Bertelsmann also has liars and thieves as board members who buy their way out of trouble

German media giant Bertelsmann (Bertie) like other media companies is no stranger to scandal. The latest for them comes via a gasbag by the name of Werner Weidenfeld , a member of the board of Bertie's foundation who was being investigated for booking private bills as company expenses. Weidenfeld who is one of the best known political scientists in Germany will excuse himself from the board come November 30th. What was he billing to the company? Who knows? Perhaps prostitution services or supplies for a Science project he was working on? We will probably never know because the bastard bought his way out of trouble leading prosecutors to close the investigation. Perhaps a deeper look would have revealed a wider involvement of other Bertie board members and senior execs. Of course in a statement Bertie made nice the situation. The Munich prosecutors' office, which had begun an inquiry after an anonymous complaint, said Monday it offered to close the investigation in exchange for a payment of €10,000, or $14,000, from Weidenfeld. Prosecutors found some documents backing the allegations, although the "potential extent of the damage" was not "significant," Anton Winkler, a spokesman for the office, said Tuesday. Weidenfeld has been a board member of the Bertelsmann Foundation since 1992. Bertelsmann and Weidenfeld decided to end their collaboration by mutual agreement, the company said. Director steps down from Bertelsmann [IHT]

Bonus or Holiday Party: Is your company givng you some extra cash this Holiday season or are they throwing a Holiday bash?

We all know that the big glitzy media company's like....Oh hell from what we heard last year, all the Holiday parties thrown by some well known media companies were totally awful. We even heard some employees of a media company, opted to head for a bar up the street from where their company was throwing their so called Holiday party. Some had little to no food after just one hour into the festivities, and some had food most attendees couldn't pronounce. So with the Holidays rapidly approaching we wanted to know what would you rather get from your company this year, a Holiday party, a bonus or both? Let us know. WHAT DO YOU WANT THIS HOLIDAY FROM YOUR COMPANY? A PHAT BONUS A BOOZE FILLED PARTY BOTH MY COMPANY IS TOO CHEAP TO GIVE

The NY Sun's Grace Rauh still expects Dick Parsons to step down this week, and reminds us he isn't running for Mayor

NY Sun reporter Grace Rauh is one of those reporters who digs up old news and recycles it like new, then again don't we all. We've all accepted Dick Parsons's word that he has no plans to run for Mayor of NYC. And we've all kinda leaned off the rumor that Dick will step down as TimeWarner CEO this week, well at least kinda. We all know the latter will happen but we don't think this week is the week, kinda. On his long rumored Mayoral run, political consultant, Joseph Mercurio painfully reiterates the whole not running for Mayor part. But a GOP political strategist who didn't want to give his name to the Sun because he is lingering for a job in the 2009 campaigns, speaks of another potential candidate whose name he says dwarf's that of the gigantic Parsons, NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. Wait why do we sound, like fucking Wonkette? OK back to the media biz for us. Parsons Seen Departing, Without a Run [NYSun]

The Early Digital Guy: Thomas Middelhoff saw the future but was cut short by a reclusive controlling family, and the Internet bubble deflation

The shifting at flip flopping German media giant Bertelsmann (Bertie) has been happening slowly and mostly under the radar for months now in prep for the official arrival of incoming ruler Hart Ostrowski. It looks like Ostrowski has quietly handed over his CEO title at Bertie division Arvato to Rolf Buch, but still holds on to the Chairmanship as he waits for current Bertie CEO Gunter Thielen to leave the building. Gunter took over when the more aggressive digital media seeking Thomas Middelhoff was booted for basically pushing the company in the direction all big media players are going now. Middelhoff went high and low getting Bertie into the digital media business. Under Middelhoff, Bertie increased its internet activities by starting the online media portal BOL (Bertelsmann Online), which was sold to buch.de in 2002. But he then stepped back from these online engagements, for example by selling its shares of AOL-Europe back to Time Warner. Was this due to pressure from the clueless board of Bertie? Sure the internet bubble was still fresh off the bust, but Tom Middelhoff was the media CEO back then, that all media CEO's are racing to be in this digital media age today. Will incoming CEO Hart Ostrowski build up Bertie's digital media business, to make sure that Bertie is relevant in the next five to ten years? Middelhoff pissed off the secretive Mohn family when he put in motion plans to take the company private which would have given him the cash and glitz he, as well as the company needed to build the company's Internet offerings and status among its competitors, but not too long after he was canned. Back in 2002 Columnist Dan Milmo said Bertie has an image problem, and five years after, this still seems to be the case. Bertie needs to get out more, its senior execs need to rub elbows with America’s big media players and get into the club. The only glitzy business that Bertie is associated with here in the U.S. is it’s 50% stake music giant Sony-BMG and god knows how long they will be part of that. Bertie needs to get hip. Come on can’t you see, Hart Ostrowski escorting Beyonce to a major music event? Dudes, you have the potential utilize it. Is Thomas Middelhoff the next Rupert Murdoch? [MG 2002]

NBC Uni's Beth Comstock, loves the word viewsers, had the audience until she started that corporate lingo shit

NBC Universal's digital czarette Beth Comstock recently spoke at the AMC. Backed by a huge slide show, Comstock spit her views on the future and present of digital media. Rebecca L. Fox over at Fishbowlyny.com gives a run down on Comstock's presentation, and how she seemed to know what she was talking about even though she may have lost the audience when she got into her boardroom lingo. Though Comstock's talk of mantras and the breakdown she offered of different types of online viewsers dipped a bit far into corporate meeting-speak for us (life managers, info hounds and connectors, meet self-expressers, creators and escapists), the ultimate goal rang true for TV and magazine companies alike: "to know viewsers so well, we can serve content they don't even know they like yet ... [creating] a world where content follows the viewser. Our role is as concierge." AMC 2007: NBC Prez: Content Co.s Must Know Consumers 'Like We've Never Known Them Before' [FBNY]

Morning Wire: Someone told MTV and AOL that you care that much about music lyrics, and more in this morning's not so worthy media news

MTV and AOL wants to help you learn your favorite song by providing a new song lyric search service. where do they come up with this shit? [NYP] CNN in second life [NYP] Advertisers will do anything for attention, they are now turning their scopes on people with physical or mental disability via a website called disaboom.com. Soon they will find a way to communicate with your dog. [NYT] Tribune Co and Gannett Co Inc team up all in the name of revenue [Reuters] Martha Stewart living, continues to take Yahoo's left overs [Reuters]

Who said only rock bands have all the fun? Paste Magazine does a Radiohead

Inspired by the experimental rock band Radiohead—which asked fans to pay what they wanted for a digital download of its latest album—Paste magazine announced today it will allow subscribers for the next two weeks to name their own price for an 11-issue, year-long subscription to the magazine. Wow! This will no doubt catch on through out the industry as magazine publishers seek new business and new ways to convince subscribers to stay on. Our verdict on the whole thing, not that it matters, but we think its good stunt, risky, but good. Following Radiohead, Paste to Let Subscribers Name Their Own Price [Folio]

Jeff Zucker: GE should only sell us if we don't perform, and so far we're performing

NBC Universal boss Jeff Zucker is made it clear that NBC Universal is not for sale. Sure as if he would know whether or not the GE Board secretly has a price tag on the company. Talkers have been talking about GE possibly selling off the media unit after the Olympics but Zucker has been on his "We're not for sale" tour trying hard to put to rest the rumors. Speaking at an event in New York, Zucker said GE Chief Executive Jeff Immelt had been "very clear" about NBC Universal's role within the company. "He has said numerous times that NBCU is not for sale," Zucker said. "It is not for sale after the Olympics." NBC Universal's Zucker dismisses sale rumors [Reuters]

Hulu's Jason Kilar: We have a name, and here is why we chose it

Jason Kilar, the CEO of Hulu.com is already hard at work selling the new service to potential users via the official Hulu blog. Kilar starts off by welcoming visitors to Hulu.com and calls his team passionate. He then goes on in typical CEO blabber to answer the question "Why Hulu"? Explaining their choice in name. Why Hulu? Objectively, Hulu is short, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and rhymes with itself. Subjectively, Hulu strikes us as an inherently fun name, one that captures the spirit of the service we’re building. Our hope is that Hulu will embody our (admittedly ambitious) never-ending mission, which is to help you find and enjoy the world’s premier content when, where and how you want it. A Hulu Helo [Hulu Blog]

The potential fall guy: For Hulu.com boss Jason Kilar, it's make or break time

NBC Universal and News Corp's under hyped online media venture Hulu.com has secretly launched what they refer to as a test for select registered "Huluers". Despite all the negative yapping about the new venture, Hulu chief Jason Kilar is focused on making sure, the company doesn't live up to the negative predictions made across the web. But we all know, if it does indeed live up to the negativity, Kilar will no doubt go down in flames. Mr. Kilar says that although some of the same shows are also available free to viewers on sites like NBC.com and Fox.com, Hulu has a unique agenda: to marry the largest collection of professionally-produced video to the widest audience possible. “We don’t have to worry about showing TV schedules or letting fans get to know the actors,” he said. “All we have to worry about is the video.” Hulu Readies Its Online TV, Dodging the Insults [NYT]

At Time Inc, forced retirements and a new potential Ann Moore successor

TimeWarner is making it clear that current CEO Dick Parsons is staying put until the board says so. However over at Time Inc, a new layout is already taking shape as long time exec Michael Klingensmith has agreed to walk on Time Inc's request. He was one of four underlings reporting directly to CEO Ann Moore who is also scheduled to depart in early 2009 or 2010. This won't be the first or last requested departures as Ann Moore and her bosses at TimeWarner clear the path for her successor. EVP John Squires's name is now being thrown around as a possible replacement for Moore. Klingensmith will retire shortly after the first of the year, leaving just three executive vice presidents reporting to CEO Ann Moore. "They approached me and I sort of jumped at the chance," said Klingensmith. TIME EXEC SAYS HE'LL RETIRE [NYP]

UPDATE: Is our count down clock to the Bewkes era too far out? According to published reports, it may be

It looks like our countdown clock may not be too far out after all, or is it? It looks like the Times of London was was jumping the gun a bit or did they? A TimeWarner mouthpiece has denied the Times' report that Parsons will be stepping down as early as next week. However the mouthpiece didn't offer up any other comment which to us just solidifies The Times' report of an imminent change at the top of the TimeWarner Center. Wait a minute, are we to believe that Rupert Murdoch planted this story? Then again why would he? The rumor is working in TimeWarner's favor as far as their stock price, and we know King Rupe wouldn't want to play in roll in that. According to the London Times, Time Warner CEO Dick Parsons may be packing it in as CEO as early as next week which would officially launch the Bewkes era. Were we too quick to think Dick would hold the CEO title until early next year. Holy hell has Jeff Bewkes already been named CEO but its top secret and will be made public next week. Oh man Oh man. We took it up on ourselves to put a call into TimeWarner headquarters but got pushed around until we heard dial tone.....fuckers!!!! Richard Parsons, the chief executive of Time Warner, is poised to announce that he will hand over the top job at the CNN to Harry Potter conglomerate to longstanding number two Jeff Bewkes. The announcement of the end of the African-American’s five and a half year tenure could come as soon as next week, after the matter was discussed at a board meeting in London on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Richard Parsons set to announce Time Warner exit [TimeOnline]

The Break up: Will Jeff Bewkes Viacomize Time Warner?

With the keys to the biggest media company (in terms of assets) about to be handed to him, are investors expecting major changes under a Bewkes administration at Time Warner? Perhaps. Bewkes has said that corporate thug Carl Icahn's suggestion of a break up was a valid one and was still on the table. Is this a sign that he will seek to break off AOL and Time Inc to drive shareholder value? Or did he just say that at the time just for the sake of saying it. We think saying a suggestion like Icahn's was a valid one and is still on the table is Jeff keeping all options open in case he has to act fast which we guess is smart. But how would breaking up the company, if at all hurt his and Dick Parsons' relationship? Parsons was firm on his decision to not break up the company which at the time was backed by Bewkes. Is Jeff waiting to grab the CEO title so his true colors can shine? As you can imagine we're really anxious about this announcement as you can see by our estimated count down clock to the start of the Bewkes era. Bewkes appears likely to receive a steady picture at Time Warner [FT]

Note to FCC member Michael Copps: News Corp already has that influence you are soooo worried about, dummy

So, as usual there is always someone at the FCC trying to play hero. This time it's Commission member Michael Copps, who apparently woke up one morning and said to himself "Holy shit, that Rupert guy is too powerful" But what Mr. Copps doesn't know is that he is like a little too late. Copps is concerned that Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, now the baddest motherfucker in media, will have their hands in too many pots. ``It will create a single company with enormous influence over politics, art and culture across the nation and especially in the New York area,'' Copps said today in a letter to FCC Chairboy Kevin Martin, a Republican. Copps, one of two Democrats on the five-member panel, said the deal shouldn't proceed until the FCC studies the potential impact on competition, diversity and local-broadcast obligations in the New York market. The Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of an antitrust waiting period in August. FCC's Copps Wants Review of News Corp.-Dow Jones Deal [Bloomberg]

Barry Diller: Build, don't just buy your way in

Internet mogul Barry Diller is telling it like it is when it comes to these big media companies and the Internet. With the exception of News Corp, Time Warner and a few others big media doesn't know shit about the Internet. This is something we've been saying for a while now. In usual big media fashion, they are all hopping on the bandwagon, spending loads of money hoping for a win. Perfect example of this is CBS boss Les Moonves who has been spending money on Internet sites that are all now sitting their for the sake of making up the CBS Interactive. But we won't come down too hard on Leslie, because it's too early to judge. His advice to media executives is to build new things online from scratch, and he praised Time Warner for doing just that in the form of TMZ.com.Technology companies, Diller said, understand the value of research and development, whereas Hollywood does not.He said many executives don't invest in their companies as they should because they are overly mindful of how Wall Street might punish their stocks for overspending. Such fearful companies should learn from Amazon's example and ignore the naysayers who might have preferred the company take a more frugal approach to technology expenditures. Wonder when Barry's site geared towards brown people will launch off? Diller: Big media is late to Internet chat [THR]

David Pecker seeks to hide his shame

American Media CEO Dave Pecker is said to be looking to hook up with Ron Burkle's Source Interlink companies to save his ass. If you haven't heard of David Pecker then look up the word "Incompetent" and you will see a nice picture of the one time tabloid king. Under his leadership American Media has missed financial deadlines and is in the red. Pecker is no doubt praying for a deal to happen with Source Interlink to help hide some of his fuck ups. We only hope a deal doesn't include him still running the show. According to a person with knowledge of the talks, Burkle and American Media CEO David Pecker are discussing a merger that would combine American Media's titles, which include Star, the National Enquirer and Men's Fitness, with Source Interlink's magazine titles, which range from Motor Trend to Soap Opera Digest. This source said both Burkle and Pecker "believe a deal can be done." For Pecker's sake we hope so. No forget that, for the sake of AMI's employees, we hope so. PECKER AIMS FOR A MERGER [NYP]

Financial Week Editor Glenn Coleman is a dick head

Yeah we may be weeks late on this one but we couldn't believe our eyes when we came across the headline "Time Warner Should Buy Starbucks" an idea cooked up by Glenn Coleman editor of Financial Week. Though Coleman was clearly at the height of his daily caffeine intake, such dick headed suggestions will come back to haunt you. Again we don't know how this one flew past us but what can we do? We can't catch everything right. We were taken aback by the suggestion because for the love of the powers that be, we couldn't see it. Can you imagine Starbucks CEO Howie Schultz selling out to Time Warner? The Starbucks brand would die an instant death and his shareholders would eat him alive. Time Inc publications on sale inside, in Starbucks? Time Warner would gain nothing from investing in coffee but a shit storm from their shareholders. Again we give Glenn Coleman the benefit of the doubt but we still think you're a dick head for even allowing this to come out of your mouth. Forget (for now) whether such a merger makes financial sense. It's intriguing, worthy of fun debate, and it points to a bigger issue: whether Time Warner is ultimately a content company or whether it needs as well to control the pipelines through which its goods are delivered. Most insiders I've talked to believe this is the biggest question Jeff Bewkes has to answer -- and will, when he takes charge. They also think he'll ultimately reveal himself to be a content guy, with a strategy to reflect that. Worthy of fun debate for dick heads with nothing better to talk about! And exactly what other pipelines should Time Warner own that its "Goods" are delivered through? Are you suggesting news stands, the homes of which its cable service runs through? Do you mean, our television sets? Dudes, the only thing Time Warner needs to do, is hand Jeff Bewkes the keys and decide what to do with either Time Inc or AOL. And for the record, whether or not Time Warner is content company, is no brainer. The question is, will Time Warner brass identify it as such. Time Warner Should Buy Starbucks [Adage]

Hulu Lu Ya: NBC & Newscorp set Halloween eve, eve date for launch of new web video venture

NBC and News Corp will greet Halloween this year with the launch of their surprisingly under hyped online video venture Hulu.com two days before. Both companies are hoping to squeeze online video giant Youtube by attracting users to Hulu.com for all News Corp and NBC programming. Was this venture under hyped due to lingering doubts among NBC and News Corp brass? Or are they playing the under promise and over deliver card? Techcrunch.com got the scoop: Launching a video Website can be hard—even if it is just a private beta. Now, says our source, Hulu is gunning for a private beta launch next Monday, so that it can still meet CEO Jason Kilar’s self-imposed October deadline. That date could slip until the following Wednesday and technically be considered on-time, of course, but Kilar probably wants to avoid the trick-or-treat jokes. We’re still waiting for our invites. Hulu Set to Launch on Monday [Techcrunch]

Stiffies at S&P see major swallowing of blogs in the future

They reach large, loyal audiences, they're fairly cheap to run, and they can be lucrative. Media companies have their checkbooks ready. From Standard&Poor's Equity Research. From Standard&Poor's investing newsletter The OutlookFirst came social networks. Then virtual worlds. Now blogs are dazzling the eyes of major media publishers as the next takeover targets.Blogs--especially the big-name brands such as TechCrunch, Gawker, GigaOm, Boing Boing, and the Huffington Post--appear to have attractive business models. This is good news for traditional media companies that are being marginalized online and off, and are hoping to catch up to--and cash in on--a rapidly evolving Web 2.0 world. Over the years some blog owners like Nick Denton have stepped on talk about selling off their companies, but we all know the saying right? Money talks and if you're offer isn't sweet enough then fuck off! Who will lay on their back and spread em for the right price? The guys over at Sugar Inc already gave Jeff Zucker a taste. Blogs: The Next Takeover Target? [S&P]

Magazine Execs, Editors Say Print Isn't Dead. Of course they are going to stick to saying that. If they admit otherwise, they will lose their jobs

It may have passed over our heads, but did Time Inc find the digital czar they fired people to create a salary for?

Last month we posted about Time Inc's search for a digital czar to come in and grab online advertising by the balls. However we are not sure if they did find their dream guy/girl, or they are still looking? Earlier: Time Inc hunts for a digital ad czar. Still has no corporate website

Businessweek's Young Entrepreneurs list: A mixture of sexy, a touch of creepy and some what the f__k

Businessweek published their (we've lost count) Young Entrepreneurs list and we can't believe some of the ideas these youngsters came up with and are actually making money doing it, but then again this is America. You can sell dirt to a ditch digger and make enough money to summer in the Hamptons, if anyone still does that anyway. The individual that creeps us out this list, is a guy by the name of Amit Nar, who says that he can help you sleep. Now based on how this guy looks, we wouldn't even think of closing our eyes with him standing over us for a half a second. There are are two friends Max Durovic and Michael Kenny who got the bright idea to launch a advertising company that incorporates some clown like behavior by juggling ad signs to get the public's attention or some shit like that. There is another dude by the name of Ashutosh Gupta, a 19 year old who offers financial consulting, yeah like we need some kid to tell us which bill collector to put off paying until next pay period. All in all though the list is further proof that, there is money to be made in this great old country, and that the next generation is already in place to take the baton and run with it. Hell they already got it. At lease no one creeped us out as much as this guy. 2007 Finalists: Best Young Entrepreneurs [BW]

CNBC's Becky Quick had unprotected sex and got pregnant

CNBCer Becky Quick is said to be with child. Our friends in our heads over at Dealbreaker (Yo Carney) dropped the news on us with the accompanying photoshop effort (below) and it brought us to tears after laughing our asses off. Finally, Becky Quick Expecting? [Those fucking kids at DealBreaker]

Nigger gets full support from the masters

Music powerhouse, the Island Def Jam Music Group for now is backing the soon to be released album of Def Jam artist Nas, cleverly titled "Nigger". The album title is already grabbing headlines and of course is pissing some people off but at the end of the day, with all the press and outrage, people will want to hear what the album is all about resulting in sales, at least that's what the suits at the label hopes. We don't think its going to fly with the French suits at Vivendi which owns Universal Music Group which is the parent company of Island Def Jam. We hope it does. Hey white people, this is the only time you will be able to say "Nigger" and get away with it. There is no divide at Def Jam: They are fully onboard with Nas. At the Manhattan premiere of "American Gangster" at the Apollo Theatre Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid balked at reports that his company isn't supporting Nas' decision to title his December 11 album Nigger. L.A. Reid Stands 'Firmly Behind' Nas Over LP Title; 50 Cent Calls It 'Stupid' [mtv]

The king looks to expand his reach yet again

The real king of all media, Rupert Murdoch is looking to expand his reach oversees via Turkey. The company is said to be kicking the tires on media companies in Turkey, specifically the atv television station and the Sabah newspaper. Rupert Murdoch seems to be the only media mogul who believes in newspapers. Clearly this is the secret to his success, controlling the very vehicle that reports on you and your company. "We can compete better if we have more assets,'' said Al Parsons, head of the company's European television operations, said in an interview in Warsaw today. ``We are looking at what's being offered." News Corp. Is `Looking at' Turkish Media Assets, Executive Says [Bloomberg]

Even Jack Bauer had to run from the inferno that is Southern California

Southern California has literally been hell lately, putting the kibosh on TV and film productions that were already in progress. Local TV stations have been putting all their focus on the blaze resulting in a spike in viewership and understandably so. Who wouldn't want to know where the fire is headed next right? The raging wildfires that forced the evacuations of a quarter-million people in Southern California are disrupting the production of several TV shows and prompting local TV stations to pre-empt network programming for continuous coverage of the disaster."24" was scheduled to film scenes featuring star Kiefer Sutherland at the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro near Irvine on Monday and Tuesday. Sutherland was on the set in one of the base's hangars when filming was canceled at 7:30 a.m. Monday because of health reasons; the cast and crew had blurry eyes and difficulty breathing and were coughing from the smoke. We smell lawsuits about 5 or six years from now Southland fires disrupt shoots [THR]

Obama to FCC chairboy Kevin Martin: Sloooow down

Presidential wannabe Barack Obama is calling on FCC Chairboy Kevin Martin to slow his roll on re-writing media ownership rules. This suggestion from someone wanting to take ob George Bush's headaches can't be going over well with big media players like Rupert Murdoch and others who would love to see the door thrown wide open my the FCC so they can go on a massive shopping and merger spree. Dear Chairboy Martin: I am writing regarding your proposal to move forward aggressively with modifications to existing media ownership rules. According to press accounts, you intend to present specific changes to existing rules in November with a commission vote on that proposal -- whatever it may be – Dec. 18, 2007. I believe both the proposed timeline and process are irresponsible Obama Calls On Martin to Slow Down on Ownership Review [B&C]

Time Inc names that guy Paul Caine with the ugly smile Prexy of new entertainment group

Time Inc CEO Ann Moore continues to put in place what will be her legacy when she is long gone from the company, even though her successor may come in and undo her doings. Time Inc. has created the Time Inc. Entertainment Group, an umbrella organization for the Entertainment Weekly and its Web site and the People group, and named Paul Caine as its president. Stephanie George, executive vp, Time Inc. announced the changes in a memo to staff.The reorganization is designed to help Time Inc. better leverage its entertainment properties with advertisers, George wrote in the memo. Another big paycheck the company has to cut that's all. Oh yeah and Dave Morris clearly left because he was passed over for the gig, or he can't stand Paul Caine, or both. Time Inc. Creates Entertainment Division: Caine Named President; Morris Exits EW [MW]

Morning Wire: And now this morning's worthy media news

NBC, not wanting to send traffic anyone else's way, quietly killed it's year old Youtube channel as they do finally prepping for the launch of Hulu.com their online video venture with news Corp. [NYP] The New York times recognized a little jump in profits during their third quarter report.[NYT] So if no one really knows for sure how many hits their websites are getting, aren't advertisers being naive? [NYT] Rupert Murdoch has become quite the celebrity [News] Is Fox Business taking away some eyes from CNBC, or are business news fiends going through what we call "The New New Syndrome"? Jeff Zucker we're sure is hoping its the latter [MN]

Rupert Murdoch: We are working this web thingy

The real king of all media, King Rupert said that News Corp's web business is booming, the company's stock price continues to outperform other media stocks and the greedy bastards on Wall Street are taking notice. No one can deny the facts about News Corp's roll in the current race to digital supremacy among big media companies. It was News Corp, thanks to former Fox Interactive head Ross levinsohn who jump started the social networking craze among big media, costing Tom Freston his job. It is News Corp who now has people like Les Moonves and Phil Dauman of Viacom and Judy McGrath, once our favorite to be Viacom Prexy, spending big to show how Internet savvy they are. So Murdoch can stand on a podium and say, I shaped the current digital model big media is moving to. And on top of all this, he is so humble. What a fucking guy? "We have a long way to go, but we're starting to be rewarded for our efforts to transform ourselves into a company for the digital age," Mr Murdoch said. He said Fox Interactive Media's Internet portfolio reached more than 160 million people globally. News Corp nets a win [Herald Sun]

Will NBC Universal and News Corp's HULU.com be another flash in the pan like NBC's NBBC.com?

NBC Universal and News Corp are probably putting the final touches on their soon to be launched online video joint venture, Hulu.com. Both companies are the latest big media players attempting to keep audiences from running to Youtube to see their programming by creating a video destination of their own. Viacom made every single episode of "The Daily Show" available online at the newly launched Thedailyshow.com. But back to Hulu. This won't be NBC's first run at an online video venture. A year ago with much fanfare NBC launched a mediocre site called NBBC.com. The site has since vanished into thin air. The venture was a flop right out of the gate due to it overly corporate look and discription (see image below). Online video ventures need to have a welcoming image sans the corporate lingo. Audiences and most advertisers could care less about that. It was an attempt to interact with NBC's audience but it turned out that NBC's audience didn't want to interact with them, and around that time there was a little site called Youtube smoking up the place. So will News Corp's involvement make a difference this time around? We think so. With News Corp's Myspace, if the right people are in charge of this new venture, it can make some noise. But it won't be an issue for the folks at Youtube, because at Youtube, the audience runs the show. EARLIER: Fresh Off The Wires: NBC Launches "NBBC"

Mr. Peacock: Jeff Zucker is focused on building, not speculations, though some of them may be true, we think

NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker is 8 months into the gig and he is fearless. He isn't worried about Rupert Murdoch's over hyped business network and he isn't worried about GE selling off his division. We guess this is the attitude one develops when they've beaten something like cancer. Zucker is hell bent on pushing NBCU to its limits, digitizing its content and reaping the rewards for his masters at GE. He is excited about this month's launch of NBCU's and Newscorp's online venture HULU.com and shares lessons learned from the failure of NBC's earlier digital effort NBCi during a