How CBS' Katie Couric Became an (Accidental) Auto Industry Shill

You may be wondering what CBS's most famous journalist is doing introducing a promotional video aimed at car-dealership owners.

CBS News was wondering the same thing after seeing a clip created by the Automotive Broadcasting Network, a programming venture created two years "to assist automobile dealerships with selling more products and services in a totally unique and professional manner." ABN is "fueled by CBS," which provides content, via the CBS Outernet unit, in the form of entertainment and news clips meant to keep customers entertained while they hang out in dealership waiting rooms, waiting for their cars to be serviced.

The partnership itself isn't unusual. NBC Universal (GE) has a similar deal with American Airlines (AMR), while CNN distributes its content via an airport network and another that runs in doctors' waiting rooms.

But ABN took the partnership somewhere it was never intended to go when it used a snippet of Couric in a marketing piece that deplores the "negativity" of the news and its unfortunate effect on car-buying. One example of this negativity cited in the video (flagged by Gawker) is a clip from the CBS Early Show about the auto industry's sorry state.

A source from CBS Outernet says the footage of Couric was originally part of her introduction of a news clip. ABN never had permission to use it in marketing materials, and, after receiving a cease-and-desist order, removed the clip from its website.