Too good to check: Rupert Murdoch interested in buying … NBC?
posted at 6:52 pm on October 12, 2009 by Allahpundit
I’m going to say three words to you and I want you to think hard before responding: O’Reilly. Olbermann. Co-anchors.
No, I kid. Given the chairman’s opinion of Kayo, the only thing he’d be anchoring is the 2 a.m. edition of SportsCenter if ESPN took him back. Which, let’s face it, they wouldn’t.
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp (NWSA.O) and John Malone’s Liberty Media Corp (LINTA.O) are interested in NBC Universal, according to a report by CNBC, citing sources.
Cable company Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O) has been widely reported to be in talks with NBC Universal parent General Electric Co (GE.N) to buy a controlling stake in the broadcast, cable and movie company…
News Corp, which owns the Fox cable network and local TV stations, had been seen as a less likely bidder, analysts have said, because taking a stake in NBC might raise antitrust concerns with the U.S. government.
Yeah, “might.” What are the odds that Eric Holder “might” want to prevent the administration’s cable-news house organ from being acquired by a guy whose most famous holding is the subject of now-daily White House pants-wettings?
While you mull, in honor of Anita Dunn, here’s Beck rubbing her and The One’s faces in those same soiled pants this afternoon. Cavuto got his own shots in just a few minutes earlier.
Blowback
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Murdock buys NBC, Michelle becomes host of the Today show. Ann becomes anchor for NBC News.
Levin become president of News Division.
Talk about a tingle up my leg!
barnone on October 13, 2009 at 9:00 AM
I would bet that the Obama admin would stop this if Murdock tried to buy NBC. That’s Obama’s best state run media.
Wills on October 13, 2009 at 9:06 AM
I have the answer. Rupert Murdoch is interested in exactly one thing PROFIT. He thinks he can buy NBC for a bargain basement price. He obviously has way too many smart, conservative people to fit on FOX. He wants more airtime. I say let him have it.
Side note to libs: Give that Murdoch person just as much rope as he wants. He’ll hang himself with it.
Blacksmith8 on October 13, 2009 at 9:27 AM
I’m sure the new diversity czar at the FCC won’t let that happen.
Kissmygrits on October 13, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Let MSNBC stumble along with ratings in the toilet.
Don’t let them play the victim to FNC’s “chilling” effect on their shows (as they will frame the purchase)… worse than that, conservatives have this annoying habit of trying to appease the Left by “proving” they’re “open-minded.”
“Fair and balanced” could lead to KO or Maddow finding their faces on some FNC shows… it layman’s terms, that would suck.
Better to have KO in his tiny echo chamber than stirring the pot with his lies to Fox’s audience. If NBC gets to the point that they HAVE to sell, well at least that makes Murdoch look more like a white knight than a hostile new boss.
mankai on October 13, 2009 at 9:47 AM
That sounds dirty to me.
Vashta.Nerada on October 13, 2009 at 9:56 AM
I suppose Ford considered buying Studebaker instead bringing out the Mustang .
borntoraisehogs on October 13, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Who would want NBC?
I thought GM would get it 15 years ago when NBC rigged the Chevy truck with blow-torches to prove it would catch fire upon impact.
This is just too funny.
Who would hire Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera and Ann (whatever her name is)?
molonlabe28 on October 13, 2009 at 10:20 AM
I love the comments here and I wish they would happen, especially finacing the deal with a lottery on when MSNBC figures would get pink slips.
But current FCC cross ownership rules won’t let Murdoch get the NBC broadcast properties. He probably wants the studios and film libraries and will let Malone have the the broadcast. The Malone/Murdoch combination is a very strong takeover team. They worked together with DirecTV until Murdoch sold his share to him to raise capital for the Dow Jones/WSJ takeover. Both can raise the money easily, they’ve done it before.
It will remove Jeffrey Immelt (Chairman GE which owns NBC) from the equation and his kiss a$$ support of Obama. Good news often comes from takeovers.
Corky Boyd on October 13, 2009 at 10:24 AM
If they run continuous loops of Keitho the Klown Olbergoebbels being waterboarded with muriatic acid instead of water I’m all for it….
adamsmith on October 13, 2009 at 10:26 AM
It’s a good thing that Andrea Mitchell is married to a rich, old geezer who might kick the bucket any minute.
Percy_Peabody on October 13, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Perhaps the administration can buy/bail out NBC to protect the integrity of the main stream media from being further corrupted by Murdoch et all.
jerseyman on October 13, 2009 at 11:11 AM
NBC being bought, by anybody, would be a good thing.
hawksruleva on October 13, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Gosh – he’s trying to make a profit. What a rotten thing for someone to do. In TV, you do that by airing programming that people want to watch. That’s just evil! You don’t have to give Murdoch anything, thanks. He’ll buy whatever he wants, with the money raised from his other successful ventures.
Note to libs: successful people don’t need you to give them a damn thing.
hawksruleva on October 13, 2009 at 11:20 AM
They do have Sunday Night Football, and the Olympics. And local network affiliates who are eager to return to the glory years of Seinfeld/Friends and high ratings. NBC is still one of the big 3. Just having a network newscast instead of only cable news would be huge. Imagine if Brian Williams was replaced by “Special Report with Brett Bair” (a great cost-saving move, btw).
hawksruleva on October 13, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Let’s make NBC the right wing channel.
7pm Special Report with Michelle Malkin
8pm Nightly News with Ann Coulter
9pm-midnight Facebook Readings with Sarah Palin
faraway on October 13, 2009 at 11:44 AM
NO one takes away the media wing of this administration.
HE WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE!!! DO ALL THAT HE DEMANDS.
I wonder what kind of thrill is running up Chris Matthews leg today?
dthorny on October 13, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Murdock could Hire Palin and transfer Greta. Go clean the place up a bit.
Olbermann must be into spasms as we speak.
Fear of take over is very strong. Fear of post takeover consequences is greater yet.
seven on October 13, 2009 at 12:02 PM
I sense a disturbance in the force.
faraway on October 13, 2009 at 12:05 PM
“Hannity and Maddow”
HELL YES
Greek Fire on October 13, 2009 at 12:17 PM
LMAOI could just hear that gian sucking sound from Olberman and the rest of the clown staff at nbc/msnbc et al.. I think their chairs just got stuck to their rear ends when they heard that! I wish I could have been there to hear the response to that!
shawno on October 13, 2009 at 12:21 PM
If Rupert Murdoch buys it, NBC will mean
Now
Broadcasting
Conservatives
I say go for it, if he’s got the money.
Then NBC’s favorite football team will be the Limbaugh Lambs (er, Rams, but with an 0-5 record they play like lambs).
Then the O’Reilly Factor will duke it out for first place with Malkin Talkin’.
Steve Z on October 13, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Even if he’s in it for the money, he’s a smart man! Before he set up Fox News, he probably realized that if 40% of the country is conservative and all of TV news is liberal, he could make MONEY by setting up a cable news station conservatives would want to watch!
If Murdoch bought NBC at a bargain-basement price due to its bargain-basement ratings, he would probably shift its editorial staff rightward to boost ratings. You’ve got to sell commercials, and at least some people with money to spend vote for conservatives…
Steve Z on October 13, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Greta has drifted seriously rightward since she came to Fox. Keep her at Fox, and maybe Shepard Smith could find a home with Olby.
Steve Z on October 13, 2009 at 4:49 PM
OK, then what is Mr. Soros going to buy?
MSGTAS on October 14, 2009 at 9:57 AM
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