Paris beats presidential debates; only OBL could beat her
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117967852.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
Paris spikes King ratings Numbers beat previous presidential debates By MICHAEL LEARMONTH
CNN’s “hard news” rep took a hit, but Paris Hilton brought in the
viewers, as her exclusive tell-all with Larry King drew 3.2 million
viewers — more than triple King’s regular average.
Ratings for the Paris edition of “Larry King Live” exceeded those for
CNN’s last two presidential debates. CNN drew 2.78 million for its
debate between the Democratic contenders and 2.05 million for its
Republican debate, earlier in June.
“Someone said this is the second biggest guest you can get in the
world,” King told “Entertainment Tonight.” “The first would be Osama
Bin Laden. Now, what is that saying about us?”
King landed the Hilton interview after an embarrassing behind-the-
scenes auction in which NBC trumped ABC’s Barbara Walters by offering
the Hilton family close to $1 million for a production deal that
would include an interview on “Today” and “NBC Dateline.”
Walters, who acted as something of a family confidante during
Hilton’s incarceration, believed she’d landed the exclusive and was
incensed to learn ABC News had been outbid by NBC. ABC News had
agreed to pay close to $100,000 to license family photos and video
for a primetime “20/20″ special, with ABC execs characterizing the
sum as a reasonable license fee.
When NBC’s offer became public, the Hiltons backtracked and tried to
accept Walters’ initial offer, but she declined. NBC News said it
stopped pursuing a Hilton interview as well, so Hilton turned to
King, who offers a smaller audience but a gentle stop on the
celebrity rehab circuit.
CNN exhaustively promoted King’s “get,” including a countdown clock
during “Paula Zahn Now” in the preceding hour. Afterwards Anderson
Cooper showed his contempt for the story but nevertheless enlisted a
panel to “analyze” what had just transpired. “We can’t be above the
news of the moment,” he said at the top of “Anderson Cooper 360.”
Telecast was King’s highest-rated since 2005 but only his 53rd
highest-rated in 10 years at CNN, according to Nielsen Media
Research. Some 1.4 million adults 25-54 demo tuned in for Hilton,
more than three times King’s regular average.