Monday Newsline:Kaymer Snares US Open as NBC Era Ends

Germany's Martin Kaymer became the first man from his country to win the prestigious 114th US Open Sunday at Pinehurst Resort,North Carolina,and Comcast NBC Universal sadly marked its final broadcast of the storied golf tournament after 20 straight years of coverage.Kaymer,29,had previously won the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Sraits,Wisconsin;the World Number One ranking for eight weeks in 2011;10 tournaments on the European Tour-plus the Ryder Cup as a member of Team Europe;as well as the 2014 Players Championship a few weeks ago in Florida.
Kaymer's nine under par 72 blew away the rest of the field by a margin of at least eight strokes.His closest competitors were Americans Erik Compton and Ricky Fowler,who shared second at one under par.Compton,34,a survivor of two heart transplants who is happy to just be alive,became the sentimental favourite as he notched his best PGA showing ever.*
Europeans have taken the last two US Open trophies,with Englishman Justin Rose taking America's national championship last year.Speaking of Kaymer's performance,Ricky Fowler said that Martin was in his own golf tournamnet.Seeing how in control his golf game was kind of pushes me,becuase I was not far off.*
Phil Mickelson,44,was calm as he reflected on his road ahead.The Hall of Famer had carded a poor seven over par at Pinehurst as his putting seemed to desert him,but he looked forward to the next four or five years and the exciting courses on the US Open schedule.The US Open is the only one of the four majors he has yet to win,and only five other men have accomplished this grand slam of golf.*
Meanwhile,the broadcast booth was dealing with another kind of drama.NBC analyst Johnny Miller choked up as he and colleague Dan Hicks signed off.After 20 consecutive years of televising United States Golf Association events,Comcast's NBC Universal and partner Disney's ESPN were outbid by News Corp's Fox Sports last August for the next 12 years of USGA events,which besides the US Open include the US Senior Open,US Women's Open and USGA amateur events.Fox got a 12 year multimedia deal running from 2015 through 2026.Its winning bid was reportedly around 74 million dollars a year-twice what NBC/ESPN were paying.
Fox Sports has zero experience at golf coverage,so there's a big unknown for USGA golf fans in the years ahead.The USGA is the official governing body of the sport in the USA.*
US futures and Asian markets reflected concern about the Iraq crisis and the Federal Reserve possibly raising interest rates sooner rather than later.The S&P futures were down 6.78 points,while the Dow and NASDAQ futures dropped 48.0 and 9.66 points,respectively.Oil futures climbed 0.4%,and gold rose 0.6% as Treasury rates fell.Most Asian markets were down or virtually flat on the Iraq and Fed worries.The Nikkei was down 1.04%,while the Hang Seng fell 0.6% and the KOSPI was flat in Monday trading.
Comcast(CMCST A),News Corporation(NWS)

Children's Bodies Recovered;Hurricane Sandy Telethon Tomorrow

The bodies of two New York brothers who went missing during Hurricane Sandy's onslaught were recovered Friday in a Staten Island marsh.The boys,ages two and four,were swept away from their mother's arms by the storm surge.The bodies of two elderly people were found nearby.
Many people were still missing three days after the storm slammed into the East Coast.The US death toll was at 88 as of sunset Friday.
This is why the evacuation orders were issued,said FEMA director Craig Fugate.The storm surge can literally destroy homes;it's not just a matter of water flowing through the streets.
The first search was for the injured and the trapped;the next will be to go back and look for those still missing,Mr.Fugate explained.
Five million people were still off the electric grid as of sunset.Temperatures will be below normal for several days,dipping to freezing or below at night.It could be weeks before all of the power is back on.FEMA is marshaling utility equipment and crews in the West and flying them to the East using military assets,Mr.Fugate added.
Relief efforts have been bitterly criticised by frustrated victims of the disaster.They felt a sense of abandonment.Search and rescue was the first priority,Mr.Fugate stated;getting assistance in was next.Nine million dollars have already been approved for those who lack flood insurance and the resources to rebuild.
Friday at 8pm Eastern,a relief telethon will be broadcast live on the networks of NBC Universal and on NBC.com."Hurricane Sandy:Coming Together" will be carried by NBC;Bravo;CNBC;E!;G4;MSNBC;Style;Syfy;The Weather Channel;and USA.The Weather Channel will also rebroadcast the event at 11pm Eastern.
The one hour broadcast will be hosted by Matt Lauer and feature appearances by Sting;Christina Aguilera;Bruce Springsteen;Jon Bon Jovi;Billy Joel and others.It will benefit the American Red Cross efforts to provide food,water,shelter and counseling to Sandy victims.

Who Sings On The Liberty Mutual Commercial

It sounds like Cat Stevens on the Liberty Mutual "Doing The Right Thing" commercial.It isn't.The song is called "Amen,Omen."It is by the American singer songwriter Ben Harper.At a full length live performance,it was about seven minutes long,and close to six minutes long in the studio version.
Another hidden gem was uncovered for us by advertising.
"Responsibility:What's your policy?" is the compelling slogan for the Liberty Mutual commercials.Congratulations to the Boston ad agency Hill Holliday and the company for this effective corporate communications effort.It has generated thousands of positive emails from viewers.
The commercials are part of the company's "The Responsibility Project."It was conceived in 2005 when the firm made a push to become a top five insurer,instead of a top ten.According to insurance company rating firm A.M. Best,they have achieved that goal,being the third largest property casualty insurer in the U.S. as of 2010.
"The Responsibilty Project" also incudes a website with short films on the responsibilty theme as well as discussion videos and tips on property and casualty topics,along with the company's philanthropic efforts.NBC Universal has partnered with Liberty Mutual on the project,which Liberty Mutual says reflected the company's strong existing corporate culture.
The commercials may be viewed on YouTube.Ben Harper's music is widely available on the web.

Paula Deen Has Public Support,Poll Shows

Despite her being excoriated in the media by everyone from rival chefs to a TV medical consultant with NBC Universal,a Yahoo poll shows the public isn't buying their bitter criticism of celebrity chef Paula Deen,who has persisted in presenting heavy Southern-style cuisine while hiding the fact that she suffers from type 2 diabetes.Asked whether she should be in the hot seat,62% of the Yahoo readers said no,people are being overly critical,while 38% said yes,she's a hypocrite.
Deen,who was diagnosed three years ago but kept the news to her family while she pondered her next move,has at the same time signed an endorsement contract with Danish pharma titan Novo Nordisk,maker of the flex pen insulin delivery device.Deen hosts the program "Paula's Best Dishes" on the Food Network cable channel.With her sons Bobby and Jamie,she is spearheading the "Diabetes in a New Light" campaign.It is an initiative to help adults find simple ways to manage everyday challenges of type 2 diabetes,the company said.
Resources of the initiative will include how to prepare diabetes-friendly food without compromising taste;incorporating physical activity into everyday life;managing stress;and working with your doctor to find a treatment plan that works for you.The Deens will create modified,diabetes-friendly versions of their favorite recipes and appear at diabetes cooking events across the country,according to Novo Nordisk.
Deen says she will also continue to present her beloved Southern cuisine for consumption in moderation.
Novo Nordisk(NVO)

Who Owns msbnc.com

msnbc.com is a separate company from msnbc the cable channel.It is a 50/50 partnership between Microsoft and NBC Universal.msnbc.com is the news website for all of the NBC News family and Microsoft's MSN.According to Nielsen Online,it is the number one online news site in the U.S.
msnbc.com is considering a name change to safeguard its distinct identity.Its slogan is "A Fuller Spectrum of News."Comprehensive health news is one of the website's emphases.
The msnbc cable network went on the air on July 15,1996.For nine years,Microsoft and NBC Universal were equal partners in the venture.In December 2005,Microsoft sold most of its stake to NBC Universal.By 2007,Microsoft had entirely divested its holding in the channel.
In October 2010,msnbc openly acknowledged its approach as being politically progressive,although conservative views are also represented at times.
More than 78 million U.S. households have access to msnbc.It is also broadcast in various forms to Germany,South Africa,Europe,the Middle East and Canada.Its parent,NBC Universal,is now majority owned by Comcast,and General Electric owns the remainder of the company.
Comcast(CMCSA),General Electric(GE),Microsoft(MSFT)

Olympics Update:MSNBC Airs Bright Interview

Torah Bright,the Australian snowboarder who won the gold medal in the halfpipe event at Cypress Mountain,B.C.,was interviewed on MSNBC Friday evening.She won her medal on Thursday night.Lester Holt and Chris Jansing hosted Ms.Bright on the Vancouver waterfront.Ms.Bright,23,said she was congratulated by Kevin Rudd,prime minister of Australia,in a phone call Thursday night.Wearing an "Australia" t-shirt,she admitted her country was better known for its deserts and coasts than snow sports.She is engaged to be married,and described her competitors as being friends.Given to flashing her shy smile,the willowy athlete was warmly embraced by American snowboarder Kelly Clark,2002 gold medalist in the halfpipe event,following her clean performance.Holt and Jansing were cordial to the new star of her relatively young sport.
Following his victory in the Super G alpine skiing event,Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal was interviewed by NBC as well.These interviews followed criticism that NBC was overly focused on U.S. competitors at the games.

Commentary:Aussie Wins Halfpipe Gold

Australia's Torah Bright won the women's halfpipe snowboarding event at Cypress Mountain,B.C.Americans Hannah Teter,2006 gold medalist at Torino,and Kelly Clark,who won gold at Salt Lake City in 2002,garnered the silver and bronze,respectively.The competition was broacast live.Many of the athletes ended up on their backsides as they pushed the limits of their rapidly evolving sport,realizing that only a full effort could lift them to the podium.No one was injured.Those who washed out got up with a smile.It's not a sport where you take yourself too seriously.Of all the competitors,the snowboarders seem to be having the best time.They have a free-wheeling attitude that preserves them from the stresses of big time big money-at least somewhat.It also gives them an entree into the world of marketing to the younger set.
Ms.Bright,the gold medalist,was apparently not interviewed by NBC at all.It must be considered whether NBC's coverage has bordered on chauvinism.One sometimes has the impression that,if you're not an American athlete,you are given short shrift,because that is what NBC thinks is the viewers' attitude,and hence the surest path to big ratings.That may or may not be the case,but it isn't good journalism.

An Olympic Respite

The Winter Olympics will provide a welcome respite for weather beaten citizens.From mudslides to blizzards,this winter has been a burden for many,and deadly for a few.Two weeks of games in Vancouver will help us recover from the meteorological trials that have recently beset us.The spectacle of winter competition will be front and center from February 12-28.About 2500 athletes will participate in seven sports and 86 medal events.
Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined lead the games off on Friday at Whistler,British Columbia.Nordic Combined joins ski jumping with cross-country skiing.Six gold medals will be awarded on Saturday,and another five on Sunday,in a number of disciplines.Figure skating begins on Sunday.Many of the NBC channels will broadcast the games.Surely the diversion will improve the world's wellness and knowledge of aboriginal culture,which Canada is highlighting at the games.

Vivendi Holds the Key

French communications firm Vivendi SA holds the balance of power over General Electric and Comcast at this point.The conglomerate has the final say on whether Comcast can acquire NBC Universal from GE.The decision will be handed down within three weeks,according to Vivendi Chief Financial Officer Philippe Capron.Vivendi owns 20% of NBC-U,and must sell its stake to GE,if the deal is to go forward.Mr.Capron said they are not there yet.
Through its various holdings,Vivendi is number one in video games and music worldwide;number two in France telecom;number one in Morocco telecom;and number one in Pay-TV France.It owns 56% of video gamer Activision Blizzard and 100% of Universal Music Group.The Parisian firm is led by CEO Jean-Bernard Levy.
Receiving a journalism award at Arizona State University,NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams said nothing about the deal.He did mention that NBC News viewership is up from where it was last year,however.GE's decision to sell NBC-U has been cited by some observers as a sign of the fading away of broadcast television.
Vivendi shares trade on the over the counter pink sheets.Their ticker symbol is VIVEF.

A Moment of Pride

NBC Entertainment is obviously the one piece we need to improve on,CEO Jeff Zucker continued.We're paying the people of NBC Entertainment to go with their gut.NBC has been a part of GE for 21 years.They've been a fantastic parent.I hope it continues for at least another 21 years.The fact that we're tracking ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics,given what's happened to network television,is a tremendous accomplishment.The Chinese have a lot to be proud of.The Olympics hold a special place in my life.It's just an honor to be part of the Olympics,Mr.Zucker exclaimed.

NBC and GE

We need to embrace one another,Jeff Zucker,CEO of NBC Universal,said of his network and its parent company, General Electric(GE).We've had a very active 16 months in trying to reshape NBC Universal.The fact is,Jeff Immelt,CEO of GE,has been very clear that NBC is a very important part of GE.When the pipes work,there's nothing like it.Nobody has spent more on the media space than GE has on NBC Universal the past 16 months,Mr.Zucker revealed.Telemundo,the Spanish language network,remains an incredibly important part of NBC-U.It's been harder than we thought it would be to develop it.We need to continue to improve there,but I'm confident that will happen,Mr.Zucker asserted.

The Digital Moment

Record numbers of fans have been turning to NBC Olympics.com,CEO Jeff Zucker noted.It is a watershed moment for NBC.One of the great things is the tremendous use of our digital properties.We're going to come out of this Olympics with great digital knowledge.There's no question we still have to learn how to monetize the digital page views,Mr.Zucker admitted.

Inside Media:The Power of a Network

Jeff Zucker,CEO of NBC Universal,has been reviewing the first week of his network's Olympics coverage.It's been a great week for NBC Universal,Mr.Zucker concluded.The ratings have been terrific.Advertisers have asked to be let into the party.The great story is,this shows the power of network television.The pipes work.If you put on programs people want to watch,they'll show up.NBC paid 900 million dollars U.S. for exclusive access to the games.We've been able to bottle that excitement since the opening ceremony.NBC-U is providing 3600 hours of coverage,75% of it live,over its seven networks.

A Candid Admission

Speaking candidly,NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker admitted that its theme parks are suffering from the weak U.S. economy.Attendance and DVD sales are not what they've been.Nonetheless,box office and T.V. advertising are still strong.The video content on recently-acquired Hulu is premium,quality content,so advertisers are supporting it-unlike YouTube,Mr.Zucker stated.As for the parent corporation,Mr.Zucker said that,in the past 12 months,General Electric has been incredibly supportive of NBC Universal.GE CEO Jeff Immelt has made it clear that NBC-U is an important part of the GE portfolio.There's no question that consumer-facing businesses are struggling right now,Mr.Zucker said.I think it'll hold up pretty well for us,and the flip side is that we're making acquisitions,the media executive pointed out.

Acquisition Part of Big Move

The Weather Channel is the third most-distributed cable network,NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker noted.NBC-U has worked with co-acquirer The Blackstone Group before-on its Orlando theme parks.They have a lot of history with them,Mr.Zucker said.Launched on May 2,1982,The Weather Channel reaches 96 million homes.They have been great in their space,have owned their space for a long time.We're just thrilled they're a part of the NBC family,Mr.Zucker enthused.Although NBC remains an important part of NBC-U,there's been a big move-we've really moved to become a cable network company.The real strength of the company has become the cable portfolio,and that's going to continue in the years ahead,Jeff Zucker predicted.

Weather Channel Deal

NBC Universal,a division of General Electric(GE),is acquiring The Weather Channel from Landmark Communications for 3.5 billion dollars.The Blackstone Group(BX) and Bain Capital are also participating in the acquisition.Jeff Zucker,CEO of NBC-U,says that they are a news and information company.The cable portfolio is the backbone of who they are.NBC-U owns MSNBC,CNBC,Bravo,USA Network,Oxygen and Sci-Fi.The digital unit of The Weather Channel,weather.com,fits in NBC-U with 40 million unique monthly visitors.The deal,which is expected to close by the end of 2008,is leapfrogging NBC-U into whole new areas,Mr.Zucker maintains.They get a great strategic asset at a very fair price.