Jon Stewart: Rebuked by NBC boss

Jon Stewart: Rebuked by NBC boss

On Wednesday comedian Jon Stewart was being fired back by NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker. Mr Zucker said that it was "unfair" and "absurd" for the funnyman to condemn CNBC and question its coverage of financial news.

"Everybody wants to find a scapegoat. That's human nature." "But to suggest that the business media or CNBC was responsible for what is going on now is absurd." Zucker said so during a keynote address at a media industry conference.

"Just because someone who mocks authority says something doesn't make it so," added Zucker by describing the comments of Jon as "completely out of line."

Zucker's comments are the latest bombardment in a war of words with Jon Stewart, who hosts the mock news program "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" on the Comedy Central cable television network that is owned by Viacom Inc.

Stewart has blasted CNBC's reporting of the financial market meltdown, saying the channel was too cozy with corporate chiefs and key government officials.

While speaking at the McGraw-Hill Media Summit in New York on Wednesday, Zucker, said that CNBC's reporters and commentators had done a "terrific" job and the network remained a "go-to" place for financial news.

Zucker continued, "It's unfair to CNBC and to the business media in general," "I don't think you can blame what happened here on the business media."

Speaking later at the same event, Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman defended Stewart, who is amongst the top stars of his company's Comedy Central network.

"He's very smart and has a connection with the zeitgeist," "Jon Stewart's one of the few people on air who spoke to what people were thinking out there," added Dauman when being asked about he controversy.

Earlier, Zucker, whose NBC Universal also owns the NBC broadcast network, cable channels like Bravo and USA, theme parks and a film studio, also said that he felt the public was tired of hearing the media blamed for its coverage of financial news.

He continued, "Frankly, I already think you're seeing a backlash."

Zucker also noted that the financial crisis has bolstered audience ratings of CNBC and said that he expected all the viewers to stick to the cable network even if the economy remains mired in recession.

He said, "When there is a lot of red on the screen, historically people don't want to watch that," "That is absolutely not the case this time. I don't think this is like those other times."