Lackluster Ratings for Olympics' First Weekend (Reuters)
NBC's first three days of Winter Olympics coverage, punctuated by news that the U.S. team's biggest name had dropped out, dominated Nielsen's prime-time ratings but posted predictably sharp declines from the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Shareholders Urge 3-Way Split of VNU (WSJ)
Major shareholders of VNU NV are pressing the Dutch publishing and market-research firm to break itself into three divisions and sell the pieces, rather than agree to a deal with private-equity firms angling to buy the whole company.

Bush Administration Spent $1.6B on 'Spin' (AdWeek)
The Bush Administration spent $1.4 billion in taxpayer dollars on 137 contracts with advertising agencies over the past two-and-a-half years, according to a GAO report. With spending on PR and other media included, federal agencies spent $1.6 billion on what some Democrats called "spin." MediaCitizen: The question now before Congress and the Department of Justice is whether this spending merits the enforcement of long standing prohibitions against "covert propaganda," writes Timothy Karr.

On Ford's Vanity Fair Revelations (WaPo)
Peter Carlson: Judging by the heaping helpings of gushing prose about Ford in the mag, getting this dude to supervise your Hollywood photo shoot is like getting Michelangelo to paint your rec room ceiling. Salon: Filled with headless nudes, upside-down legs and vast, inflated breasts, Vanity Fair's Hollywood issue is a giant package of artificial cheese, writes Rebecca Traister.

VH1 Continues Promotion of Fading B-List Celebs (NYDN)
Richard Huff: The producers of VH1's reality show "The Surreal Life" are expanding the franchise - and perhaps - the watercooler buzz with a new series, "The Surreal Life Fame Games." The show will pit 10 "Surreal Life" alumni in a series of challenges, all designed to test their fame.

Conan O'Brien Visits Leader of Finland (AP via USAT)
Finnish President Tarja Halonen met with the late night TV talk show host in downtown Helsinki today. Last year, O'Brien caused a political stir when he endorsed the 62-year-old Halonen because "she looks like him," using mock ad campaigns that backed her and attacked opponents.

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