This TV Week blurb about ABC News Now suggests the future isn't bright for ABC's digital news channel. But this much better, much longer Broadcasting & Cable story says otherwise. The channel will be become permanent in the spring, after it takes a "breather" from TV, David Westin says.

"The division will spend the next few months hiring staff, hammering out distribution deals and strengthening programming," B&C reports. "The network will invest $7 million to $10 million to beef up Now's technical infrastructure, on-air look and personnel." Also: "Distribution announcements are expected in the next few months as the company begins negotiations with cable and satellite distributors."

MSNBC's David Shuster blogs from Dulles Airport en route to Iraq: "As I've explained to family and friends over the last 24 hours, (in between a flight back to DC, packing, and intense research on Iraq's political parties) there is nothing I love more than covering politics and elections. And there is no election story that will be quite like the one leading up and through 'voting day' in Iraq on Sunday, January 30." More...

> Following up on the earlier post: "CNN was NOT as late out of the gate as your posting appears. CNN reported what AP/NBC was reporting minutes after it crossed the wires. CNN was running a Carson obit not more than 10 minutes later," an e-mailer says. "Don't forget that CNN talked to Joan Rivers and Peter Lassally live via phone on Sunday afternoon, shortly after the news broke," another viewer noted.

> From a CNN press advisory: "In his one and only live prime-time interview since the death of Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon will appear on CNN's Larry King Live on Monday, Jan. 24, at 9 p.m. (ET)."

> At 9pm tonight, "MSNBC pays tribute to the television legend Johnny Carson. Chris Matthews hosts the special hour."

The top ten stories covered by the network evening newscasts from January 17 to 21, as measured by Andrew Tyndall:

1 - Bush Presidential Inauguration ceremonies ... 71

2 - Iraq combat: US-led fighting continues ... 29

3 - Bush Presidency second-term previewed ... 26

4 - Iraq reconstruction: election campaign ... 25

5 - Secretary of State Rice confirmation hearings ... 11

6 - Winter weather: frigid cold, blizzard ... 9

7 - Airline travel: Airbus unveils super-jumbo jet ... 8

8 - College math: Harvard row on women’s role ... 7

9 - Social Security solvency shortfall predicted ... 5

10 - Attorney General John Ashcroft resigns ... 4

TV Week headlines this story "No News Now:" "The grand experiment ABC News Now is set to leave the airwaves and cable operators' digital tiers at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 29. However, the 24/7 news channel will continue to be available to tens of millions of subscribers via ABC News' Web site, America Online, Yahoo!, RealNetworks and other outlets. ABC News President David Westin said the digital signal is going black to allow time to figure out a workable business plan for the service, including the degree of affiliate participation."

MSNBC was the first news network to break the news of Johnny Carson's death, before 1:45pm. "NBC reports that Johnny Carson has died from emphysema," MSNBC.com said. Fox followed a few minutes later, then CNN a few minutes after that, an e-mailer says. NBC and ABC aired special reports.

> Several e-mailers criticized CNN's initial coverage. "I am amazed to see that CNN is running a People Magazine on Laura Bush," Kansas City Star TV critic Aaron Barnhart e-mails. "Yes, good idea, CNN, because we wouldn't want to break out of our taped news schedule ... ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON.  MSNBC got a WABC radio host on the phone; Fox News has Jerry Lewis. CNN is worthless."

> FTVLive says: "Jonathan Klein should be ashamed of his network dropping the ball on this one."

> "While CNN got off to a rough start covering Carson's death on Sunday, the cable network rebounded in primetime with a LIVE Larry King from L.A.," an e-mailer says.

> Another tipster critique: "CNN and MSNBC continued coverage of Johnny Carson's death through the 5pm hour, while Fox dropped out for a replay of Fox News Sunday. They've been showing essentially the same clips, and having some of the same guests, but both CNN and MSNBC have been very good with their coverage." MSNBC deserves credit for airing live programming yesterday, for both the winter storm and the death of a legend. But...

> MSNBC entertainment anchor Sharon Tay debuted on MSNBC at 8pm Sunday night for a Carson tribute. "She was bad - talking over guests, cutting them off, saying "um" countless times, not knowledgeable, etc," one viewer says. Another e-mailer says Tay was so bad he turned off the TV: "The lack of poise and command of the anchor was unwatchable."

> "How does MSNBC increase their viewership? Run "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson reruns," an e-mailer suggests...

Quoting the P.R.: "Michael Clemente has been named executive producer of ABC News Now, ABC News president David Westin announced today.  Mr. Clemente will oversee production of the 24/7 news channel, including the editorial and creative aspects of ABC News Now. Quotes from Westin and Clemente after the jump...

“Michael is one of most creative producers in the news business, and his efforts to launch ABC News Now and to continue to create interesting and informative news programming for this channel have been simply remarkable,” Westin said. “We are so pleased he will serve as executive producer for ABC News Now and continue his work in this capacity."

"ABC News Now has been an incredibly rewarding opportunity to produce programming reaching the ABC News consumer in exciting and brand new ways, particularly during a period of great interest in news events worldwide,” Clemente said. “I am fortunate to work with a dedicated and innovative group of people."

Continue reading "ABC Names Michael Clemente EP Of 'Now'"

Howard Kurtz points out a possible conflict of interest for Sean Hannity: Activist and talk show host Jesse Lee Peterson appeared on H&C to
"tout his fifth annual 'National Day of Repudiation of Jesse Jackson,'" but Hannity didn't tell viewers "that he serves on the advisory board of Peterson's organization, Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny. Nor did he mention it on Peterson's 12 previous appearances on the program since 2002, though on one occasion he called Peterson 'my good friend.'" Hannity says: "I had it to do over again, I would." But he did it over again -- twelve times!

I should have linked to this on Sunday morning: Former Crossfire combatant Michael Kinsley suggests shout-fests are good for America in a weekend commentary. "This format has a great advantage over other variations of TV talking-head journalism in terms of intellectual honesty," he says, and explains...