'Money Honey to Become Fox 'Fox'?

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After a 20-year run at CNBC, two-time Emmy winning business reporter Maria Bartiromo is leaving to join Fox Business Network ("FBN").

Credit the Drudge Report with the scoop on the departure of Bartiromo, one of CNBC's breakout stars, who acquired the sobriquet "Money Honey" in a career that also has included a stint at CNN, writing columns for USA Today and authoring three books. The 46-year-old Bartiromo will gain exposure reporting on Fox News, as well as FBN.

Among advertisers' favorite demographic group, those between the ages of 25 and 54, CNBC draws three times as many viewers as FBN.

Ex-NBA Great Scottie Pippen Moves Forward with Libel Suit

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeNBA Hall of Fame Forward Scottie Pippen, 46, has filed a defamation suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division against 10 Web sites, claiming the media defendants falsely alleged he had suffered more than $120 million in financial losses and had filed for bankruptcy, according to the BET (Black Entertainment Television) Web site.

The 17-page Complaint in Scottie Pippen v. Comcast Corp. et al. (Case No. 1:11-cv-08834) alleges defamation, negligence and false light against the defendants and reads as if it were prepared by an avid Chicago Bulls fan, replete as it is with Pippen's noteworthy scoring and rebound achievements. Among the media defendants in the suit are Comcast-owned CNBC, CBS Corp.,  Sportsreport360.com, Evolve Media Corp., Yakezie Network and the University of Tampa Minaret.

The plaintiff alleges he lost out on numerous endorsements and appearance fees because of the purportedly erroneous statements concerning his financial condition.

CNN Spitz the Bit; Aims to Re-Coop Ratings

Image via WikipediaPaltry ratings have led CNN to kick former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer to the curb, Politico reports.

Spitzer had rebounded somewhat from the disastrous ratings of Parker/Spitzer, which debuted in September 2010 (see "TUOL" posts 1/10/11, 9/8/10, 6/24/10), with his solo turn on In the Arena, but in the end, there weren't enough 25 to 54 year olds--advertisers' favorite demographic--sitting in the arena either. Spitzer's 8 p.m. slot will be filled beginning in August by Anderson Cooper's Anderson Cooper 360, which also will air at 10 p.m.

Former CNBC star Erin Burnett joins CNN's Prime-Time lineup in September with a gabfest that will air at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Piers Morgan, The Situation Room and John King USA will continue to be part of CNN's viewer-averse evening programming.  Not a Snookie or Real Housewife in the bunch.