That's a huge difference.

Second, you make this accusation, but where's your proof?

I'll agree that CNN had turned into the Trump channel, but that's where the viewers were.

and splitting the hair over a cable outlet and broadcast station is some pretty weak tea.

Ask Zucker where the proof is. That's what they did.

Cable doesnt play by the same rules. Cable new is supply side.

Broadcast networks get the airwaves for free providing they supply one hour of informational content. Cable providers do not have the same agreement. They MUST turn a profit to stay in the cable game.

To turn a profit, they need viewers. Especially in a media landscape that shifts quickly and people look for the news they want to read, or agrees with them.

and I am not talking about a left/right divide here either.

Cable news is nothing more than glamorizing unfortunate events.

They have to have ratings to stay profitable: that's a fact.

They're not bound by the same rules as broadcasters: that's a fact.

Do I wish they were governed by the same rules? Yes, but my wishes aren't so.

nt

1. Are cable networks bound by the same rules?

2. Do they need to be profitable to stay in business?

But you are obfuscating the issue, and we both know it

Trump draws ratings. Like it, dislike it .... it doesn't matter because people tune in. You can ignore reality, but it's not going to change.

Trump is a reality television personality, and yes the networks treated him as such, but he also paid their bills because everyone wanted to hear what bombastic thing would come out of his mouth next.

Did they fees red meat to the masses? Yes.

Did the masses eat it up? Yes.

You accuse me of obfuscating, but you're ignoring the truth, and we both know it.

The problem is, the lower intelligence 50% or so of Americans THINK cable news is news..


There is something immoral about what cable 'news' shows do.

They have been obsessed with Nielsen ratings since...forever.

they can make up the revenue during primetime television.

Broadcast networks are required to provide informational content every night. Cable "news" networks are under no such obligation.

And that seems to be a trivial distinction today. All networks are competitive for profits and survival. CNN shows lots of non-news content, such as crime shows, travel shows, etc.

Further, if the big networks merely "would like" their news broadcasts to be profitable, they wouldn't watch ratings so carefully. They absolutely watch ratings carefully and management fires people if they're dissatisfied with the ratings. They sell advertising based on these ratings -- specifically during the news hours and at other times.

of news through the advertising of that one hour. It's a very nice expensive venture.

Yes, they do want high ratings, but want they want more is to retain those viewers into the primetime hours. That's where the money is.

Last edited Thu Dec 8, 2016, 08:21 AM - Edit history (1)

the days when networks viewed the News Departments as public service divisions are gone. Not saying that is good just a reality.

Something considered idiocracy in 1976 is now reality.

Cranking out propaganda while getting paid at both ends.

They did that for her. The Clinton campaign wanted Trump to get the nomination and pushed the networks to take him seriously.

You don't get to pretend that the Clinton's controlled CNN when Russia was.

For strategic reasons, which basically every campaign does. And basically most people thought Trump would be he losingest of all of them. No one foresaw the bulk for the media ignoring all his crazy lies.

It was a list of three candidates, not propping up trump. So sick of this RW bullshit getting play.

like that. You actually believe such convoluted ridiculousness?

They figured he would be easy to beat.

I'm sure you can understand what voters might think about that, especially undecideds. We lost any high ground we had, her actions just fed the , "Hillary as the corrupt, insider, politician". Big, fucking mistake.

Wow.

Like holy fucking WOW

because you aren't screaming about the media turning into a de fact arm of the KGB.

And they won't talk about it.

They will tell YOU what to talk about.

that shows that CNN "stipulated that they never bash him."

but we are where we are.

PS. Rachel Maddow reported on this. I saw it.