America's Talking
Encyclopedia
America's Talking, a cable television channel created by NBC
and spun off from CNBC
, was launched on July 4, 1994. The headquarters were based in an office building in Fort Lee
, New Jersey
, 2 floors below CNBC's original studios, on Fletcher Avenue. Roger Ailes
founded America's Talking and later took over CNBC
.
. In January 1996, NBC
announced plans to partner with Microsoft
to launch MSNBC
on cable and online with the satellite transponder that America's Talking occupied, effectively ending the life of the network. America's Talking officially signed off on July 15, 1996, after Ailes had departed NBC and been hired by Rupert Murdoch
to launch the Fox News Channel
for News Corporation
, and was replaced at 9 a.m. by MSNBC Live
, hosted by Jodi Applegate
.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and spun off from CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
, was launched on July 4, 1994. The headquarters were based in an office building in Fort Lee
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 2 floors below CNBC's original studios, on Fletcher Avenue. Roger Ailes
Roger Ailes
Roger Eugene Ailes is president of Fox News Channel, chairman of the Fox Television Stations Group. Ailes was a media consultant for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W...
founded America's Talking and later took over CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
.
Programming
The programming was mainly focused on low-budget talk shows, and included the following lineup:- America's Talking A.M. - A morning talk show, hosted by Steve DoocySteve DoocyStephen James "Steve" Doocy is an American network-television personality on the Fox News Channel, journalist, and a best selling author.-Early life:...
and Kai Kim, with Tony Morelli as "the Prodigy Guy". - Am I Nuts? - (later named State of Mind) hosted by Psychologist Bernie Katz and Behavioral Therapist Cynthia Richmond.
- What's New? - The latest hot gadgets, hosted by Mike JerrickMike JerrickMichael Eugene Joseph Jerrick was the co-host with Juliet Huddy of the morning program The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, which began in January 2007. The last "live" episode of the show aired on June 12, 2009...
and later Brian Tracey. - Break A Leg with Bill McCuddy - Mid-afternoon chatfest hosted by the winner of a CNBC-sponsored talent contest, Bill McCuddyBill McCuddyBill McCuddy was an American entertainment reporter.McCuddy, who had previously been employed in the field of advertising, began his broadcasting career in 1994 after winning a talk show host contest on CNBC featuring unknown participants. His reward was a contract to host a program that would air...
. Featured celebrities and musical acts. - Alive and Wellness - Healthy living by holistic methods, hosted by Carol Martin.
- Ask E. Jean - A call-in advice show hosted by writer E. Jean CarrollE. Jean CarrollE. Jean Carroll is an American journalist and advice columnist. Her “Ask E. Jean” column has appeared in Elle magazine since 1993, and was ranked one of the five best magazine columns by the Chicago Tribune in 2003.Born Elizabeth Jean Carroll in Detroit,...
. - Have a Heart - A talk/news show discussing the brighter side of the news and show-arranged charitable situations, hosted by Lu Hanessian.
- Pork - A political talk show focusing on government waste hosted by John David Klein. The executive producers were Robin Gellman and Dennis Sullivan.
- AT In-Depth - A two-hour news/talk show focusing on the day's top stories, co-hosted by Terry Anzur in Fort Lee and Chris MatthewsChris MatthewsChristopher John "Chris" Matthews is an American news anchor and political commentator, known for his nightly hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, which is televised on the American cable television channel MSNBC...
in Washington. Matthews later got his own show (see below) and the show became "In Depth Coast to Coast" with Anzur in Burbank, CA, and John GibsonJohn GibsonJohn Gibson may refer to:*John Gibson , British architect*John Gibson , English cartographer and engraver*John Gibson , English cricketer...
in Fort Lee. - Straight Forward - A celebrity hour-long talk show, hosted by the President of the network, Roger AilesRoger AilesRoger Eugene Ailes is president of Fox News Channel, chairman of the Fox Television Stations Group. Ailes was a media consultant for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W...
. - Bugged! - A comedic look at what bugs people, hosted by Brian O'ConnorBrian O'ConnorBrian O'Connor may refer to:*Brian O'Connor , head coach of the University of Virginia baseball team*Brian O'Connor , bassist for rock band Eagles of Death Metal*Brian O'Connor , Queensland opening bowler of the 1930s....
with Bill Gulino - R&R with Roger Rose - A late-night themed talk show featuring the latest music and celebrities
- After Hours - This show replaced "R&R", was basically the same format, hosted by Brian Tracy and Bill Gulino. The show was eventually moved over to CNBC where it was hosted by Mike Jerrick.
- Politics with Chris MatthewsChris MatthewsChristopher John "Chris" Matthews is an American news anchor and political commentator, known for his nightly hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, which is televised on the American cable television channel MSNBC...
- This show is the only show from America's Talking still on the air (as of 2010). After moving over to CNBC during the rampdown of America's Talking, the show was renamed Hardball with Chris MatthewsHardball with Chris MatthewsHardball with Chris Matthews is a talk show on MSNBC, broadcast weekdays at 5 and 7 PM hosted by Chris Matthews. It originally aired on now-defunct America's Talking and later CNBC. The current title was derived from a book Matthews wrote in 1988, Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who...
and eventually moved to MSNBC, where it still airs nightly at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. - Cable Crossings-A minute-long serial that aired between programs, written by Marv Himelfarb, featuring Brian Fraley Music written by Bill Gulino
Demise
While America's Talking had something of a cult following, it was not successful in the ratingsNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
. In January 1996, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
announced plans to partner with Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
to launch MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
on cable and online with the satellite transponder that America's Talking occupied, effectively ending the life of the network. America's Talking officially signed off on July 15, 1996, after Ailes had departed NBC and been hired by Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
to launch the Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
for News Corporation
News Corporation
News Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
, and was replaced at 9 a.m. by MSNBC Live
MSNBC Live
msnbc Live is an American news / talk television program on MSNBC hosted by Thomas Roberts.Focusing on live news coverage, the program also consists of guest analysis and interviews around the stories of the day, in addition to feature-like stories, in-depth special reports, and The Weather Channel...
, hosted by Jodi Applegate
Jodi Applegate
Jodi Applegate is an American news anchor for WPIX New York. She formerly anchored WNYW-TV's Good Day New York and News 12 Long Island.-Life and career:...
.