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Pastimes : CNBC -- critique. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Thomas G. Busillo who wrote (2068)	12/14/1998 6:53:00 PM
From: Sandy	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 17683

I won't watch CNBC until this decision is reversed. The employees we see are competent and I too get the feeling decisions are made by shadowy employees listed on an archaic wiring diagram. CNBC has the obligation to its viewers to put Cramer on unless there are additional factors not known to us. I seriously doubt that to be the case. I've been so disappointed cable television is run just like the traditional networks. Today we had the latest instance of a guest being interrupted by the "computer". As if it had a life of its own. That's just damn rude. I never get accustomed to the clearing of throats, the OKs, uhhuhs, and other utterances when a host is feeling pressured to end an interview. It's all blamed on the clock as if the programming hour must be built on the laws of physics. There's no flexibility at all as there is increasingly in radio. Things will change but we'll probably have to pay for it. I'll gladly pay for premium cable or direct via internet. Someone like Cramer will start it and make a fortune. Interviews won't end until they cease to be interesting. The whole day will have the informality of Squawk but the host will have total authority to wing it. This is not meant as criticism of the on air people who most likely get pissed off more than we do. I'd hire every damn one of them.

To: Thomas G. Busillo who wrote (2068)	12/15/1998 8:43:00 AM
From: Mark Marcellus	Respond to of 17683

Seems to me that CNBC should do a better job of spelling out the ground rules to Squawk Box guests. Something like: 1) It is perfectly okay to come on and tout a stock for which your firm holds a massive inventory, and/or from which your firm hopes to get underwriting business in the future. If you do hold a position however, you are expected to discreetly acknowledge it if Mark Haines remembers to ask (don't expect to be asked by anyone else). 2) Under no circumstances say anything that might provoke individual investors to short a stock. Quietly downplaying a company's prospects or suggesting that "professionals" are short is okay, but don't expect to be invited on as often. 3) If you are Herb Greenburg, rule 2 does not apply because no one takes you seriously anyway, and the only shorts you talk about are ones where the "professionals" are already taking a beating. Just remember to giggle a lot so everyone knows you're just kidding. Hope this helps ;-). Mark