CNN Held Talks About Joint Venture With Glenn Beck’s The Blaze

CNN will apparently do anything to save their floundering HLN network
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If there is anyone left who doesn’t believe CNN is circling the bowl, The Wall Street Journal has burst your bubble this evening.

CNN executives have held talks in recent weeks with representatives from Glenn Beck’s The Blaze, a 24-hour news and entertainment network, about a potential joint venture to overhaul HLN, according to people familiar with the matter. Those discussions came after Vice’s talks became public in June. CNN and The Blaze representatives couldn’t agree on terms, the people said.

Among the possible deals considered was an arrangement similar to the one being discussed with Vice Media, according to a person familiar with the deal: forming a new venture between CNN-parent Time Warner and The Blaze that would replace HLN’s current programming with Blaze programming.

The talks illustrate Time Warner’s eagerness to find a solution for the problems at HLN, which has seen its total viewership decline 22% for the season to date, and a 19% decrease in viewers 18 to 49 years old, the demographic that advertisers pay a premium to reach, according to Nielsen.

Although The Blaze has managed to get on Dish Network and a number of other small cable providers, Beck clearly aims to gain a larger platform for himself and his various lackeys who all seem to have their own shows.

While it is true that Beck’s special brand of insanity did previously air on HLN’s precursor for three years (2006-2008), there is a major difference between giving this man 5 hours per week and giving him 50% editorial control of an entire network.

CNN has always been a commercial venture, but it was once among the most respected news gathering organizations in the world. Since Jeffrey Zucker took the reigns as president of CNN Worldwide at the beginning of 2013, the brand’s transformation into the butt of jokes has become complete. The fact that this proposed merger has apparently failed does nothing to make CNN look better.

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56 comments
1 HappyWarrior  Aug 22, 2014 5:29:26pm

CNN desperately wants to be another Fox. How sad.

2 Charles Johnson  Aug 22, 2014 7:10:09pm
3 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Aug 22, 2014 7:10:21pm

Flips desk, sets on fire. FFS!

Edit: I give Ted Turner credit for the original idea, but this shit is unreal.

4 calochortus  Aug 22, 2014 7:10:47pm

re: #1 HappyWarrior

They desperately want to make money. The sad part is apparently people don’t want to watch a good news network.

5 HappyWarrior  Aug 22, 2014 7:11:21pm

re: #4 calochortus

They desperately want to make money. The sad part is apparently people don’t want to watch a good news network.

Yep, it is sad.

6 The Ghost of a Flea  Aug 22, 2014 7:11:59pm

7 Charles Johnson  Aug 22, 2014 7:13:43pm

It seems like only yesterday when Killgore Trout was telling us nobody listened to or cared about Glenn Beck.

Now we find out Beck is discussing a 50-50 takeover deal with CNN.

So, yeah.

8 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Aug 22, 2014 7:14:21pm

re: #7 Charles Johnson

It seems like only yesterday when Killgore Trout was telling us nobody listened to or cared about Glenn Beck.

Now we find out Beck is discussing a 50-50 deal with CNN.

So, yeah.

Killgore was very concerned ////

9 Charles Johnson  Aug 22, 2014 7:14:40pm

No need to pay attention to Glenn Beck. Just roll over and go back to sleep.

10 HappyWarrior  Aug 22, 2014 7:16:17pm

re: #8 Rev_Arthur_Belling

Killgore was very concerned ////

was he outraged?

11 bratwurst  Aug 22, 2014 7:17:11pm

By the way, Dana Loesch now has a weekly show on The Blaze. I guess we were in danger of her having a regular cable TV presence as well.

Here is Glenn with his only two lackeys who DON’T have a show on The Blaze:

Youtube Video

12 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Aug 22, 2014 7:18:23pm

re: #10 HappyWarrior

was he outraged?

Killgore didn’t do outrage. Just war porn and concern.

13 HappyWarrior  Aug 22, 2014 7:19:51pm

re: #12 Rev_Arthur_Belling

Killgore didn’t do outrage. Just war porn and concern.

Yes, but he was often concerned about “outrage.”

14 Rightwingconspirator  Aug 22, 2014 7:19:58pm

Chicken Noodle News. Bah, to hell with pretend news.

Need news on your TV? Local, BBC and Al Jaz America. Better yet just go online for breaking, download your own copies of documents. Pick your blogs, friends and followers carefully. WIN!

15 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Aug 22, 2014 7:20:33pm

re: #13 HappyWarrior

Yes, but he was often concerned about “outrage.”

“We shall see” - KT original (tm) ;)

16 calochortus  Aug 22, 2014 7:20:50pm

re: #14 Rightwingconspirator

Also, the PBS Newshour.

17 klys  Aug 22, 2014 7:22:09pm

Completely OT, but if you are a Weird Al fan, his new album is on Amazon mp3 for $7 this weekend.

If you were like me and failed to pick it up on release because you were traveling/forgot.

Edited: This album includes Word Crimes.

Youtube Video

18 The Ghost of a Flea  Aug 22, 2014 7:22:37pm

re: #8 Rev_Arthur_Belling

Technically, the Full Killgore Experience is more like:

Everything you’re worried about is just trivial showmanship, you’re just participating in the spectacle because you’re irrational.

Sure, I don’t read actually read articles the whole way through before I use them to justify my sweeping conclusions, and get my jollies from talking about protestors getting hurt, but I’m not outraged.

Also, everybody in politics is equally bad….but have I mentioning how much I hate hippies?

Oh…and we should respect the freedom to say controversial things…unless I don’t like those things…in which case, pepper spray!

19 Decatur Deb  Aug 22, 2014 7:23:21pm

re: #14 Rightwingconspirator

Chicken Noodle News. Bah, to hell with pretend news.

Need news on your TV? Local, BBC and Al Jaz America. Better yet just go online for breaking, download your own copies of documents. Pick your blogs, friends and followers carefully. WIN!

But somebody has to be the clueless out-of-towner on the ground with a ENG camera and microphone. That’s too expensive for the blog journalists to mount.

20 Charles Johnson  Aug 22, 2014 7:23:30pm

Not to belabor the point, but this is why I continue posting about people like Glenn Beck and Jim Hoft. They may seem like like clowns, but they’re very, very influential in US politics, and we ignore these demagogues at our peril.

These are very bad people, and they have a formula that’s gaining a disturbing amount of control over our political system.

21 Velvet Elvis  Aug 22, 2014 7:23:45pm

Does anyone under the age of 40 watch television news anyway? That’s not counting Stewart/Colbert etc.

22 Velvet Elvis  Aug 22, 2014 7:24:40pm

Most people I know have cut the cord and don’t even have cable.

23 Rightwingconspirator  Aug 22, 2014 7:24:53pm

re: #16 calochortus

Also, the PBS Newshour.

Ah yes thanks for that. Did not think of them because I was thinking about the 24/7 news guys. But it’s a good point to take in reliable news from whatever format.

24 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Aug 22, 2014 7:25:21pm

re: #18 The Ghost of a Flea

Technically, the Full Killgore Experience is more like:

Everything you’re worried about is just trivial showmanship, you’re just participating in the spectacle because you’re irrational.

Sure, I don’t read actually read articles the whole way through before I use them to justify my sweeping conclusions, and get my jollies from talking about protestors getting hurt, but I’m not outraged.

Also, everybody in politics is equally bad….but have I mentioning how much I hate hippies?
That is almost eerie :)
Oh…and we should respect the freedom to say controversial things…unless I don’t like those things…in which case, pepper spray!

25 calochortus  Aug 22, 2014 7:26:21pm

When did this become the Killgore thread?

26 William Barnett-Lewis  Aug 22, 2014 7:28:50pm

re: #14 Rightwingconspirator

Chicken Noodle News. Bah, to hell with pretend news.

Need news on your TV? Local, BBC and Al Jaz America. Better yet just go online for breaking, download your own copies of documents. Pick your blogs, friends and followers carefully. WIN!

NPR remains top tier with the Beeb & AJA.

27 klys  Aug 22, 2014 7:29:01pm

re: #21 Velvet Elvis

Does anyone under the age of 40 watch television news anyway? That’s not counting Stewart/Colbert etc.

Ummm. Not here.

Well, we did watch NHK English after the tsunami. I think that was the last time we watched any kind of news channel.

28 Charles Johnson  Aug 22, 2014 7:29:23pm

re: #25 calochortus

When did this become the Killgore thread?

My bad.

29 Velvet Elvis  Aug 22, 2014 7:29:58pm

I think this is more a response to the changing demographic market for television news, witch is skewing older and more conservative.

30 HappyWarrior  Aug 22, 2014 7:31:14pm

re: #20 Charles Johnson

Not to belabor the point, but this is why I continue posting about people like Glenn Beck and Jim Hoft. They may seem like like clowns, but they’re very, very influential in US politics, and we ignore these demagogues at our peril.

These are very bad people, and they have a formula that’s gaining a disturbing amount of control over our political system.

Absolutely. Politicians appear with these guys. Politicians give them legitimacy.

31 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Aug 22, 2014 7:31:30pm

re: #28 Charles Johnson

Eh, it’s not the killgore thread. It’s just a diversion from the main topic for a bit of picking.

32 calochortus  Aug 22, 2014 7:31:35pm

re: #28 Charles Johnson

LOL, it’s harmless.

33 Velvet Elvis  Aug 22, 2014 7:31:47pm

I popped in over here to see if anyone had commented on this:

dailykos.com

Erik son of Erik is pulling a minor Charles.

34 Aqua Obama  Aug 22, 2014 7:31:52pm

re: #29 Velvet Elvis

I think this is more a response to the changing demographic market for television news, witch is skewing older and more conservative.

I wonder if we expect this situation to last a while, I mean, the “Greatest Generation” set were generally reliable Democratic voters at that age.

35 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Aug 22, 2014 7:33:54pm

I will say that I’m more than a little disappointed in KT. We had some pleasant discussions of cooking shows. But he always seemed to give as good as he got, like D_F, but apparently Anthony Cumia set him off.

36 William Barnett-Lewis  Aug 22, 2014 7:35:07pm

re: #32 calochortus

LOL, it’s harmless.

“Mostly” harmless… ;)

37 lawhawk  Aug 22, 2014 7:37:38pm

The posting about the GoFundMe is now up.

Tried to be comprehensive and balanced - Wilson is entitled to a defense fund and constitutional protections. The problem is his supporters have to also admit that Wilson denied Brown those same protections.

38 ausador  Aug 22, 2014 7:38:26pm

re: #3 Rev_Arthur_Belling

Flips desk, sets on fire. FFS!

Edit: I give Ted Turner credit for the original idea, but this shit is unreal.

Blame Jeffrey Zucker, ever since he started running things the place has gone to hell. He doesn’t want to do news, he wants CNN to do “topical shows” rather than straight reporting. The result has been a 22% decline in viewership but for some reason the board still has not shown him the door.

39 William Barnett-Lewis  Aug 22, 2014 7:38:35pm

re: #35 Rev_Arthur_Belling

I will say that I’m more than a little disappointed in KT. We had some pleasant discussions of cooking shows. But he always seemed to give as good as he got, like D_F, but apparently Anthony Cumia set him off.

I’d argue that unlike DF who, while set in many of his ways remains open to discussion and actual thinking, KT was in slow burn flounce mode ever since the rest of us wouldn’t see how EBIL!!11ty!! OWS was. Cumia was just his excuse, there were other similar slime he tried to gather support for in his 1) fear of chaos, 2) free speech absolutism and 3) reactionary “classic liberal” hog manure.

40 The War TARDIS  Aug 22, 2014 7:38:51pm

From the last thread, brought forward.

I will introduce the Valeyard.

The Valeyard was, according to the Master, “an amalgamation of the darker side of the Doctor’s nature”, taken from somewhere between his “twelfth and final incarnations”. (TV: The Ultimate Foe)

This will likely dovetail into the fact if Clara will be leaving as a companion.

41 calochortus  Aug 22, 2014 7:39:43pm

re: #33 Velvet Elvis

I read EE’s post and some of the comments. What I thought was odd, was his opening line

“Were I to recreate this site, I think it would have no comments section. “

Why can’t he change his own site? Or is he afraid no one will read it if they can’t comment?

42 Aqua Obama  Aug 22, 2014 7:39:54pm

Joe the Not Plumber makes an appearance:

Image: m44xasqze91i7iygls6y.jpg

McCain when will your reign of terror end

43 HappyWarrior  Aug 22, 2014 7:40:42pm

re: #42 Aqua Obama

Joe the Not Plumber makes an appearance:

Image: m44xasqze91i7iygls6y.jpg

McCain when will your reign of terror end

What’s Not Joe’s job presently?

44 Kragar  Aug 22, 2014 7:41:01pm

Blocked fucknuts after that

45 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Aug 22, 2014 7:42:39pm

re: #39 William Barnett-Lewis

I’d argue that unlike DF who, while set in many of his ways remains open to discussion and actual thinking, KT was in slow burn flounce mode ever since the rest of us wouldn’t see how EBIL!!11ty!! OWS was. Cumia was just his excuse, there were other similar slime he tried to gather support for in his 1) fear of chaos, 2) free speech absolutism and 3) reactionary “classic liberal” hog manure.

I wasn’t here during OWS, so I wasn’t totally aware of that. But he said sexist shit before that I took objection to. Also, all the war porn was off-putting.

46 calochortus  Aug 22, 2014 7:45:43pm

re: #43 HappyWarrior

What’s Not Joe’s job presently?

According to HuffPo, as of 2/14 he was a member of the UAW and working for Chrysler. Doing what, I’m not sure.

Edit for link to story

47 The Ghost of a Flea  Aug 22, 2014 7:50:24pm

re: #30 HappyWarrior

Absolutely. Politicians appear with these guys. Politicians give them legitimacy.

More than that. Look at the way Glenn Beck has promoted crazy-ass authors (David Barton, Cleon Skousen, a cross-section of Red Scare kooks) and ideas. These people are coaxing their readers into deeper and deeper crazy, more and more epistemic closure. If nothing else, they’re pushing harder and harder on gnostic conspiracism—hidden truth emanating from revelations from “authorities”—while rejecting skepticism and empiricism.

48 Decatur Deb  Aug 22, 2014 7:58:48pm

re: #47 The Ghost of a Flea

More than that. Look at the way Glenn Beck has promoted crazy-ass authors (David Barton, Cleon Skousen, a cross-section of Red Scare kooks) and ideas. These people are coaxing their readers into deeper and deeper crazy, more and more epistemic closure. If nothing else, they’re pushing harder and harder on gnostic conspiracism—hidden truth emanating from revelations from “authorities”—while rejecting skepticism and empiricism.

GB hit that note when he revealed the truth behind the Rockefeller Center friezes.

49 De Kolta Chair  Aug 22, 2014 8:17:03pm

Ahm wantin’ to be on the teevee!

50 HappyWarrior  Aug 22, 2014 8:17:43pm

re: #47 The Ghost of a Flea

More than that. Look at the way Glenn Beck has promoted crazy-ass authors (David Barton, Cleon Skousen, a cross-section of Red Scare kooks) and ideas. These people are coaxing their readers into deeper and deeper crazy, more and more epistemic closure. If nothing else, they’re pushing harder and harder on gnostic conspiracism—hidden truth emanating from revelations from “authorities”—while rejecting skepticism and empiricism.

Oh no doubt about that.

51 LouLou  Aug 22, 2014 8:25:50pm

re: #38 ausador

Jeff Zucker has always been an ass. In college, he had Conan O’Brien arrested for a prank. A PRANK.

52 jonhendry  Aug 22, 2014 9:18:59pm

re: #47 The Ghost of a Flea

“while rejecting skepticism and empiricism.”

Worse, he offers a facade of skepticism and empiricism, which is actually crazy kookoo.

53 Jayleia  Aug 22, 2014 10:39:30pm

re: #42 Aqua Obama

You mean reign of error, right?

54 ausador  Aug 22, 2014 11:06:15pm

re: #51 LouLou

Jeff Zucker has always been an ass. In college, he had Conan O’Brien arrested for a prank. A PRANK.

Sounds like something he would do, hadn’t heard that one though.

and…Welcome hatchling. :)

55 Swift2991  Aug 23, 2014 1:12:37am

Funny how TV news revolutionized news and riveted everyone to the tube. The definitive version of reality was what Uncle Walter noticed. Television did make civil rights much more necessary, showing us the things that were being done close-up. The fire hoses, the dogs. The Edmund Pettis bridge. The search for the 3 civil rights workers. Fanny Lou Hamer. All this was a TV experience. Vietnam happened in your living room every night.

But now, FOX and CNN are completely false, though in different ways. Fox is demonic, but CNN is so bland and nasty at the same time. MSNBC has some good, but all the 24-hour news can be thrown away, discarded, not taken seriously. You can’t take Fox seriously. They’re in the business of making Foxbots. MSNBC is for people more like us. But CNN? It’s like the Seinfeld show, about nothing, but not funny either. The Waiting for Godot network. They look sane, but there’s nothing in their tiny brains.

I followed #Ferguson on Twitter. Best informed I’ve been for a long time.

56 AyaReiko  Aug 23, 2014 2:01:52pm

So, after spending several years driving NBC into the ground before finally getting fired, people are surprised Jeff then proceeds to drive CNN into the ground after he is put in charge of that network?

This guy sucks at running a network, period.


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