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On the air

By TIMES WIRES
Published October 27, 2006

Biz tidbits from and about television and radio

Rose prickly over Wal-Mart criticism

It was a coup even for Charlie Rose: an interview with the camera-shy CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, H. Lee Scott Jr. During the interview, broadcast Aug. 1, Rose repeatedly asked Scott about his favorite topic, Wal-Mart's new environmental initiative. Now, less than three months later, Rose honored Scott for his work on behalf of the environment at a private dinner party, paid for by Bob and Harvey Weinstein's production company, the Weinstein Co. The timing of interview and dinner raised the eyebrows of Michael Getler, the ombudsman at PBS, which distributes Rose's talk show. "Don't do this," was Getler's unsolicited advice to Rose. "As the host of one of the most respected and popular public affairs shows distributed on public broadcasting, you have an obligation not to do anything that could be seen by viewers as even a possible conflict of interest." Rose does not see a conflict. "If I go somewhere and do something that is an appreciation of somebody I have interviewed in the past, that is not a conflict of interest," he said.

On Mad Money

6 p.m./9 p.m./midnight most weekdays, CNBC

Jim Cramer suggested these stocks on his CNBC show this week:

Google Inc. (GOOG): The owner of the most-used search engine is worth buying because price-to-earnings ratio is lower than other well-run companies, Cramer said, adding that his $560 price target for Google is "conservative" because its price-to-forward earnings ratio of 40 is less than that of such companies as Starbucks Corp. and Whole Foods Market Inc. while its growth rate is larger.

Netflix Inc. (NFLX): Cramer reversed his recommendation and said the largest provider of movie rentals via the mail is worth buying. Netflix has a 40 percent growth rate and little competition from Blockbuster Inc., Cramer said, who noted the company's proprietary software.

Bare Escentuals Inc. (BARE): The company's cosmetics are a fad, making the stock likely to decline, Cramer said, adding that the stock was reminiscent of Sealy Corp. in that the initial public offering aimed to make money for a leveraged buyout company, rather than for small investors. Sealy's stock has declined since he recommended it.

[Last modified October 27, 2006, 01:07:42]