NBC Universal, which recently was the subject of a proposed transaction between General Electric (GE) and Comcast (CMCSA), is having a serious problem with The Jay Leno Show. It's not performing well in the ratings. But wait, there's more, as a typical infomercial narrator might intone: The Tonight Show isn't faring any better under the aegis of Conan O'Brien.

Worse, the issues with the 10 PM Leno programming asset go beyond just his ratings. The show is exerting a negative halo effect over the local newscasts. If you don't have a strong lead-in, then the content that follows will suffer.

Continue reading The Leno/O'Brien Puzzle: What Should NBC Do?

The Leno/O'Brien Puzzle: What Should NBC Do? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Well, I still feel this is a risky move, but I do have to say that an article by Scott Collins over at the Los Angeles Times has piqued my interest in the expected economical benefit that Leno-at-10 might imply. Leno might not bring in a ton of eyeballs, but his profit margin could be acceptable given the lower capital necessary to fund his extravaganza.

Continue reading Should GE shareholders be happy about 'The Jay Leno Show'?

Should GE shareholders be happy about 'The Jay Leno Show'? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I found myself writing about General Electric's (NYSE: GE) NBC the other day, specifically about CEO Jeff Zucker's apparent flummoxed realization that radical changes may be needed to stanch the ratings erosion that have plagued the major broadcast networks in this brave new media world. Now, I have another, equally interesting subject to look at: Jay Leno will be given a talk show after he hands The Tonight Show over to Conan O'Brien. The program will air on weeknights from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

As we all probably know by now, NBC was intent on having O'Brien take over Leno's position as a way of ensuring that he would stay at the network. Leno, as one would imagine, reportedly hated giving the job up. NBC, however, did not want Leno to head over to another network. Supposedly, Disney's (NYSE: DIS) ABC was perhaps interested in taking Leno on. So, the powers that be at the Peacock net have secured the services of Mr. Leno by offering him the chance to do something new: namely, distribute his schtick at an earlier time.

Okay, I'll tell you, I think this is a ridiculous idea. On many levels. Let's talk about level one: is this even going to work? Do people want to see Leno at 10 p.m.? Hey, maybe they will. But I get the feeling that this might be too much of a change for people used to seeing Leno at 11:30. Let's go to level two: why does NBC want to program what would essentially be two Tonight Shows? Won't there be some cannibalization going on here? You always hear media companies whining about cannibalization.

Continue reading Should NBC have let Leno go?

Should NBC have let Leno go? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Ask not for whom the writers strike tolls

Ask not for whom the writers strike tolls originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

IAC planning a comedy news website called 23/6 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Jay Leno leery of leaving The Tonight Show?

Jay Leno leery of leaving The Tonight Show? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When I read this lead in an article in the New York Times, I couldn't believe my eyes: "When a group of economists argued recently that Americans might be saving too much for retirement ...." This reminds me of something that I saw in a book of highlights from the Headlines segment of Jay Leno's Tonight Show, where readers send in funny headlines from newspapers and advertisements. The headline read: "Postal Service looks to deliver mail more slowly."

If Americans are indeed saving more than is necessary for retirement, is that really a big problem? With the national savings rate below zero, how can less than nothing be more than enough? According to a survey released by Fidelity Investments (in rebuttal to the argument), the average American saves only enough money to generate 58% of their pre-retirement income, less than the 65% that the economists said was a realistic estimate of how much would be required.

So who are we to believe? I would advise people to err on the side of saving more than is enough. It's kind of like a friend I have who claims to be atheist but goes to church regularly: "If I'm right and there is no god, I'll have wasted a couple hours of my time each week. If I'm wrong and don't go to church, I'll be in deep (trouble)."

One sentence that no one will ever utter during their retirement: "Ugh, I just saved too much money for this. I have no idea what to do."

Saving for retirement: How much is too much? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Jimmy Fallon to take over Conan's spot on NBC? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GE after the bell 08/08/06: Will Miami Vice help Universal out of the doldrums? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.