Eliott Rodriguez.

FTVLive also told you FIRST that the station parted ways with Anchor Shannon Hori. Her replacement is expected to be named in just days. 

Now, it appears the CBS O&O might be searching for a new Weather Anchor.

Stay tuned as the shake up continues in SoFlo.