JAY LENO - MSNBC.COM RUNS ANTI-LENO ITEM

MSNBC.COM RUNS ANTI-LENO ITEM

Now even MSNBC.com, whose corporate sibling, NBC, made the decision to broadcast The Jay Leno Show at 10 00 p.m. each night, has joined the number of media outlets criticizing that decision. In an article that appeared on the site Monday, veteran Canadian TV newspaper critic Bill Brioux, now a regular columnist for MSNBC.com, observed that Leno's press coverage keeps deteriorating. He cited numerous devastating reports in such publications as Broadcasting & Cable, MediaWeek, Advertising Age , and the New York Times. Brioux also cited earlier remarks by NBC executives that the Leno show can turn a profit even with a 1.5 rating among the 18-49 demo. "But the numbers have dipped below even that low threshold," he noted. Brioux quoted Marc Berman, who tracks ratings for MediaWeek as saying, "It's an enormous flop."

10/11/2009