Fox News threatens lawsuit over billboard

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Fox News threatens lawsuit over flamboyant billboard near CNN

 

Fox News Channel is threatening to take a sign company to court if it does not post a cheeky billboard tweaking archrival CNN.

 

Fox claims the owners of the billboard, across the street from CNN's Atlanta offices, refuse to post a message trumpeting Fox's successes in the ratings war between the cable networks.

 

In a letter obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, Fox lawyer Dianne Brandi suggests Atlanta company Camfaux LLC may have buckled to pressure from CNN not to put up the message.

 

"Should you choose not to put up the billboard immediately, we will consider all options available to us, including, of course, legal options," Brandi wrote.

 

The proposed sign would read: "Now That CNN's Ratings are Gone With the Wind, Our Work on This Board Is Done. We Love You Atlanta. Brought to you by your friends at FOX News Channel."

 

Below that message would be a less-than-subtle pitch to the hundreds of CNN employees who file past the board every day.

 

"Sign Up with America's Newsroom! Forward resumes to resumes(at)foxnews.com."

 

Fox officials demanded that the sign be changed by noon on Thursday. By about 4 p.m., it remained unchanged.

 

Camfaux president Tony Vergoven said his company owned the billboard when Fox began renting it in 1999 but has since sold it to Boardworks Outdoor Advertising, another Atlanta company.

 

"We have no control, or we'd be taking care of Fox," Vergoven said.

 

Boardworks officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.

 

CNN spokeswoman Megan Mahoney declined to comment. "Using space to say negative things about any competitor doesn't seem meaningful or relevant," she said.

 

Since 1999, the sign overlooking CNN Center has alternately trumpeted Fox's triumphs or taken jabs at CNN. It featured legal reporter Greta Van Susteren, shortly after she left CNN for Fox, and accused the network of lacking patriotism during the war in Iraq.

 

For the past several months it has read, "Come Home Connie. CNN Needs You." Connie Chung was fired abruptly in March 2003, not long after CNN founder Ted Turner called her "just awful" in an interview.

 

On a typical prime-time night during the last three months of 2003, Fox News Channel averaged 1.46 million viewers. CNN had 909,000 viewers and MSNBC had 293,000 viewers, according to Nielsen ratings.

 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...2003EDT0838.DTL

 

 

You know, they really do work hard to perpetuate the negative reaction and stereotype they receive.

[Firestarter 0]

Yeah, no kidding. If I were at Fox I wouldn't brag about having stolen van Susteren either. What, they think she's a great catch or something? After all that plastic surgery only one side of her mouth is capable of movement.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?showtopic=54700

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Yeah, no kidding. If I were at Fox I wouldn't brag about having stolen van Susteren either. What, they think she's a great catch or something? After all that plastic surgery only one side of her mouth is capable of movement.

Seriously, whenever I happen across her show I can't help but stare at her mouth. It's sad when you've had so much surgery that you can't even move half of your mouth.

[Toshiaki Koala 0]

Please, please let this be a joke.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

Umm...

 

Camfaux president Tony Vergoven said his company owned the billboard when Fox began renting it in 1999 but has since sold it to Boardworks Outdoor Advertising, another Atlanta company.

 

"We have no control, or we'd be taking care of Fox," Vergoven said.

 

So if this is true, what's the problem? Well ok I know what the problem is, Fox isn't getting their billboard, but if the above is true, then Camfaux has no control over it, so what exactly is the point of the lawsuit?

 

Between this, the franken lawsuit, and the threat of lawsuit against the Simpsons for their FOXNews gag, FSN is becoming the TV-news leader in perplexing silly lawsuits?

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I said it in GC, and I'll say it here:

 

First off I LOVE the name of the billboard owners.

 

Second off, I thought "satire" was OK. Golly Gee, CNN, you didn't seem to have a problem with Fanken making fun of everybody's favorite cable news channel in regards to the title of Al's last published book, but now you can't take a mean-old message on a billboard? Hypocrites.

 

It's almost as bad as ESPN running a Top-10 Blooper hightlight reel for the week and not including them getting schooled by that guy pretending to be that Cubs fan that "ruined" Chicago's World Series bid by trying to catch that foul ball...

[Slickster 0]

I don't remember CNN actively supporting Franken's book; that was an issue between him and Fox News.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Second off, I thought "satire" was OK. Golly Gee, CNN, you didn't seem to have a problem with Fanken making fun of everybody's favorite cable news channel in regards to the title of Al's last published book, but now you can't take a mean-old message on a billboard? Hypocrites.

So you believe CNN did pressure them not to put it up? Because even Fox doesn't know for sure, but still wants to sue over it anyway.

[Guest MikeSC]

Yeah, no kidding. If I were at Fox I wouldn't brag about having stolen van Susteren either. What, they think she's a great catch or something? After all that plastic surgery only one side of her mouth is capable of movement.

Well, she's...er...uh...ummm...UNCONVENTIONALLY attractive.

 

Yeah, that's it!

-=Mike

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

Van Susteren is a a walking ad for Botox.

 

As far as this issue is concerned, if Disney is free to choose whether or not to distribute fatso's movie (which I agree with), shouldn't this company be free to choose what signs they will agree to put up?

[Guest MikeSC]

Van Susteren is a a walking ad for Botox.

 

As far as this issue is concerned, if Disney is free to choose whether or not to distribute fatso's movie (which I agree with), shouldn't this company be free to choose what signs they will agree to put up?

You ever see Greta? I wouldn't use THAT face to advertise any cosmetic work.

 

If FNC bought the sign, then they have no right to determine what sign FNC puts up.

-=Mike

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

Van Susteren is a a walking ad for Botox.

 

As far as this issue is concerned, if Disney is free to choose whether or not to distribute fatso's movie (which I agree with), shouldn't this company be free to choose what signs they will agree to put up?

You ever see Greta? I wouldn't use THAT face to advertise any cosmetic work.

 

If FNC bought the sign, then they have no right to determine what sign FNC puts up.

-=Mike

Well, did they buy the sign, or did they just agree to rent the space? It's possible the owning company has the power to determine what it will or will not show on its sign.

[Guest MikeSC]

Van Susteren is a a walking ad for Botox.

 

As far as this issue is concerned, if Disney is free to choose whether or not to distribute fatso's movie (which I agree with), shouldn't this company be free to choose what signs they will agree to put up?

You ever see Greta? I wouldn't use THAT face to advertise any cosmetic work.

 

If FNC bought the sign, then they have no right to determine what sign FNC puts up.

-=Mike

Well, did they buy the sign, or did they just agree to rent the space? It's possible the owning company has the power to determine what it will or will not show on its sign.

Unless it says in the contract that the company has a right to refuse a sign for any reason (which I seriously doubt), there might be a problem.

 

The sign isn't profane. It doesn't violate any law whatsoever.

-=Mike

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

As far as this issue is concerned, if Disney is free to choose whether or not to distribute fatso's movie (which I agree with), shouldn't this company be free to choose what signs they will agree to put up?

My only beef with this is when everybody's favorite cable news channel had that stupid lawsuit regarding that unfunny Jew's newest book, CNN talked about it a few times, poking fun at everybody's favorite cable news channel.

 

Now the shoe is on the other foot and those bitches can't take the heat...

[Jobber of the Week 0]

^^ My guess is that's probably on talk shows like Crossfire, right? The difference between CNN and Fox, and the reason I watch CNN, is that there isn't stupid opinions like that in the middle of the actual hard news programs.

 

 

Well, that and the hosts don't shout down and jump to conclusions with the guests.

 

"So we should leave ourselves open for another 9/11?"

"No, but we should examine our policy to see what it is that makes the rest of the world..."

"Okay, we should leave ourselves open for another 9/11..."

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Most of the bits I seem to remember were on opinion shows, or toward the end of programs, where the host tends to let his opinion shine a bit.

 

And if you don't mind, give me an example of a "hard news" program on everybody's favorite cable news channel.

 

Oh, and I did watch CNN this past week, just to see a local Pittsburgh talk show host that I listen to all the time go on Paula Zahn's show. She's still hot, imo. Doen't mean I watch her show though...

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Most of the bits I seem to remember were on opinion shows, or toward the end of programs, where the host tends to let his opinion shine a bit.

 

And if you don't mind, give me an example of a "hard news" program on everybody's favorite cable news channel.

Daybreak, Live From..., Saturday (on now), and other "anchor at the desk introduces recorded piece, one after another with the occasional chat to a live person" style shows would be the hard news. Fox's equivelant would be StudioB, I guess, and that's the only show I can watch before Bill, Sean, and Greta come in and the stupidity meter starts reaching "High."

 

The not quite news shows on CNN would be the likes of Anderson Cooper 360, InsidePolitics (mostly just interviews with people who know how to spin), Crossfire. NewsNight straddles both ends which is probably why I don't like it. I don't have opinions of American Morning or Paula Zahn Now as I don't watch either.

 

Lou Dobbs used to be to the right during his "Moneyline" program, but since then it's switched to "Lou Dobbs Tonight" and he's become a huge protectionist in the wake of the current economy, the show is now basically a 60minute shame-fest directed towards companies that are outsourcing.

[BX 0]

Don't forget "Next at CNN". That isn't really news-related at all.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I said near news. I didn't say no news, which is all that cable in the classroom stuff.

[BX 0]

Oh.

[NoCalMike 0]

Hannity is hilarious on Fox News.......if the guest is anyone to the left of the righest of the right wing, his line of questioning/shouting will go something like this......

 

Hannity - "Mr. Adams, why do you hate america?

Mr. Adams - "I don't hate america"

Hannity - "yes you do"

Mr. Adams - "well I certainly have never said that, ever"

Hannity - "typical leftist extremist, not answering my question"

Mr. Adams - "what question?"

Hannity - "are you glad there are no more mass graves?"

Mr. Adams - "what exactly are we talking about here?"

Hannity - "Something I don't get about the left, is why they just won't come out and admit their hatred for america, and the american soldiers"

Mr Adams - "I, uhm, I......"

Hannity - "hold that thought, we have to go to a commercial break"

Colmes - *rolling his eyes* "Alright next up on Fox News, <insert lame-o country music star here> sings her brand new hit, "God Bless George W. Bush and the Republican Party, yeeeeeeehaw"

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

What I couldn't stand about that show is that the most interesting topics/guests are always slated for the final segment or two, and always rushed. I don't bother with that program anymore...

[Some Guy 0]

What I couldn't stand about that show is that the most interesting topics/guests are always slated for the final segment or two, and always rushed. I don't bother with that program anymore...

If you're talking abour H&C, I agree. They were advertising Thomas Sowell as being a guest and I kept flipping back all hour and getting more and more pissed that he hadn't come on yet. Then he finally does and he gets about 5 minutes of total air time, most of which Hannity or Colmes blabbered through. Sowell is a very inteligent economist, who rarely does media interviews, H&C are media schmucks, I wanted to hear Sowell, not them. I gave up on all of those shows a long time ago. O'Reilly's show started the downfall of H&C. Once Bill turned his show into an infomercial for his website, his books, his otehr appearances, Factor gear, his stupid website polls, etc... I stopped watching. Then Hannity decided that if Bill can do it, he can too. There went that show straight down the shitter.

 

About the sign: it is very low class. Everybody who works at CNN knows that Fox is kicking their ass. Reminding them and being consecending about it is stupid. If I worked for CNN and saw that sign it would make me want to work harder to kick their ass, not send my resume in to them. And I'll jump on the "why would you brag about stealing Greta?" bandwagon. I've never watched her show for more than five minutes. I don't care about (insert kidnapping victim/murder trial of the week) at all. Let alone enough to watch an hour dedicated to it.

[Guest MikeSC]

What I couldn't stand about that show is that the most interesting topics/guests are always slated for the final segment or two, and always rushed. I don't bother with that program anymore...

If you're talking abour H&C, I agree. They were advertising Thomas Sowell as being a guest and I kept flipping back all hour and getting more and more pissed that he hadn't come on yet. Then he finally does and he gets about 5 minutes of total air time, most of which Hannity or Colmes blabbered through. Sowell is a very inteligent economist, who rarely does media interviews, H&C are media schmucks, I wanted to hear Sowell, not them. I gave up on all of those shows a long time ago. O'Reilly's show started the downfall of H&C. Once Bill turned his show into an infomercial for his website, his books, his otehr appearances, Factor gear, his stupid website polls, etc... I stopped watching. Then Hannity decided that if Bill can do it, he can too. There went that show straight down the shitter.

 

About the sign: it is very low class. Everybody who works at CNN knows that Fox is kicking their ass. Reminding them and being consecending about it is stupid. If I worked for CNN and saw that sign it would make me want to work harder to kick their ass, not send my resume in to them. And I'll jump on the "why would you brag about stealing Greta?" bandwagon. I've never watched her show for more than five minutes. I don't care about (insert kidnapping victim/murder trial of the week) at all. Let alone enough to watch an hour dedicated to it.

Oh, Fox is unbearably childish about this --- if you are whupping somebody badly, telling them about it is not necessary.

 

HOWEVER, this is the same CNN that had such fine chiding FNC for suing Franken over his book title --- so it does seem a bit odd.

 

I guess it just shows that there are times where getting involved with the opposition's woes isn't worth it because when it gets reversed, you look bad.

-=Mike

[Styles 0]

I HATE to bring any type of wrestling analogy into Current Events (but it's a wrestling board so deal with it), but it eerily reminds me of Eric Bischoff and WCW's arrogance when they became number one and were consistently beating the long standing leaders Vince and the WWF. And we know how that turned out. Fox News shouldn't throw stones, because it could come back to bite them (dig the mixed metaphors! )...and I LIKE Fox News way better CNN.

 

...and I guess MSNBC could be ECW...or something...

[Guest MikeSC]

I HATE to bring any type of wrestling analogy into Current Events (but it's a wrestling board so deal with it), but it eerily reminds me of Eric Bischoff and WCW's arrogance when they became number one and were consistently beating the long standing leaders Vince and the WWF. And we know how that turned out. Fox News shouldn't throw stones, because it could come back to bite them (dig the mixed metaphors! )...and I LIKE Fox News way better CNN.

 

...and I guess MSNBC could be ECW...or something...

If you do a single "M - S - N" chant --- I will hurt you.

-=Mike

[MrRant 0]

Why would you hurt him for chanting for a website?

 

 

[Styles 0]

YOU FUCKED UP! YOU FUCKED UP! YOU FUCKED UP!

 

That's all I got.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I HATE to bring any type of wrestling analogy into Current Events (but it's a wrestling board so deal with it), but it eerily reminds me of Eric Bischoff and WCW's arrogance when they became number one and were consistently beating the long standing leaders Vince and the WWF. And we know how that turned out. Fox News shouldn't throw stones, because it could come back to bite them (dig the mixed metaphors! )...and I LIKE Fox News way better CNN.

 

...and I guess MSNBC could be ECW...or something...

I actually had this thought, too, but I put everybody's favorite cable news channel as the WWF when they took over WCW (CNN).

 

I'd put MSN as some backwoods indy fed, not ECW. Perhaps Al-Jazera is ECW -- they're XTREME after all.

 

Plus they probably broadcast from some parent's basement -- much like Heyman did...