New watermark on CNN?

[Still_Loves_John]

Has anyone noticed how the little thing at the bottom is a lot smaller now? I like it; they were going in that Fox News "everything look like a sportscast" type of thing where half the screen is covered in graphics, and they're moving back to something more subdued.

After trying to become Fox II, they seem to be moving in the other direction, trying to make themselves the mature news network by moderating their discussions so they don't turn into cable shout fests, and by this new small ticker.

And just to clarify, I'm talking just cosmetically, not editorial-wise, thought I still think CNN is pretty good in that department. But one of the things that annoys me about Fox, almost as much as their bias, is the way it's so obviously geared towards people with short attention spans, with totally unnecessary animations flying across the screen all the time.

[MattNC]

1. I noticed that too

I wish they'd get rid of the news ticker at the bottom as well.

[Ithuilwen]

5. I cheered when MSNBC did that. nt

[Webster Green]

2. Huh?

CNN is a non-stop, right wing, cable shout-fest. I can't even stand to watch that shit anymore.

[Still_Loves_John]

3. Actually, I think that they've kinda moved away

from the shout-fest thing at least. Lately, the conversations have been very well moderated, and the people are calm and don't talk over each other.

[Webster Green]

4. Hmmm......should I give them another chance?

I know you can't be talking about crossfire though!

[Still_Loves_John]

7. Haha, yeah

Crossfire is definatly the exception.

But honestly, I think they have improved. I hate the whole professional wrestling aspect of cable news, and I think CNN is going in kind of a niche market direction.

You can still definatly argue conservative bias, but they're at least one step in the right direction. There are definatly some good shows though, Aaron Brown is a great anchor who is on at 10 eastern weekdays.

[donco6]

6. I noticed, too.

I haven't watched CNN for quite a while because of how crazy they'd gotten with the "shout-fests". But I tuned in this week on a trip out of town (nothing else available except FOX, which I refuse to watch), and I noticed that I didn't have to change the channel once. Fairly remarkable for me.

[Protected]

8. SNL did a skit about MSNBC's graphics...

The graphics kept crowding in on the screen until only a small square was left for the anchor. MSNBC is still pretty bad, with their 1980s-style graphics everywhere. I especially hate it when the terror alert goes up and everybody feels that more screen space should be wasted to constantly let us know that.

CNN looks like they're on the right track. Now I wish that the crawl at the bottom would disappear. It's nice during "breaking news," but it's useless the other 99.99% of the time.

Now if they'd only stop trying to get the Fox News viewers back, I'd be really happy. (Don't they realize that they're never coming back because CNN has a "liberal bias?") An few new anchors would be welcome as well, such as replacing Wolf Blitzer, Judy WoofWoof, and Paula Zahn with some folks that aren't so washed up.

[Zen]

9. I don't watch Crossfire or Cafferty in morning. Lou Dobbs, Aaron Brown,

and sometimes Paula Zahn. Just need to be selective - I am very aware of what acceptable shows are on when - then I check headlines & decide if the subject matter is acceptable for that show. MSNBC Chris Matthews has his good days and even Keith O (I've had a hard time forgiving him for an awful comment he made about a school girl who decorated a flag during the dark times just after 9/11 - I think he's gotten over that sort of commentary - I know my email to him was SCATHING).

[Still_Loves_John]

10. I can't stand that morning show.

I was so upset that Kerry announced Edwards in the morning because I had to listen to them. They're all idiots.

What was it that Olberman said? I didn't start watching him until recently.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. Somebody needs to re-send the memo to Judy Wood-rot...

...because she is STILL running Dems and Dem political thought into the ground.

[Chili]

12. Keith Olbermann...

...had a pretty intense following back in the impeachment days. Every night he blasted the House "Managers" and once he got so pissed off he threw papers around on the air. It was hilarious and I applauded. But somehow he went to far - according to his producers? (don't know / remember the details) - and he was gone. Glad he's back, I'll have to remember to watch him again.

And I can't stand that Soledad O'Brien. I liked her at first, but she made an unnecessary sneering snark at Clinton and the "My Life" promo (as if a former president doesn't have the right to promote his memoirs????) and I havene't forgiven her for it. Now I notice how really unsubstantial her comments are. Hemmer doesn't offend me at all, I kinda like him. But Cafferty needs a personality transplant.

But I love Aaron Brown!