Snow Heads to ‘Morning America’
Up-and-coming CNN congressional correspondent Kate Snow’s star is set to rise at ABC News, where she is about to become White House correspondent for “Good Morning America” and to back up chief White House correspondent Terry Moran. In circles where Ms. Snow’s talent and ABC News’ broad interest in her are known, there was talk that she can expect opportunities to substitute for “GMA” anchors, but an ABC News spokesperson labeled that “speculation.” Her agent, Henry Reisch of the William Morris Agency, declined to comment.
CNN, which had hoped to keep Ms. Snow, issued a statement today saying: “Kate is a first-rate journalist. We wish her great success and are grateful for her many contributions to CNN.”
Ms. Snow got her start in radio and as a producer for CNN in the mid-’90s and went off to serve a stint as reporter and anchor for KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, N.M., before returning to CNN in 1998 as a correspondent for its Newsource affiliate service. She graduated to general assignment status on the news network, which named her congressional correspondent in January 2001.
In addition, her profile was raised as a panelist on “On the Story,” the weekend program that showcases women correspondents and anchors at CNN, and with a stint as co-host of “Saturday Edition” with fellow congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl.
Vivendi Narrows the Field: Vivendi Universal has moved one step closer to picking a suitor for its entertainment assets, narrowing the list of potential bidders after reportedly eliminating an investment team led by oilman Marvin Davis from the list of contenders, The Wall Street Journal Online reported today.
That leaves Liberty Media, General Electric’s NBC, MGM and an investment team led by Vivendi Universal Vice Chairman Edgar Bronfman Jr. Viacom has also expressed interest in Vivendi Universal’s cable channels, and has left the door open to bid on those assets later.
According to the Journal report, the remaining five bidders have been instructed to return with new bids within 10 days to two weeks, and to limit the offers to the French conglomerate’s Vivendi Universal Entertainment unit, which includes a film studio, a television production operation and cable channels USA and Sci Fi.
Bidders were instructed not to vie for the company’s music group in the second round of bidding, as Vivendi Universal’s board decided today that it will keep the music group for now in the hope of selling it at a higher price later.
Emmis Reports Q1 Profit: Radio and television station owner Emmis Communications today swung to a fiscal first-quarter profit, buoyed by growth in its core businesses.
The Indianapolis-based media company reported a profit of $2.6 million for the three months ended May 31, compared with a year-earlier loss of $165.6 million. On a per-share basis, the profit translated to 1 cent vs. red ink of $3.28 a share in 2002. Wall Street was projecting a profit of 2 cents a share for the 2003 period. Revenue for the company, which owns 16 TV stations and 27 radio stations, rose more than 4 percent to $142.4 million from a year-earlier level of $136.8 million.
“We are encouraged by the first-quarter numbers, and with such strong performance indicators, there is certainly cause for continuing optimism as we look to the second quarter,” Emmis CEO Jeffrey Smulyan said in a statement.
Bell Upped at Court TV: Art Bell has been named president and chief operating officer of Court TV.
The elevation of Mr. Bell from the position of executive VP, programming and marketing, comes one day after Dick Beahrs, president and COO since 1999, announced his retirement.
In addition to his current responsibilities for programming, production, creative services and marketing, along with corporate communications, Mr. Bell will now also oversee affiliate relations and ad sales too.
Also at Court, Galen Jones has been named to the newly created position of executive VP, chief corporate strategist.
Mr. Jones moves over from his current position as executive VP, strategy and planning, and general manager of Court TV Online. In addition to his current responsibilities for long-range planning, new business and research, as well as for Court TV’s three Web sites, Mr. Jones will include oversight in the financial area in his portfolio.
Both promotions are effective immediately and both executives will report to Henry Schleiff, the network’s chairman and CEO.