Now showing on VH1: Cross-promotional B.S.

One of my readers just texted me, "Flip over to VH1 when you get a chance. A part of my cable bill (albeit a small one) is being used for THAT?"

Yes, it is. The executives running MTV Networks (which includes MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, CMT, etc.) are so hard up for Nielsen ratings for the Video Music Awards that they are sabotaging the rating of one channel (VH1) to boost the rating of another channel.

Now my guess is, if you're tuning in VH1, it's to watch VH1. You missed the last episode of "I Love Money" or you want to watch the kids who want to work for Diddy or whatever they're showing on VH1 these days. You did not tune in to watch this -- what they call a "barker channel" in the industry.

It would be more understandable if VH1 were simulcasting MTV. But this is just odd. Forget about the cable bill -- I can't believe Taco Bell really allowed part of its advertising budget to be spent sponsoring this "live look-in." By the time someone realizes they're being flim-flammed into switching over to MTV, they're not even going to notice the Taco Bell logo.