From Deseret News archives:
Uncoupling NBC's 'Coupling'
It's not something I probably would have done under any circumstances, given my antipathy for Bill O'Reilly and his brand of pseudo-news and commentary. But I didn't even consider it, given that they wanted me to go on and argue KSL's case. (Ch. 5 execs were smart enough to have declined an interview request at that point.)
Despite the fact that the Deseret Morning News and KSL share ownership, I'm not going to act as the station's spokesman. Given the disagreements I've had at times over the years with station management, that's probably also the last thing they would want.
I have always defended KSL's right to make programming choices like this. I wish more local stations would stand up to their networks and maybe we'd see a change in the tenor of network programming.
Let's ignore the fact that KSL owns not only the station but the broadcast license. And that, like any other business, it can decide what it wants to sell.
The fact is that there is a Big Brother-like aspect to network programming decisions. A bunch of NBC executives sitting in New York and Los Angeles decide what they're going to beam into your homes.
This frightens you less?
Quite a number of e-mailers took umbrage at comments NBC Entertainment president Jeff Zucker made to TV critics about "Coupling" that "America is ready for it" and, "If there's outrage over 'Coupling' . . . that is good for us." That's the type of bottom-line cynicism that pervades network programming decisions.
This frightens you less?
I'm not exactly jumping on KSL's bandwagon, however. In the case of "Coupling," I have no problem with the decision. My problem is with the station's inconsistency.
Comments
- Family recounts CO experience 5:18 p.m.
- Gift-giving students win contest 5:16 p.m.
- 2 men face child porn charges 5:15 p.m.
- Davis' 2010 budget leaner than 2009 5:13 p.m.
- Woods to take leave from golf 5:13 p.m.
- Regents approve college merger 5:12 p.m.
- Odor clears out BYU Bookstore 5:09 p.m.
- New plans for Sandy Proscenium land 3:27 p.m.
- Holladay development appeal denied 2:59 p.m.
- BYU bug to aid in soil cleanup 2:50 p.m.
- Letters: Global warming a lie
272 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
207 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
195 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
169 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
151 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
143 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
134 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
130 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110
If all three of the Utahns still competing on "So You Think You Can...
What a bunch of lies. Wall Street failures didn't plunge America into a...
Surely you don't own more than one pair of shoes, do you? Probably...
Nice try. I never said there weren't good arguments against depleted...
RE: Dennis Look at "list of countries by firearm-related death rate" on...
How come no one explains how these teams are picked? I know a player that 2...
I am a-shamed of this Dr Skeem, pronounced scheme by coincidence. She is...
Libs always name call. Thats all they have in their tank. If we can make...
for the NCAA to put a ban on coaches' hirings until after the bowls. If that...
I for one do not want to see them get their million dollar bonuses until they...
Waterboard this guy, if he truly does not know. Say your sorry.....




You can be the first to comment on this story.