Message To Network News Execs: Think Long-Term, Don’t “Cut, Cut, Cut”

Broadcasting & Cable’s John Higgins writes about network news operations in the long-term:

“All eyes are on ABC’s and CBS’ choices for new anchors and, at CBS, a new format for the show. But if you want to see the long-term future, study NBC. That’s because NBC News has the structure that every network finance executive envies” — NBC, MSNBC, MSNBC.com, CNBC, Telemundo, O&O’s, and I’ll add NBC Radio and NBC Mobile to the list.

“One thing is clear,” Higgins writes: “Network executives need to think forward, to build a newsgathering operation rather than take the typical path to short-term profits: cut, cut, cut.”