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'Exclusive' Battle Of Network News Divisions

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 10, 2009

It was the hero pilot versus the mother of octuplets in the battle of the morning show exclusives on Monday.

CBS, having cornered the market on "exclusive interviews" with pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and the crew that guided US Airways Flight 1549 to a safe landing in the Hudson River in January, devoted the entire "Early Show" to them.

Meanwhile, NBC's "Today" chatted it up for the first time with Nadya Suleman, the single mom who now has 14 children.

According to an Associated Press report, there's been some ugly behind-the-scenes maneuvering to get these interviews and keep other media away.

Reportedly, Matt Lauer had been promised the first interview with Sullenberger, but it was delayed by aviation officials because of an investigation into the accident.

By the time he was available, CBS' Katie Couric had snared the interview.

Her interview, which was outstanding, ran on "60 Minutes" on Sunday night, posting excellent ratings during this sweeps month.

But apparently the CBS "exclusive" agreement included veto power over other media access to Sullenberger and the flight crew, according to the AP.

The Associated Press was not even allowed to photograph Sullenberger and his family Sunday night at a Broadway performance of "South Pacific."

CBS and Couric have had access to Sullenberger and the crew since last week. Sully and the crew appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday morning.

Lauer reportedly made his original arrangements with Sullenberger's wife.

The family soon hired their own public relations representative, however, who started making deals. And then the pilots unions' and flight attendants unions' representatives tried to get into the action, as did US Airways.

AP reports that an official for the pilots union unsuccessfully tried to slap on conditions to get the interviews.

Sullenberger's representatives went back to "Today" to try for another interview on Monday. But the show reportedly said the only way it would have the pilot on was if it was given a morning show exclusive, which was refused.

"Today" countered with Ann Curry's interview with the mother of octuplets.

That interview also is a bit controversial. It continues tonight on a special "Dateline: NBC" at 10 p.m.

At one point, there were reports that Nadya Suleman wanted to sell her story for as much as $2 million. She also hired a press agent. But NBC says the network didn't pay for Curry's interview with the controversial mother.

Although network news divisions have policies that prohibit payment for interviews, it's a common practice in television to compensate sources with hotel rooms, first-class airfare, meals, traveling expenses, even Broadway show tickets and so-called "licensing fees" for personal photos and video footage.

GO DANCING: ABC says the new season of "Dancing With the Stars" will feature computer guru Steve Wozniak, along with husband-and-wife competitors Jewel and Ty Murray and football great Lawrence Taylor.

The rest of the field: singers Belinda Carlisle, Chuck Wicks and Lil' Kim; actors Denise Richards, David Alan Grier and Gilles Marini; Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson; Steve-O of MTV's "Wildboyz" and TV host Nancy O'Dell.

MARVELOUS MARVIN: Fans of Marvelous Marvin Boone, a DJ who was let go from WRBQ, 104.7 FM, last year, can find him this week on WBBA, 820 AM, where he is filling in for Mark Larson. You can chat with Boone between 6 and 9 a.m. through Friday at 1-866-977-4820.

A fan support rally for ousted WRBQ personalities (including Boone and Bill Connolly) is planned for 4 p.m. Feb. 21 at Quaker Steak and Lube in Pinellas Park.

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