Eliot Spitzer - TVNewser

Eliot Spitzer Ending Current TV Show

Alex Weprin — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:47:56 +0000

Current TV and its lineup of hosts continue to tinker in advance of Al Jazeera’s takeover in a few months. While we noted that many of the network’s hosts aren’t entirely sure what the future holds for them, Eliot Spitzer has: he is leaving.

Brian Stelter in the NY Times has more:

Mr. Spitzer said he had a “wonderful time” at Current, but emphasized that his relationship was with Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, Current’s co-founders, not with Al Jazeera. “Moving forward, their mission will be different,” he said — more international newscasts, less liberal talk about the news…

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After Al Jazeera Acquisition, The Future of Current TV Hosts Up In The Air

Alex Weprin — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 08:15:25 +0000

With Al Jazeera’s purchase of Current TV complete, speculation has turned to what it means for Current’s lineup of hosts.

So far, only one on-air personality has announced their plans. Jennifer Granholm, who hosts “The War Room.” will continue on for a little while more before leaving the network in the Spring.

“We’ll continue to broadcast The War Room for the next few weeks through the transition, but after that I’ll be going back to teaching, speaking and other things,” Granholm wrote on Facebook.

In a video on The Young Turks YouTube channel, Cenk Uygur says that he hopes to continue hosting the TV program of the same name on the new Al Jazeera network, but that it isn’t clear whether the new owners will want to keep the show.

“It is an interesting question, and one which I do not have the answers to,” Uygur said. Regardless of what happens, he says The Young Turks will always be on their original YouTube channel.

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NY Times: Al Jazeera Finalizing Deal To Acquire Current TV

Alex Weprin — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:12:41 +0000

Qatar-based Al Jazeera is in final negotiations to acquire Current TV, the cable channel co-founded and operated by former Vice President Al Gore and his business partner Joel Hyatt, according to Brian Stelter in the New York Times. Current TV has distribution in 60 million homes, giving Al Jazeera a large and immediate U.S. footprint

The result will be a new channel, not simply a simulcast of Al Jazeera English, the company’s English-language cable news outlet. As for Current TV’s current slate of staffers and shows, the future remains unclear, but likely grim.

Rather than simply use Current to distribute its existing English-language channel, called Al Jazeera English and based in Doha, Qatar, Al Jazeera will create a new channel based in New York, according to people with knowledge of the deal negotiations. Potentially called Al Jazeera America, roughly 60 percent of the programming will be produced in the United States while the remaining 40 percent will come from Al Jazeera English.

Al Jazeera may absorb some Current TV staff members, according to the people, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. But Current’s schedule of shows will most likely be dissolved in the spring.

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The Ticker: O’Reilly Threat, ‘Nightline’ Guns, Currently Spitzer

Chris Ariens — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:05:32 +0000

An Illinois man who left a threatening message for Bill O’Reilly in January has been sentenced to a year of probation and fined $500. 62-year-old James Rogers faced felony harassment by telephone charges for the death threat.

ABC’s “Nightline” continues its coverage of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary with a special report tonight examining how guns touch so many parts of the American story. Bill Weir anchors “A Day In The Life Of The American Gun.”

FishbowlNY’s Diane Clehane caught up with CurrentTV host Eliot Spitzer at Michael’s yesterday. “Nobody’s watching,” he says, “but I’m having a great time. It’s like having a cocktail party with friends every night.” Pausing for a moment he added, “Somebody needs to buy the network.”

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More Election Night Coverage Plans

Alex Weprin — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:32:19 +0000

The typical broadcasters and cable news channels aren’t the only ones covering tomorrow’s Presidential election Here are some of the other coverage highlights from other cable channels, and online.

C-SPAN: Will simulcast “Politico Live” from 7 PM until the acceptance/concession speeches begin, when it shifts over to C-SPAN 2 until midnight. C-SPAN will also air all speeches, as well as updates from key state races.

Comedy Central: “The Daily Show” and “Colbert Report” will be live Tuesday night from 11PM-12AM, with special coverage called ”Election Night 2012: This Ends Now” and “Election 2012: A Nation Votes, Ohio Decides; The Re-Presidenting of America: Who Will Replace Obama? ‘012!”Andrew Sullivan will be a guest, and “Daily Show” correspondents will report “from the show’s on-set Obama and Romney headquarters and election center.”

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The Ticker, Sandy Edition: Spitzer, Williams, Velshi/Romans

Chris Ariens — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:37:38 +0000

Former New York Governor and CNN host Eliot Spitzer will be on Christiane Amanpour’s CNN International program today. He’ll talk about Sandy recovery and the election. “Amanpour” airs at 4pmET on CNNI.

“Rock Center with Brian Williams” will dedicate its entire hour to the super storm tomorrow night. Harry Smith, Tom Brokaw, Ann Curry, Richard Engel and Natalie Morales report. Thursday at 10pmET/PT.

CNN’s Ali Velshi, in Ohio, and Christine Romans, in New York, will co-anchor “CNN Newsroom” Friday morning at 9amET with Sandy’s clean-up underway, unemployment numbers due, and the election just four days away.

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Where to Watch the Final Presidential Debate

Merrill Knox — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:32:44 +0000

Tonight is the third and final Presidential debate of this election cycle. CBS’ Bob Schieffer moderates at Lynn University in Boca Raton. Here’s a round up of what the cable and broadcast networks have planned…

Scott Pelley anchors on CBS from 9-11pmET. With Schieffer moderating, certain CBS programs — including yesterday’s “Face the Nation” and today’s “CBS This Morning” — originate from Florida. Pelley will be joined by Major Garrett of National Journal and Julianna Goldman of Bloomberg, among others.

ABC’s coverage kicks off at 9pmET with Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos anchoring. They will be joined during the two-hour broadcast by VP debate moderator Martha Raddatz, Christiane Amanpour, Jake Tapper, David Muir and Jonathan Karl.

Brian Williams anchors on NBC from 9pm-11pmET. Williams will be joined by David Gregory, Savannah Guthrie, Tom Brokaw, Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell and Richard Haass.

PBS’ coverage runs from 9-11pmET, with Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff anchoring and political editor Christina Bellantoni contributing.

Plans for the cable networks after after the jump. continued…

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Where to Watch the Second Presidential Debate

Merrill Knox — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:42:38 +0000

Tonight’s Presidential debate, moderated by CNN’s Candy Crowley, will be held at Hofstra University at 9pmET. Here’s a round-up of what the broadcast and cable networks have planned.

On ABC News, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos will anchor coverage from 9pm-11pmET. They will be joined by Jake Tapper, David Muir and Jon Karl. “Nightline” will be live at 11:35pmET, and ABC News will stream the debate online.

CBS News will also be live from 9pm-11pmET with Scott Pelley at the anchor desk. The network’s post-debate coverage will feature a poll of approximately 500 uncommitted voters around the nation.

Brian Williams will anchor from 9pm-11pmET on NBC News in New York City. He will be joined by David Gregory, Savannah Guthrie, Chuck Todd and Tom Brokaw. Andrea Mitchell will lead the network’s “Truth Squad” fact-check team.

PBS is live from 9-11pmET. Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill will anchor coverage, and political editor Christina Bellantoni will be on hand to report on social media reactions to the debate.

Fox News Channel’s Shepard Smith will anchor on Fox Broadcasting beginning at 9pmET.

Plans for the cable networks are after the jump. continued…

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The Ticker: Muir, Current, 60′s 45th…

Merrill Knox — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:23:37 +0000

With a week to go until the first Presidential debate, ABC’s David Muir sat down with GOP candidate Mitt Romney this afternoon in Toledo. The interview airs tonight on “World News with Diane Sawyer” and tomorrow on “Good Morning America.” Romney was interviewed by CNN’s Jim Acosta yesterday.

Current TV announced today that its coverage of the October 3 debate will be led by former Vice President Al Gore. He will be joined by Current TV hosts Jennifer Granholm, Eliot Spitzer, Cenk Uygur and John Fuselgang.

TV’s longest-running primetime program, “60 Minutes” launches its 45^th season Sunday with a Lara Logan report from Afghanistan and the first interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger since the revelations of a secret out-of-wedlock child with his housekeeper.

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Eliot Spitzer, Glenn Beck and Boxing Announcer Michael Buffer Step Into a Boxing Ring…

Alex Weprin — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:53:19 +0000

We attended a bizarre news conference in New York today, where legendary boxing announcer Michael Buffer introduced Current TV host Eliot Spitzer and TheBlaze founder (and former Fox News host) Glenn Beck in a “War of the Words.”

Related, FishbowlNY: AMC Shows Won’t Be Back on DISH Anytime Soon

DISH Network, which hosted the event, announced that the pair would debate live on DISH in Denver, Colorado October 2, the night before the Presidential debate there. Earlier this week it was announced that Beck’s TheBlaze TV network would become available to DISH subscribers.

More photos, after the jump.

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A Former Vice President Will Host A Cable News Channel’s Convention Coverage

Chris Ariens — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:35:36 +0000

Current TV just announced that one of its co-founders, former Vice President Al Gore, will lead Current TV’s coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

Gore will be joined by former Michigan Governor and “The War Room” host, Jennifer Granholm, former New York Governor and “Viewpoint” host, Eliot Spitzer and “The Young Turks” host, Cenk Uygur. California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom will join the panel for the RNC coverage.

Also, David Shuster and Michael Shure will report from both conventions and new Current TV hosts Joy Behar and John Fugelsang will contribute.

“I’m pleased to be participating in Current TV’s impressive line-up throughout the Republican and Democratic National Conventions,” said Gore. “Cenk, Jennifer and Eliot provide the keen insight and spot-on analysis our viewers have come to expect. I have no doubt that our coverage will be innovative and informative, and I look forward to working with them.”

Keith Olbermann‘s available, why didn’t they just…. oh right.

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July 2012 Ratings: CNN Continues to Struggle

Merrill Knox — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:31:26 +0000

CNN was down double digits across the board in July. Compared to July 2011, the network is -20% in Total Viewers and -23% in A25-54 in Total Day. In primetime, CNN is down -23% in Total Viewers and -26% in the demographic.

The ratings for July 2012:

Primetime (Mon-Sun): 488,000 Total Viewers / 149,000 A25-54

Total Day (Mon-Sun): 355,000 Total Viewers / 109,000 A25-54

Compared to the July 2011, Erin Burnett‘s 7pm hour — home last year to “John King USA” — is down -21% in both Total Viewers and younger viewers. “Piers Morgan Tonight” is down -18% in Total Viewers and -24% in A25-54 viewers. The 10pm edition of “Anderson Cooper 360″ is down -34% in Total Viewers and -36% in A25-54 viewers.

There is some good news for CNN in the 8pm hour of “AC360,” which is up +6% in the demographic and is the only cable news program in primetime to increase among younger viewers year-over-year.

Compared to last month, all of CNN’s daytime and primetime programs are up by double digits in both Total Viewers and A25-54 viewers. Burnett is up +12% in Total Viewers and +15% in the demographic, Cooper is up +27% in Total Viewers and +31% in the demographic, and Morgan is up +18% and +20%, respectively.

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Eliot Spitzer Adds Another TV News Gig

Alex Weprin — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:06:31 +0000

Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is adding yet another TV gig to his plate. Spitzer, who hosts the 8 PM program “Viewpoint” on Current TV, will become a regular panelist on NY1′s “Inside City Hall,” as part of the “Wise Guys.”

NY1 is a local cable news channel in New York City, owned by Time Warner Cable. The other “Wise Guys” are former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, and Senator Alfonse D’Amato.

Spitzer of course is the former co-host of “Parker Spitzer” and “In The Arena” on CNN. Neither program worked out, though clearly that has not stopped the former Governor from trying to make a public comeback via the media. “Inside City Hall” may not have the reach of CNN or even Current TV, but it carries clout among those in New York’s inner political circles.

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Q2 2012 Ratings: CNN Has Lowest-Rated Primetime Quarter Since 1991

Merrill Knox — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:19:48 +0000

CNN continued to struggle during the second quarter of 2012. The network had its lowest-rated quarter in 21 years (since 1991) in primetime, and in 11 years (since 2001) in Total Day.

The ratings for Q2 2012:

Primetime (Mon-Sun): 446,000 Total Viewers / 129,000 A25-54

Total Day (Mon-Sun): 319,000 Total Viewers / 95,000 A25-54

In Total Day, the network is down -35% in Total Viewers and -45% in the A25-54 demo. In primetime, CNN is down -35% in Total Viewers and -41% in the demographic. It is worth noting that Q2 2011 had several notable news events that boosted cable news ratings, including the death of Osama Bin Laden and the Royal Wedding.

“Erin Burnett OutFront” is down -33% in Total Viewers and -45% in the demo since last year, when John King was the 7pmET anchor. “Anderson Cooper 360″ at 8pmET is down -19% in Total Viewers and -23% in the demo compared to last year, when “In the Arena with Eliot Spitzer” aired in the timeslot. “Piers Morgan Tonight” is down -29% and -33%, respectively.

There is some good news for CNN in the form of monthly ratings. Compared to May 2012, which marked a 20-year ratings low for the network, CNN has grown +8% in Total Day and +6% in M-F primetime in June. Individual primetime programs have grown among younger viewers: Burnett’s program is up +24%, while Cooper’s is up +5% and Morgan is up +9% for the month.

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Current TV Taps Joy Behar To Host New Show

Alex Weprin — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:06:35 +0000

Current TV has tapped “The View” panelist, former HLN host and comedienne Joy Behar to host a new nightly program. The new show has a familiar working title (“The Joy Behar Show”) and will air at 6 PM on weekdays beginning in September. It will also be replayed later in the evening.

The format will be familiar to anyone who watched Behar’s HLN show, though there will be a twist. In addition to commentary by Behar and newsmaker interviews, the show will feature a rotating panel of satirists and political commentators, who will riff on the day’s news.

Behar will make her Current TV debut next week, when she fills in for 8 PM host Eliot Spitzer.

“Joy Behar is a beloved veteran television personality with her finger on the pulse of what viewers care about,” said Current TV Chairman and former Vice President Al Gore in a statement. “Millions of Americans tune in daily to hear her take on the issues along with her inimitable style. We are honored that Current TV will be Joy’s new primetime home.”

HLN canceled Behar’s show last November, replacing it with a rerun of “Nancy Grace.”

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