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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Oooh! I just got a tingle up my leg!
ncborn on October 12, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Im sure the FTC would say this would create a monopoly of conservativism
William Amos on October 12, 2009 at 6:57 PM
That’ll be one more network Obambi won’t talk to.
Cicero43 on October 12, 2009 at 6:58 PM
It’s certainly exciting to think of the whole mess getting shut down, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Murdoch tried to re-tool it into something (albeit still better than the current pants-wetting lineup) that appeals to a different demographic than FNC. Of course, these are the kinds of decisions that happen way over my head. Hopefully, he’d kill MSNBC and try to fix NBC. But bear in mind that, when it comes to business, he isn’t so much a conservative as a populist: “Big Fox” currently airs some of the most aggregiously liberally-biased entertainment shows currently on the air.
Blacklake on October 12, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Looks like the unemployment rate is going to rise again.
Claypigeon on October 12, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Maybe SNL could finally be funny.
Beck and Cavuto’s shots at the White House were awesome, especially Beck’s.
cubachi on October 12, 2009 at 6:58 PM
LOL!!!
Keith Olbermann.…Count down to Unemployment.
portlandon on October 12, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Please don’t play with my emotions like that!
fbcmusicman on October 12, 2009 at 6:59 PM
YEAH!!!!
Apologetic California on October 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
YES, Rupert, PUHLEEZE YES!
petefrt on October 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Oh……It`d be like Christmas, my birthday and the last day I`d have to work for anyone, all rolled into one!
ThePrez on October 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
I just don’t have that kind of luck. But I can dream.
anniekc on October 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Good lord! Obama would be forced to completely rebuild the propaganda arm of his regime.
rplat on October 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Get ‘em Glen!
Punditpawn on October 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Somebody got to the best gag before me, so I guess I’ll just play it straight. I use to work for GE before my group got sold, and it looks like GE is clearing out a lot of deadwood at the moment, so it could happen. I wouldn’t look for huge changes at MSNBC, unless they just happen to feel that owning one cable news network is enough.
DFCtomm on October 12, 2009 at 7:01 PM
I can’t see the whitehouse doing battle on two fronts, Fox News and NBC. Fox is more than the whitehouse can handle.
fourdeucer on October 12, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Cavuto was playing a lot of make believe in that link. Actually a little tough to keep up.
BadgerHawk on October 12, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Let’s all e-mail Mr. Murdoch and promise to leave our T.V.’s on FOX or NBC 24/7 if he’ll make our dreams come true.
anniekc on October 12, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Let me be perfectly clear, Chrissie Bitch Matthew’s and Keith olberdouche,
Your fired!
SHARPTOOTH on October 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM
No way DOJ will allow it to happen…free propaganda is just too good…though the 10 people who watch the channel are probably Democrats.
But it is interesting that GE is hurting enough by now that they want to sell this turd of network.
AUINSC on October 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Keith would be the first out of the door–not because he has integrity and couldn’t work for Fox News guy, but because Murdoch hates him.
Enoxo on October 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Not huge chnages, just one. Or two. Three, tops.
anniekc on October 12, 2009 at 7:04 PM
chnanges=changes!
anniekc on October 12, 2009 at 7:04 PM
I see congress scrambling to create a bill that forbids anyone with the name MURDOCH from owning more than one media source.
portlandon on October 12, 2009 at 7:04 PM
With so many “news” orginizations in trouble, can’t understand why there are no conservative businesses that are willing to buy them out and “transform” them back to actual news outlets. As the administration knows, controlling the news is their key to “transforming” America.
hillbilly on October 12, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Ooooh, that would be fun. I hope he does try to buy it. Yes Holder would step in, but for goodness sake, I think I’d watch Olbermann just to see the sweat pour out of his pores, as he begins to shout out Nazi epithets.
Weight of Glory on October 12, 2009 at 7:05 PM
ROTF!!
I saw the headline title, and scrolled down and saw Olby’s face and ROLF’d hard! Thing is, this bit is correct:
Yeah, I’m no lawyer, but I’d say Murdoch would never get by those anti-trust laws.
JetBoy on October 12, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Too good to be true. Olby, Matthews and Maddow get fired first; MSNBC turned into another Secaucus warehouse.
Philly on October 12, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Olberdouche will be in tub so long over this that he will become the hairiest prune evah
Ris4victory on October 12, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Priceless!!!!!!!!
Olby might be unemployeed during this glorious rein
of the Hope and Change Administration!haha
canopfor on October 12, 2009 at 7:07 PM
It could be like a great seen in the last Entourage episode this year. Ari bought his old company and went around shooting those he was firing with some sort of paint ball gun. Hilarious.
CWforFreedom on October 12, 2009 at 7:07 PM
+scene
CWforFreedom on October 12, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Murdoch could finance a sizable portion of the acquisition by holding a lottery to determine who gets to deliver the pink-slip to Kayo, on pay-per-view…
phreshone on October 12, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Do you think Obama would get all “wee wee’d up” if this were to happen?
(huge belly laugh here)
karenhasfreedom on October 12, 2009 at 7:08 PM
The smell of apoplexy at Rockefeller Center…
*tee hee hee*
turfmann on October 12, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Rupert Murdoch interested in buying … NBC?
LOL That would be almost as good as me winning an Oscar for best film score. Hell, maybe even better.
Old Hippie Vet on October 12, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Meh, he’s aiming at CNBC as a competitor to FoxBusiness.
spmat on October 12, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Oh if that happened, you would see a housecleaning that would make the scrubbing down of the Augean stables by Hercules look like a ShamWow infommercial!
pilamaye on October 12, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Why buy NBC. They’ve ruined that brand name.
Jeff from WI on October 12, 2009 at 7:12 PM
I WANTED TO SAY THAT. :)
scalleywag on October 12, 2009 at 7:13 PM
The SCM would still be counterbalanced with ABC,CBS,NYT,LA times….
Juno77 on October 12, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Oh boy,the Vast RightWing Conspiracy Cabal
has struck’th again,haha!!
canopfor on October 12, 2009 at 7:13 PM
You owe me a new keyboard–again…
lovingmyUSA on October 12, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Hey, why doesn’t Rush buy NBC instead of the Rams…..
Juno77 on October 12, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Beck and Cavuto delivered some Grade-A arse-kickings…
Those bruises are gonna hurt…
phreshone on October 12, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Too good to be true. Olby, Matthews and Maddow get fired first; MSNBC turned into another Secaucus warehouse.
Philly on October 12, 2009 at 7:06 PM
_________________________________________
Don’t leave Ed Putz out of the mix.
ICBM on October 12, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Thanks, I needed that laugh tonight. Olbermann=integrity–that’s an oxymoron…You must be one of the 3 people who watch him…
lovingmyUSA on October 12, 2009 at 7:18 PM
Why does this seem to good to be true?
upinak on October 12, 2009 at 7:18 PM
I doubt it.
AP is on to something.
The Obama administration will find a way to stop the sale if it were to happen.
It would be too easy to do.
Look at how they stepped on the secured investors for GM and Chrysler.
The feds had no authority to do that but they did it anyway.
NeoKong on October 12, 2009 at 7:18 PM
The way these “important” awards are being doled out these days, this just may be your year!
dmh0667 on October 12, 2009 at 7:19 PM
Followed up with the Fox All-Stars: Stephen Hayes, Juan Williams and Krauthammer batted him around like cats playing with a dead mouse. Even Brit Hume came back on to mock these children in the White House.
John the Libertarian on October 12, 2009 at 7:20 PM
MSNBC could become an oldies network. Constant reruns of Bonanza, Cheers & Hill Street Blues.
Jeff from WI on October 12, 2009 at 7:20 PM
If he did buy NBC, I’d like to be there the day he walks thru and says “You’re fired” over and over………….
GarandFan on October 12, 2009 at 7:20 PM
I like the idea. Murdoch buys them, lets them keep their liberal slant but fires all the on air talent and brings in some who can argue their side intelligently and then watch all the Obama babies tie themselves up in knots trying to decide whether to go on or not.
The final straw would be if he managed to turn around their ratings and thereby had the number 1 liberal and conservative cable news channels.
Sorry CNN.
Just A Grunt on October 12, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Haha, that would be awesome.
Richard Romano on October 12, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Oh hey… some random news…
I finally replaced the job I lost last December!
Chaz706 on October 12, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Tingle-icious!
hillbillyjim on October 12, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Olbermann unemployed? Doesn’t Mark Cuban’s HDNet cover football? Besides, as long as Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh (dare I think, “Ram’s co-owner Rush Limbaugh?”) draw breath, Keith will not be rifling through the Cornell Ag School’s alumni magazine in search of assistant provost openings.
Barnestormer on October 12, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Hahaha! It’s time for Oblerdouche to run a warm bath!
csdeven on October 12, 2009 at 7:23 PM
As much as I’d love to see it, I don’t think GE would sell to Rupert. After all, Immelt and Obama have a deal: Media support for Obama’s agenda in exchange for bailouts and huge contracts in wind energy and health care. GE has been losing beaucoups money lately, and the Obama money is the only thing standing between GE and belly up. Obama would object to a Rupert buyout, and Immelt is not in any position to bite the hand that feeds him.
petefrt on October 12, 2009 at 7:23 PM
PLEASE DO IT
I’ve got a few words for you
Olberman-Pinata
Dream it people!
Defector01 on October 12, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Were any of you good people among the 53 people that watch Olbermann’s BIG health care special last week?? NO???
Me neither.
PappaMac on October 12, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Don’t feel sorry for Keith. He find another job. And with his credentials, I hear he’s a shoe-in for the opening at the septic tank clean-out company.
BigAlSouth on October 12, 2009 at 7:24 PM
This sounds like great fun!
Diane on October 12, 2009 at 7:24 PM
NBC could become No Barack Coverage!
fbcmusicman on October 12, 2009 at 7:25 PM
I love the Glenn Beck radio show but I don’t watch his TV show much. The last full episode I saw was probably when he was on CNN, or CNN lite. In the above clip he had on his ‘ol man glasses. Whatever happened to his “hip” blue neon glasses?
P.S. I really hope we get the Democrats out of the majority position and Obama out of office in ’12. I say this not for the normal reasons, but because I want the “all goofy all the time” Beck back.
rihar on October 12, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Oh please.
Look, folks. We NEED MSNBC. MSNBC is where we go to learn what the other side thinks when they talk to each other. MSNBC is what the other side watches to get its news.
The last thing we need is for Rupert to take over MSNBC so we can have an echo chamber. In fact, I think that’s the last thing he’d do: he’d keep it a liberal network.
victor82 on October 12, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Wow.
Beck destroyed the WH.
Again.
artist on October 12, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Oh man, I just laughed so hard I peed a little.
I would SO love to see this happen. For one I’d have more than one cable news station to turn to, second almost as good as the first would be seeing the absolutely dumbfounded idiotic looks of disbelief on the faces of zero and his number one butt bumping chroney Rahm Emasculated.
This would be so goooooood…..where do I donate?
Spiritk9 on October 12, 2009 at 7:27 PM
So if Murdoch buys NBC, can we replace the Today Show douches with the Fox & Friends douches?
portlandon on October 12, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Ceo of Comcast is conservative too, so even if News Corp doesn’t get approval, it’s all good.
marklmail on October 12, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Easy to see who Olby’s final “Worst Person in the World” would be…
JetBoy on October 12, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Levin is talking about this now. Hat tip to HotAir.
portlandon on October 12, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Oh please.
Even if this were true… some people would switch just because it was sold to Murdoch. Others would tune in to see the shape shifting.
And the liberal always have CNN!
upinak on October 12, 2009 at 7:28 PM
At least one commenter was joking earlier that Rush should buy NBC, not the Rams. Now here comes Murdoch…wow.
Despite the promise of an intense high from seeing Olberman metaphorically being eaten by a T-rex and crapped out in a state of permanent irrelevance, do we really want a competant buisnessman setting up a liberal network over at NBC? It works much better for our side when they can’t keep the mask on straight.
TexasDan on October 12, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Rupert could always cause the mass implosion of Liberal skulls everywhere by rebranding MSNBC as GBC, the Glenn Beck Network.
trubble on October 12, 2009 at 7:28 PM
It would be more fun to watch him read copy that went against Obama.
thomasaur on October 12, 2009 at 7:29 PM
or maybe GBN, ya get the idea…
trubble on October 12, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Click on the link to Cavuto- Beck’s an entertaining missionary, but Cavuto’s a freaking genius-
Seriously.
I still think he should’ve got the Special Report Anchor Chair- he really is the sharpest tool in the Fox shed…
marks on October 12, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Gotta’ admit that O’Reilly-Olbermann co-anchor show would be a hit.
Yeah, it’d be on for just one broadcast before the anchors shoot one another. Stab one another. Bludgeon one another. Hell, they couldn’t get through the intro before they’d be after one another.
But wow, Howard Beale would look like Mr. Rogers.
SteveMG on October 12, 2009 at 7:29 PM
dude… depends!
upinak on October 12, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Yep, that Cavuto monologue was a home run.
Brilliantly written and delivered.
SteveMG on October 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
On the other hand,maybe “tool” wasn’t the best choice of words in a thread mentioning Olby….
marks on October 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
I’d like to see it happen just so we can witness the inevitable meltdown the left would have about it. As it is I’m willing to bet that the mere thought that News Corp might get a controlling interest in NBC Universal is enough to send the left in to conniption fits of apocalyptic rage as their primary propaganda organ is turned against them.
Then again knowing Murdoch he is just as likely to buy NBC and not only leave things just as they are but push it further to the left. So in effect he will control a media outlet that speaks to the right and a media outlet that speaks to the left thus giving him the ability to shape the argument on both ends of the political scale.
Hellrider on October 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Rupert Murdoch interested in buying … NBC?
Hum I would have guessed Murdoch was going to start up another network.
It’s not a secret FNC blows out ALL competition, usually ALL competition COMBINED, even the Backups on FNC blows out their competition in there time slots.
FNC needs some real credible competition, If CNN, MSNBC, HLN, CNBC can’t cut it, Murdoch just gonna have to do it himself.
DSchoen on October 12, 2009 at 7:32 PM
What Hellrider said- on both counts-
marks on October 12, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Why hasn’t anyone tried to purchase CBS? Redstone is drowning in debt?
Tasha on October 12, 2009 at 7:34 PM
Leg! It ran up and down my whole body — TWICE!
Mutnodjmet on October 12, 2009 at 7:34 PM
I wonder if Murdoch would actually do this.
The more the liberal idiots from CBS,NBC,CNN,and the White House attack FOX, the better their ratings get.
Most of my democratic friends don’t even take MSNBC and CBS seriously.
They are like one big long Michael Moore trailer.
The best thing Murdoch could do is actually make the likes of Olberman/Matthews/Maddow and NBC news pundits actually use verifiable facts and balanced reporting.
It would make their liberal heads explode.
Baxter Greene on October 12, 2009 at 7:35 PM
LOL…Glen Beck as K.O.s & Mathews boss..LOL
Jeff from WI on October 12, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Smiling just thinking about it!
Buckeye Babe on October 12, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Berry & Soros would never let this happen.
try again later on October 12, 2009 at 7:36 PM
The story that AP linked too says that Comcast is working out the details of their purchase of NBCU.
Murdoch had shown interest but it’s pretty clear that Comcast has closed the deal. Or is about to.
Darn.
SteveMG on October 12, 2009 at 7:36 PM
I hate to point this out, but Beck doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Alien and Seditions Act, John Adams and the Congress of that day, i.e. the Founding Fathers.
Granted, the situations were totally different, however in our morally equivalent idiocy of the day, that is harder to point out to people.
jp on October 12, 2009 at 7:37 PM
FCC action to block in 3… 2…
Socratease on October 12, 2009 at 7:37 PM
THey could have it starring Katie Couric doing her best journalistic work in the 24 hour colon rectal exam network.
Jeff from WI on October 12, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Meltdown to Funemployment
ICBM on October 12, 2009 at 7:38 PM
As FOX already has a monopoly on the ratings, I’m actually surprised this Administration hasn’t tried to break it into smaller pieces – in the name of fair competition mind you…
Neo-con Artist on October 12, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Beck is great. Though he need a war room with generals “War on FOX” and cool animations.
the_nile on October 12, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Hugh Hewitt’s on it right now also with Congressman David Dreier.
And the linked video’s from Beck and Cavuto (especially) are great!
2ipa on October 12, 2009 at 7:41 PM
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