In yet another sign of the decline of network television news, General Electric Co.'s (NYSE: GE) NBC dumped "Dateline" anchor Stone Phillips. He won't be the last high-priced talent to be shown the door.

As ratings continue to decline for news programs at NBC, Walt Disney Co.'s (NYSE: DIS) ABC and CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) profit pressures are intensifying as shareholders demand to see a return for the money being poured into these shows.

That's why Phillips won't be earning nearly as much at his next job as the $7 million USA Today says he earned at NBC. Odds are best that he'll wind up at News Corp's (NYSE: NWS) Fox News Channel, Time Warner Inc.'s (NYSE: TWX) or another cable network such as the Discovery Channel which is now home to former "Nightline" anchor Ted Koppel.

In the wake of Philips' departure, TV personalities up and down the dial are probably quaking in their designer clothes wondering whether they will be next. It's a well-founded fear.

Networks are less patient than ever.

If entertainment programs don't immediately catch on, they are gone after a handful of episodes. Ratings are just as important to news programs. Though nightly news programs have been in decline for years, they still make good money for the networks.

Ratings points translate into advertising sales which translates eventually into profits. No TV star is immune from fiscal realities.

That's why Philips got pushed out the door. "Dateline" has morphed into a program dedicated to catching pathetic sex offenders. His services as a newsman were no longer needed.

Media World: Who's next after NBC's Stone Phillips? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 May 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Katie Couric draws worst news ratings for CBS since 1987 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 May 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE) really wants to boost the faltering ratings at NBC's "Nightly News with Brian Williams," it should bring in Keith Olbermann.

The host of MSNBC's popular "Countdown" show is far from traditional anchor material. He's loud, occasionally obnoxious and extremely In other words, he's interesting and people will watch him even if they don't agree with his political views.

Brian Williams doesn't have to be replaced; Olbermann would serve as a good counter-point to the affable anchor who was anointed by Tom Brokow as his successor. Maybe Olbermann can have a Lou Dobbs commentator role on the show. Something has to be done.

The worst kept secret in TV news is that NBC News plans to fire John Reiss as executive producer of the "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" because of declining ratings. That's not surprising. NBC needs to think outside the box -- the TV box that is -- to make the show more relevant. I know that's easier said than done but too much money is at stake for NBC not to take a chance.

NBC, Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) and CBS Corp. (NYSE:CBS) all count on the news shows to boost their bottom lines. The audience, though old and declining, is too big for advertisers to ignore at least for now.

Morning programs are a much bigger cash cow. That's why ABC was reluctant to send the popular Charles Gibson away from "Good Morning America." The network had little choice but to turn to the 63-year-old Gibson after "World News Tonight" anchor Bob Woodruff got seriously hurt in Iraq and Elizabeth Vargas got pregnant and decided to go on leave. Gibson turned out to be the right move because the program's ratings are surging.

Katie Couric was brought in with great fanfare by CBS and hasn't done much to boost the program's popularity. People seemed to like Bob Schieffer better. CBS brass says they are sticking by Couric, but I question how long that will go on. No one likes to be third in a three-way contest.

NBC should promote Keith Olbermann to boost Nightly News originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Mar 2007 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.