They weren't exactly side by side, by News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch and Cablevision chief James Dolan had the chance, separated by less than 12 hours, to talk to the financial press about their companies' bids for Newsday.
What a difference those hours made, according to Devin Leonard of Fortune. Murdoch was bold, speaking freely of his interest in Newsday, how it could help his company and why the suburban daily would be his within a week.
Meanwhile, Dolan was nearly tongue-tied when the subject that he must have expected--Cablevision's interest in Newsday--came up. He didn't even decline comment crisply and sounded a bit put out that people kept asking about it.
Victory doesn't always go to the bold, but Leonard didn't have anything positive to say about Dolan and the Cablevision did--even though it's reported to be $70 more than Murdoch's.
--Noel Rubinton