What will Fox News do with Glenn Beck?

Back in 2007 Don Imus set off a bomb when he called the women basketball team at Rutgers University "nappy headed hoes" during his daily broadcast on CBS Radio and MSNBC TV and was dismissed from both networks. Within no time Imus was back on the air on a different radio (Citadel) and TV (RFD-TV) network. Imus is about to upgrade his TV affiliation by joining the Fox Business Network. Imus rebuilt a significant amount of audience in no time and is bringing that crowd to Rupert Murdoch's business TV network.

Rupert Murdoch is one of the savviest people in media today, but his Fox News network is in a similar dilemma that MSNBC was in with Imus. Glenn Beck, host of the ever popular "Glenn Beck Show" told the Fox viewing public back in July (on the network's morning show, "Fox and Friends") that President Obama has a "deep-seated hatred of white people and white culture." It was really an off the cuff statement spoken in passing upon observing some of the President's choices, that led Beck coming to such a conclusion. Off the cuff? Maybe, but it has created a stir and has the network buckling down as it faces an onslaught of attack. An organization called the Color of Change has waged a boycott on the network and it has been effective in the financial arena. The Atlantic points out that "Lots of big companies who advertise on Fox have signed onto the boycott, orchestrated by Color of Change to protest Beck's proposition that President Obama is a racist, reportedly including Wal-Mart, Sprint, Travelers Insurance, General Mills, DirecTV, Geico, Progressive, Procter & Gamble, Radio Shack, Men's Wearhouse, GMAC Financial Services--at least 36 companies in all. (UPDATE: as commenter Mike Cee points out, Color of Change put the total at 46 after announcing 10 more yesterday.)" An hour long program would typically not have more than 40 sponsors, so this is a huge number by any standard.

I think that many advertisers who are currently on the Glenn Beck Show are not actual sponsors of his program, but of the network in general and are being placed in the "best times available" (BTA) which is one of the cheapest media buys. Many of these ad buyers are getting multiples of the exposure they are use to receiving at BTA. If this is the case, Fox News is probably losing money compared to what they normally enjoy for Glenn Beck's hour. However, I think everyone, even Beck and Fox News, are crying all the way to the bank. The LA Times points out in an article titled "UPDATED: As boycott continues, Glenn Beck's audience swells" that the TV host and Fox network "attracted 2.81 million viewers Monday, his third-largest audience since his show launched on Fox News in January, according to Nielsen Media Research data provided by the network. On Tuesday, nearly 2.7 million viewers tuned in, his fifth-largest viewership to date. And the conservative host got a plug from former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who urged people to watch his program in a post on her Facebook page." The Times went on to quote Palin, saying “"FOX News' Glenn Beck is doing an extraordinary job this week walking America behind the scenes of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and outlining who is actually running the White House,' she wrote Wednesday to her 800,000-plus supporters."

In light of the audience Beck is receiving and the "ink" the networking is enjoying in the media, this temporary lost in revenue is little more than a high priced advertising campaign that should pay the network off significantly over time. As long as Murdoch and his team take a strategic approach and stay with the host, the network should be all the better when the dust finally settles.

If Fox can't handle the heat, I think the ratings hungry MSNBC would be delighted to get Glenn Beck in what they might call "Don Imus Revenge."

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. His articles often appear in Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, USA Today, and other national media. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.

That Sucking Sound: The Disappearing Newspaper

A few decades ago, most major cities had at least two major newspapers and many of them had morning and evening delivery. Today, newspapers are undergoing rapid decline and, for most of them, their futures are either digital or they will have no future at all. Those newspapers that will survive, will be free. Newspapers with a community focus that discusses the local boy or girl who has graduated from school or served the country with honor in the military and ones with a lifestyle or classified focus (jobs, homes, etc.) that are free will continue to continue to survive and maybe even thrive. The paid ones will quickly become history.

In the last few months we have seen the Rocky Mountain News fold in Denver, Colorado, the curtailing of days of delivery for the Detroit Free Press, and the move from a daily Christian Science Monitor to a weekly edition. This decline of newspapers is attributed to several factors:

The Internet has made the majority of content free. One of the strange answers by the industry, to the newspaper crises, is to raise the price on newspapers. This has only chased customers away to the vast array of sources available at not cost to the reader. The only newspapers that charge and may survive will have to fulfill a very specific function. The jury is out on that.

Information spreads best in a viral way, which lends very well to the Internet, but not newspapers. For years I use to clip articles, some times make copies to send to others, but usually lost them and tried to remember what the article I loved so much actually said. With the Internet, people can easily spread the word about the great article they have seen, pass it via email, and make the source a household name. With the Internet, organizing information is a breeze and it stands as far superior to the old methodology.

Archiving for future reference is very easy. I wanted to find out if the Internet is better than newspapers, so I did a Google search and I received millions of links. Remember going to the library, looking through periodical indices, and thumbing through countless newspapers or magazines to find an article? The Internet has changed all of that.

Many want to attribute the decline to the ideology that is pervasive among newspapers today. The liberal bias in newspapers is obvious and I think it is clear that this has hurt the credibility of the media in general. On TV, Fox News (which is described by the left as conservative, but in my opinion, strives for some level of objectivity) has more viewers than MSNBC and CNN combined. I believe this is attributable to the liberal bent among Fox News competitors.

In spite of these realities, if paid newspapers had Glenn Beck types as their publishers, they would still be in decline because that form of print news would still be in decline. The Internet (and the rise of smart phones that brings Web information everywhere) is just a far superior technology. Conservatives need to stop merely complaining about the newspapers and their liberal bias and take advantage of the new battlefield which is online. Currently, the left is dominating the blogosphere. It is still relatively early in the game, but conservatives need to shelve their pass loses and focus on the future that is the Internet.

This article originally appeared at CNN650.com, part of the CBS Radio Network.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on CNN 650 (M-F at 11 am). Eric Bolling of Fox News and Fox Business and says that Price’s Blog “is very influential and moves the blogosphere.” Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com.

Fox Business and News Breaks Bailout Agreement

I just received an email from Jessica Rice of Fox Business who was telling me a story that will most likely be missed by most in the media -- the role of the Fox networks in breaking the federal bailout story, and of Fox Business in particular. She wrote that "this afternoon, FOX Business Network’s senior Washington correspondent Peter Barnes was the only one to obtain the Senate Banking Committee agreement of principle outline that Senator Democrats and some Republicans had agreed upon to propose to the President today at the big economic meeting."

She added that "Barnes... had the first concrete piece of paper we saw on this outline. Additionally, this afternoon at 12:54 PM ET, after a fundamental, initial deal had finally been reached between Democrats and Republicans on Secretary Paulson’s $700 billion bailout plan, FOX Business Network beat all the major cable news networks" with this information.

Finally, Rice indicated that Fox Business "was the first to report news of the deal at 12:54pm ET, followed by Bloomberg, FOX News Channel, CNBC, MSNBC, and CNN."

Some have argued why there was a need for an additional business network and others, because of their ideological agendas, have suggested that Fox wouldn't be taken seriously. News Corp has always been a leader in innovation and journalism. From the creation of a television business news network that pursues the interests of Wall Street to Main Street in Fox Business or in its purchase of the Bible of the financial world, The Wall Street Journal.

The thing I have enjoyed in working with the network is the sense of family I have seen that is so contrary to journalism today. I have had Alexis Glick, David Asman, Jonathan Hoenig, and others from the network on the program and their genuine love for their network is seen in the way they perform their jobs and how they represent the company.

In addition to providing a sense of understanding in its concerns about Main Street it also maintains a commitment to being "fair and balanced" that is similar to its sister station, Fox News. Because we have become so accustomed to a media bias with a driven agenda, we often see Fox as "Conservative." Honestly, it is only in the context of how blatantly liberal much of the rest of the media remains.

I congratulate Fox Business on these firsts as it approaches its very first anniversary. I am expecting even more from the network in the years to come.

Kevin Price articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

A Tale of Two News Sources

When it comes to the popular television news media, there really are only two sources. Fox News and virtually everyone else. Don't get me wrong, MSNBC and CNN have different personalities and they each have shows that are entertaining and informative in their own right. However, when it comes to ideological slant, CNN and MSNBC are largely Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum. The only difference is that MSNBC tends to be more liberal than CNN, but they are both remarkably similar.

Usually I watch Fox News and Fox Business as my primary TV information source. As I do that, I wonder how anyone could vote for the Obama and Biden ticket. It isn't that these networks simply rant against liberal politicians, but they tend to methodically review both sides and allow viewers to come to their own conclusion. Further, there is no glorification of individuals or philosophies, but typically a balancing act between various ideologies. It is true, most of the hosts have backgrounds that indicate they lean to the right, but certainly not all of them. Furthermore, when there is a larger panel of more than two or three, the voices tend to lean to the right. However, generally speaking, they seem to strive towards their motto of "fair and balanced."


There are shows I enjoy on CNN. I, of course, like Glenn Beck (who is certainly more libertarian than conservative), News to Us (which is an excellent showcase of the convergence of media), and several other programs that make up my normal news intake. However, the network's hard news shows virtually always have a liberal bent. They simply interpret news from a liberal worldview as if they were the facts. Recently my friend Jessica Colon (Young Republicans) was on the Larry King Show to talk about the McCain campaign versus Obama. The panel had her -- the sole Republican -- on with five Democrats (not including King). I have never seen that on Fox and it did not reflect well on CNN.


Things may be even worse at MSNBC. Although I love its documentaries and the network does have a token conservative, Tucker Carlson (he seems to have a shrinking role at the network). The only other member of the news team who leaned to the Right was Joe Scarborough. The former Republican Congressman use to be one of the only prominent conservative voices on the network, but he has moved slowly to the left in the minds of many since he has begun his Morning Joe program. The situation at the network has gotten so bad that Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman, both very passionate and obviously liberal in perspective, are no longer to anchor political programming because they have gotten carried away in the past sitting in such chairs. What is funny about that is these two have been replaced by David Gregory, who has been President Bush's strongest media nemesis. At least MSNBC has a sense of humor.

So what is the moral of this tale? Friends of Fox, beware, because if you think your side is going to win in November you need to be checking out the views of other networks. Ditto to viewers of MSNBC and CNN. There is a huge audience that is getting a different perspective on the candidates from your preferred news sources. In the end, I am not surprised by the wild differences in attitudes between those who have opinions based on a specific network. In fact, I am surprised there isn't more disparity of opinion.



Kevin Price accurately predicted that Joe Biden would be the VP candidate of Obama three days before the announcement. He predicted a woman would be McCain's VP days before as well. Get his commentaries in your email box by contacting Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

NBC's Smart Choice on Meet the Press

Like many other news jukies, I have been curious about the future of Meet the Press. The show had become one of the most respected in the news industry thanks to the leadership of Tim Russert and finding a replacement was quickly becoming a sacred task. However, instead of thoughtful deliberation, it appeared the network had quickly narrowed it down to Chris Matthews as the heir appearent.

Many bloggers, including myself, advocated Tom Brokaw as a transitional candidate to replace Russert. Virtually all the major news stories seemed to dismiss this as a possibility early on in the discussions, but I guess the message finally got through and Brokaw took that spot.

It is clear, however, that Brokaw is an interim host and the future seems unclear. One candidate for the host spot was Ted Koppel, who just recently got taking off of the short list according to Mediabistro. Regarding Meet the Press, Koppel said "That's the kind of thing that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. They need to find somebody younger than Tim, not older than Tim. He was 58. I'm 68. I just don't think it's realistic."

"If I were to do something like that, it could only be for a relatively short period. I don't think that would suit either NBC or me." It isn't like Koppel needs the work, he is now working with Discovery, National Public Radio, and (most recently) BBC America.

So what about the future of Meet the Press? It is hard to say. Many had no idea Koppel was on the list, so the announcement that individuals were on it seems to be stated after they are elininated. Very rude, but it creates a great deal of interest. NBC has stated that it isn't interested in one of the "cable guys," while saying Chris Matthews was a major candidate (who is primarily known for his work with MSNBC). However, I am going to stick my neck out there and say that I think one of the stronger candidates is Anderson Cooper at CNN. Although he is young (which means he can serve in that chair for many years), he is taken seriously by most in the media. We will have to wait and see.

According to recent surveys on marketing, most advertising attracts sellers (others who want you to buy more ads) and not buyers. Do you want to know why? Email info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing audio" in the subject line and we will get it to you.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

You Know You Are a Redneck

You know you are a redneck...If Andrea Mitchell calls you one. That is exactly what she recently called the people of southwest Virginia. Media Bistro is reporting that:

MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell apologized today for calling southwest Virginia, "real redneck" country. Toward the end of her 1pm ET hour, she said, "I owe an apology to the good people of Bristol, Virginia for something stupid that I said."

The editor of the Bristol Herald Courier (in Bristol, Virginia), J. Todd Foster, wrote a column published yesterday in response to the comment.

"I'm a redneck. But then again, so is every one of you reading this column. Or so says Andrea Mitchell of NBC News," writes Foster.

Mitchell made the comment last Thursday as she referred to "interesting images," of Sen. Barack Obama appearing with Sen. Mark Warner in southwest Virginia. "This is real redneck, sort of...um, bordering on Appalachia country," she said. "This is not the northern Virginia, sort of, high tech corridor. These are not voters he would logically be gravitating to." Click here for the YouTube clip.

"The last bastion of acceptable, politically incorrect stereotyping is making fun of Southerners," writes Foster. "And we're damned tired of it."

Foster says that this is the last "acceptable" arena of stereotyping, and he is right. But not for every group out there. It seems that only the "mainstream" media and those liberals who have either written such voters off as unreachable or they actually believe they "take care" of this constituency and should have the right to call them whatever they desire. Of course comedians with no ostensible political agendas also make a living off of "rednecks."

Conservatives, on the other hand, typically can't take such pot shops without suffering from charges of elitism that could bring down political careers. The bottom line -- be it conservatives or liberals -- calling people names is bad form. It is something that we should have out grown by middle school. It is a demonstration of immaturity and a very limited vocabulary. It may be time to get more manners or simply go back to school.

According to recent surveys on marketing, most advertising attracts sellers (others who want you to buy more ads) and not buyers. Do you want to know why? Email info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing audio" in the subject line and we will get it to you.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

How Liberal is MSNBC?

MSNBC is largely considered "liberal", even "flaming liberal" in the eyes of those who describe themselves as conservative. I've noticed this for a long time and it has even showed up in its sister network's (NBC) approach to the news. However, I didn't think it reached the point that other media that is often described as liberal in their own right, would start to take notice. But MediaBistro.com has noted just such a phenomenon.

"Add the Washington Post and Time Magazine to the list of organizations recently questioning the leftward shift by MSNBC. That list also includes the New York Times, the Associated Press...oh, and the White House."

We all know the White House has been unhappy, since President Bush is the network's primary target each day. But the New York Times? The Washington Post? Time Magazine? Who would have guessed. The article continues:

Time magazine's James Poniewozik takes on Keith Olbermann following the anchor's Special Comment on Friday. "Olbermann is edging ever-closer to self-parody, or, worse, predictability," he writes. "He sounds like just another of the cable gasbags he used to be a corrective to."

Continuing: An MSNBC insider gave TVNewser another take. "MSNBC has doubled down on Keith Olbermann, but they give up a lot in doing that," our insider said. "They didn't set out to be left wing, they didn't want to be left wing. But Keith Olbermann let the freak flag fly and did huge numbers as a result. I believe there's a revolt coming."

Than there is the Washington Post: Howard Kurtz writes about what "top NBC journalists," are saying about the network.

"NBC and its cable outlet have become more integrated since MSNBC moved to the 30 Rockefeller Plaza headquarters in New York last fall, a trend accelerated by the sharing of journalistic talent during the campaign," writes Kurtz. "Some top NBC journalists say privately they are troubled by the overlapping identities."

He writes of their primary night coverage, "anchored by (Chris) Matthews, a one time Democratic operative, and Olbermann, the 'Countdown' host who recently finished one anti-Bush commentary by instructing the president to 'shut the hell up.'"

Kurtz quotes people from Ed Gillespie of the GOP to Democrat Terry McAuliffe who charge MSNBC with pro-Obama bias. NBC SVP Phil Griffin disagrees. "To call us an arm of the DNC is a joke," he says. "We have people with multiple points of view. Everyone is getting a little thin-skinned. We argue and debate every topic."

This writer contends that those arguments are being done by journalists who are defending positions against the Matthews and Olbermanns out there with views that they don't actually maintain. That is a tough task to say the least. MSNBC is quickly becoming one of the most liberal networks on television and it is over flowing into the editorial views of NBC. That is costing that network's anchor (Brian Williams) in ratings. I agree with Time Magazine, if Olbermann keeps this up, we will be turning to the Daily Show for serious content.

According to recent surveys on marketing, most advertising attracts sellers (others who want you to buy more ads) and not buyers. Do you want to know why? Email info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing audio" in the subject line and we will get it to you.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

NYT, MSNBC, and the Convergence of Media

For quite some time I have been singing the praises of the convergence of media. The more media can combine its forces -- radio, web, print, TV, and more -- the greater the reach those media will enjoy. I recently noted another example of this with the recent joint project between the New York Times and MSNBC.


I first got word through updates from Media Bistro:

TVNewser received this internal New York Times email from an anonymous tipster, apparently detailing a new program beginning today on MSNBC. The email:

MSNBC (Check your local listings) Today at 2:00 p.m.


The New York Times Special Primary Edition, a new NYT/MSNBC political program hosted by John Harwood debuts today at 2 p.m. Guests include Adam Nagourney, Pat Healy, Jeff Zeleny, Gail Collins and other Times reporters.


This is the first in a series of special programs featuring Times journalists which MSNBC hopes to broadcast throughout the rest of the political season. Segments will also run on NYTimes.com.

We hope you will tune in.


We have calls in to MSNBC to find out more information...

More: Could this be a further expansion of the 4-month old between NYT and CNBC?

Update: The hour kicked off with Harwood and MSNBC's Contessa Brewer (not mentioned in the original email) anchoring, with the NYT's Nagourney on set. A NYT logo is seen in the lower third...

I didn't get to see it, but I am interested in seeing it in the future. It is an example of the world's most significant print publication reaching out into the electronic world of TV to find new audience. Expect more of it. It is the convergence of media and it works.

For a copy of the free audio program and free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Craig Smith Speaks His Mind

Craig Smith of Swiss America is a well known financial advisor that is a frequent guest on MSNBC, Fox Business, and CNBC. He is one of the leading advocates for investing in gold and a strong proponent of a free market economy.

On a recent Houston Business Show, Smith took the government to task over its recent actions to bail out financial institutions and its plans for seriously revamping the regulation of such firms. In typical government fashion, Smith warns, the "cure" is going to likely be worse than the illness.

My view is that the government should do little or nothing at this time, mainly because we are not even sure how bad the damage will be. Wouldn't it make sense to "fix" our problems once we understand what those problems are? Especially since it is an election year and decision making is often driven by polls rather than common sense. I'm glad, however, that there are some with a more reasoned approach to such problems. Check out my interview with Craig Smith here and here.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Florida Democratic Debate Has Highest Ratings To Date

It appearst that people finally seem interested in the 2008 race for the presidency. Will, that's the impression you get from a recent article in MediaBistro:

Last night's MSNBC debate in Florida was the highest rated debate that MSNBC has aired in this presidential election cycle. The previous high was the Democratic debate on January 15.

The debate averaged 2,636,000 million total viewers and 876,000 in the A25-54 demo (using Nielson Live + SD figures).

Why the sudden surge in interest? I believe the elimination of candidates is making the race far more interesting to viewers. We are finally "getting rid of the riffraff," making it something worth watching.

Before we get too excited about the results, 2.6 million is less than 1 percent of the population. But for MSNBC, this is huge.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Edwards is Changing His Mind About Fox?

That is what MediaBistro.com is speculating about. Several months ago former Senator John Edwards went over the deep end because of his discuss over the "bias" that he had seen at Fox News. He made it clear, no true democrat should grace the stage or studio of anything "Fox." This was odd, because he had been a guest many times until his last interview on January 23, 2007. Had there been a major shift in Fox's editorial approach at that point or was he simply looking for a way to differentiate himself from the rest of the pack?

Portfolio's Jeff Bercovici writes "shortly after last night's Democratic debate on MSNBC, Eric Schultz, Edwards's national press secretary, sent out an email blast to reporters touting the results of a Frank Luntz focus group conducted on Fox. Schultz's email follows."

From: Eric SchultzSubject: Frank Luntz Focus Group of Undecided Nevada Voters: EDWARDS WINNER. Edwards Declared the Winner by a Focus Group of Undecided Nevada Voters. On Fox News, Frank Luntz' focus group from Las Vegas of thirty undecided Nevada Democrats declared Edwards the winner. Luntz:"How many of you thought John Edwards won?" [1/2 crowd raises hand]"How many of you came in supporting Senator Edwards?" [About 3 people raise hand]"On issue after issue, we're going to show this to you tomorrow night, his language actually scored better than Senator Clinton and Senator Obama." [Fox News, 1/15/08]

I'm sure the Senator has to be happy about Fox's new found "enlightenment." But can he easily have a change of heart? The jury is still out on that.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Search Engine Friendly

I actually feel guilty that I, personally, only write around 10 or 11 articles a week (around 4 here and more at HoustonBusinessShow.com). I know, it sounds ridiculous, but when your blogs and web platforms have the reach we enjoy, I feel like I should be writing as long as I'm awake.

Articles on our web platform are found very high on Google searches and enjoy a very high response. In fact, dBusinessNews released information about the extent of our search engine optimization reach compared to other major media web sites such as the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Business Journal, and even national media sites.

Here is a comparison of the HoustonBusinessReview (which is media central on our sites) and other major websites:

Newspapers

Houston Chronicle. Chron.com has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 82%.
Houston Business Journal (HoustonBusinessJournal.com) has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 86%.

TV Stations

KPRC (Click2Houston.com) has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 87%.
KHOU (KHOU.TV) has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 57%.
KTRK (KTRK.com) has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 70%.

Radio

KTRH has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 59%.
KPRC has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 55%.
KSEV has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 80%.

News Websites

HoustonBusinessReview.com has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 92 percent.

HoustonBusinessReview.com is the only local website that has a DomainTools.com rating of an "A" (with 90% plus being an "A"). This rating is usually relegated to national media. For example:

Forbes.com has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 91%.
Fortune.com has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 92%.
CNNMoney.com has a Search Engine Optimization rating of 92%.

However, many prominent national media failed to reach the 90 percent threshold, including the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, MSNBC.com, and many others.

Combined with all of our experts and the content I provide, we have a massive reach. Learning how to have search engine friendly content is crucial in web marketing. That will be the focus of posts in the future.

Morning Joe Questions Media Objectivity

Joe Scarborough surprised many of us by taking Don Imus's spot early in the mornings on MSNBC. It was a surprise because Joe is very conservative for a network rapidly becoming known for its liberal bias. On today's show, Joe Scarborough pointed out how the NBC newsroom broke out in "boos" when President Bush delivered the State of the Union Address in 2003. He discussed such with a managing editor and it never happened again.

He brought this up after a Seattle newspaper editor criticized colleagues for breaking out in applause when Karl Rove announced his resignation last week. View his comments as they appeared today.

Scarborough comment raises an important point -- the blatant bias that exists in media today. Joe is noted as a conservative, which is fine in my opinion. Does this mean that he and I are hypocrites? I don't think so. There are, in fact, more than one aspects to the news. There is "hard news," which should be "just the facts." That is the approach that should be burdened on every news person in news delivery.

There is also the editorial department. The Joe Scarboroughs and Bill O'Reillys who clearly have an axe to grind. Editorial can be biased, as long as they make it clear they have their own agenda. My concern and the concern of Scarborough and others are those who ostensibly come across as objective, but clearly are not. When a newsroom of reporters feel they can comfortably attack someone because he (or she) is conservative, indicates a culture that has clearly lost sight of what "objective" means. Scarborough, and the rest of us, have legitimate reason for concern.

Movies are Very Big Business

For a while we heard that the future of movies were in question, but I believe their future is very bright. I think of my own personal circumstances. For a while I simply never got movies or went to them, often for the same reasons I didn't watch network news, it was inconvenient and there were too many other easy sources for news (Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, etc.) and movies (USA, AMC, TCM, etc.) on cable to go out of my way to rent movies or even go to them.

However, with the rise of the Redbox, where I can rent movies all over town for a $1 and leave them at any one of their locations, I find that my family is renting many more movies. Recently, I went by and noticed that the number I have personally seen was huge. I have also noticed a rising interest in independent films. Probably roughly half of the movies I watch falls in that category. These films are relatively cheap to make (sometimes only 6 digits) and through the numerous distribution networks available (theaters that cater to such films, rental machines, online services, etc.) the possibility of high returns is very good.

Now, it seems everywhere I go, I come across another aspiring movie maker. In fact, I have at least five friends who either have made or in the process of making a movie. Those who have made them have figured out how to make a little profit. New technology is exploding on the scene to make the production of movies more affordable and far easier to do. I'm hoping that the rise of independent films, particularly those of the pro-family variety, will give Hollywood and its culture a run for the money.

See How They Run: The Debate After the Debate

Last night's South Carolina debate sponsored by Fox News for Republican candidates was very rough and tumble. It showcased the struggle the leading candidates are going to have because of how weak their conservative credentials. It demonstrated why the second tier candidates are called just that and I believe many of them will soon be gone. Here are a few of my observations:

* Ron Paul (photo) needs to get out as soon as possible. I've known Paul for years and he's highly intelligent and articulate, but he is far more libertarian than Republican. The Republican Party is not a party of appeasement, as Paul likes to argue, it is a party of Peace through Strength. Paul is now involved in the most extreme liberal blame game, claiming that September 11th is America's fault (because of our activities in regards to Iraq after the first Gulf War). That isn't going to fly in the Republican Party (and it isn't true). Republicans need to remind people like Paul that "the terrorists are over there, because we over there." Let's keep the terrorists over there.

* McCain and Romney are not going to make it. These guys spent the entire night letting out their frustrations on each other. Continuously accused of flip-flopping on the campaign trail, they had to do the exact same thing to each other. McCain doesn't understand tax cuts, Romney, was pro-abortion and converted too late to trust, etc., etc. These guys suffered the most, in my opinion.

* Giuliani was the big winner. He looked very Presidential and thoroughly slammed Ron Paul for blaming the US for September 11th. His remarks, calling Paul irresponsible and demanding a retraction, reminded me of Ronald Reagan's "I paid for this microphone" in the 1980 New Hampshire Primary debate that many called a turning point in that campaign. It may not be that significant, but it was an excellent moment.

The debate, above all things, demonstrates there is a long way to go. Ten candidates now and a few months there will likely be less and even different ones in the running. Fox News did a much better job than MSNBC in conducting the debate, but in the end, the current format remains weak. I'm eager to see how the pruning process eliminates candidates and allows us to get to know the eventual nominee better.

See How They Run: Also, See How They Fly

The first debate for the 2008 Presidential election (photo) took place last night (can you believe it?) and the biggest story wasn't how different the candidates are from one another (there was little discussion on such), or even the difference between the Democrats and President Bush (a big part of the discussions), but about how the candidates got there.

All of these candidates have taken the nation to task because of the Global Warming issue that has become so prominent today. All of them discuss the need to conserve energy, develop better fuel alternatives, and car pool at every opportunity.

Of the 9 candidates that participated in the South Carolina debate sponsored by MSNBC, at least four of them (Clinton, Obama, Dodd and Biden) left from Washington, DC at about the same time (following the Iraq funding debate in the Senate) on four separate private planes (all of the Democratic candidates are using this mode of transportation). At a cost of around $9,000 a flight and at a huge fuel cost, you would think one of these champions for energy efficiency would have suggested jet pooling! It didn't happen, they just boarded their respective energy hogs, possibly shaking hands at the airport and wishing each other a good flight, and met each other again at the forum.

Most people are chuckling about this story, but it speaks to me about the hypocrisy that is pervasive in politics today. Candidates who pound the public over the head with their moral mandates while breaking their own rules every opportunity that get. Until a couple of elections ago, virtually every Presidential candidate traveled on the major airlines, saving their supporters dollars, helping the environment, and conserving energy. Ironically, there was little talk of Gloabl Warming in those old days. I, personally, find the hypocrisy sickening and will start reminding politicians to put their money and their actions where there mouths are.

When Sports Publications Take Themselves Too Seriously

Sports publications tend to want to shift to "serious" journalism whenever they can (e.g. current events news, business news, etc.). Keith Oberman of MSNBC used to be an anchor on ESPN and now he is one of the most liberal hosts on TV. About a week ago Sports Illustrated decided to take on the heady issue of climate change as a cover story of its magazine.

The cover was compelling (see photo, left), with water up to the thighs of an ace picture at the Florida Marlin's stadium. It is made to make us fear the future, not only of the weather and the planet, but of sports itself (something that is a real concern to armchair quarterbacks)

The magazine is full of speculation and is alarmist, but does not have much science, except for the anecdotes at the beginning of the story. I don't consider Sports Illustrated a serious source for science or current events (except for maybe steroid use of athletes). I actually want it to be the one place I can check out from all the drama dominating the news and where I can focus on my favorite past times.

I get my science, politics, and other current event information else where. I want my sports publications to do the important thing of keeping me entertained.

NBC News and the Extended Broadcast

Tonight, NBC Nightly News made history when, in the first time in its history, one advertiser (Philips electronics) was the sole sponsor of the show and gave us one minute, 15 seconds in ads instead of 7 minutes. NBC then asked us to comment and let them know our thoughts. This is what I wrote:

Clearly NBC is countering the problems facing TV news more forcefully than its counterparts at CBS and ABC with the move towards extended newscasts and the more strategic use of podcasts. The networks are trying to reach the "Accumulators"; those between the ages of the mid 30s to the mid 50s who find time to be their greatest asset and who make every effort to protect such.

I wrote about the problems facing the networks in detail in my blog at http://houstonbusinessdaily.blogspot.com/2006/11/meet-accumulators-and-how-to-reach.html. With the extended newscast and the podcasts, NBC is clearly showing its intention to be around in the 21st century. I will be discussing this in more detail at www.bizplusblog.com. Congratulations on the move, I think it will be win for Philips, NBC, and us viewers.

What else do I wish to add?

First, NBC intentions are not altruistic, but a desperate attempt to recoup the huge number of viewers in the 30s, 40s, and 50s who want their news when and how they want it, and are going else where to get it. I wrote about such in the Accumulator entry mentioned above. The average age of the typical evening news viewer is still 60 (not the prime group advertisers desire), this action by NBC will not change that fact, in my opinion.

Second, it costs a lot of money to produce national nightly news broadcasts. MSNBC laid off over 700 people a few months ago, due greatly to this problem. If people continue to go to the web, rather than TV, they will eventually abandon the latter as a news source and fill that time with some reality show that costs virtually nothing to produce. We will then get virtually all our news online where it can be updated quickly and produced cheaply. TV news will likely be dead entirely except for niche stations (e.g., Fox News, CNBC, etc.) and for the occasional local news broadcast.

You can see why I relegated these comments to my blog, I'm afraid NBC may not have liked what I had to say and they could have failed to include my comments. (Yes, I'm guilty of a little blatant self promotion, the occupational hazard of bloggers).

Excuse Me TV, But I Do Have the Internet

A few years ago Aflac Insurance came up with the clever idea of providing trivia questions that were used as a lure to keep people watching what ever show one was watching. It was a pretty smart innovation of advertising. The way it worked was simple, at the end of a segment of a show -- typically a news program -- they would ask a trivia question that you would have to wait through the break in order to the see the answer. What was once clever is now irritating. Furthermore, it reminds the audience how TV is declining in importance and is being surpassed by the Internet.

Recently I was watching Kudlow & Company on MSNBC and they tried a similar concept. Just before a station break they announced that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was no longer the most powerful woman in the world any more according to Forbes magazine. They expected me to sit through the break to wait for the answer as to who replaced her. Do you think I waited? With my faithful notebook computer right next to me I had the answer before the first commercial was over. The world's most powerful woman was now Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, according to the list. By the time the break was over I was no longer watching Kudlow and had found my way to other on-demand news and information from the Internet and could care less about the rest of the program.

Instead of keeping viewers, this form of advertising only made TV seem less relevant and accentuated the importance of the Internet.