ABC ROMANCING BLOOMBERG NEWS

Rumors that ABC may partner with Bloomberg News took on new credence Monday as both Disney-ABC TV chief Anne Sweeney and ABC News President Ben Sherwood each indicated that a partnership with Bloomberg’s cable channel may be in the offing. NBC Universal has its own cable channel (MSNBC), as does Fox TV (Fox News Channel); CBS has a loose relationship with CNN. But ABC News has no cable partner. In an interview with Broadcasting & Cable, Sweeney said, “We’re very opportunistic. As we see opportunities to work together, we’ll certainly be talking to [Bloomberg] again, because we have tremendous respect for their business news.” And, at a news conference with the Television Critics Association in Pasadena, Sherwood remarked that “of course” he was considering a partnership with Bloomberg, then added, “How can you not think about partnering with an organization that has had the success Bloomberg has?”