Russert's CNBC guests showed some real candor tonight

[Bozita]

David Gregory from the White House beat, Chip Reid from the Senate, and Kelly O'Donnell from the House.

I think I picked up on some notes of glee as the analysis of the election rolled along. Dems with subpoena power will now have the Bushies playing defense, a role with which they have no familiarity.

All in all, it was an hour well spent.


Replay at 10pm and 1am ET.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. What is the distinction between CNBC, MSNBC, and NBC?

[Bozita]

3. MSNBC and CNBC are cable/satellite channels.

NBC is of course their flagship over-the -air network.

GE owns all of them.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Entertainment, Business, News

The NBC Network goes back to 1926 when RCA, who had just broken away from GE, formed the first radio network. NBC got into the cable game in the late 80s when it bought out the Financial News Network and that became the platform for CNBC...still specializing in business news with some talk programming at night and weekends.

MSNBC was NBC's news division and Gates' money...in '96, the concept was to create an "interactive" News channel Microsoft would promote on their new MSN computer network (anyone remember that one???) and give NBC News a cable presence to compete with Fox & Turner. The Microsoft involvement was limited at best and IRC, they no longer have any interest in the network.

Now, NBC/Universal is in serious financial difficulties. They recently announced laying off 700 people from the News division. The local NBC station just cut two of its local newscasts and rumors are swirling that NBC will merge CNBC and MSNBC next year...focusing on Business during the day and with Olbermann, Scarborough and Dateline reruns at night.

[patricia92243]

6. Scarborough and not Tweety in the new set-up. I'd much rather hear Tweety. Even when I don't agree

with him, he is much more knowledgeable than Scarborough.

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

2. Yes, I caught that!

There is alot of light being thrown on things this week - perhaps the climate of fear is beginning to dissipate in the halls of the MSM. Of course, everyone wants to ride a winner, so we all need to have very good memories...

Robin Wright has always been a voice I lean to - she has the perspective of a true professional.

[WiseButAngrySara]

5. Thanks for the replay info! Must have been good as there

are several post commenting on it. O'Donnell I can do without though.

[Generic Brad]

7. The NBC Family Seems Like the Only TV News That Tells It Like It Is

At least that's what I have observed. ABC and FOX proudly exclaim that they are "fair and balanced" which is code for "GOP Propaganda Outlets". CBS has lost their identity without Dan Rather. CNN leans more Republican than Democratic in their broadcasts. If it were not for the sanity of Keith Olbermann and a watered down version with Brian Williams, I would have given up completely on the MSM.