When Fox News' Roger Ailes commented that a particular network competitors spent "$20 million marketing a single star," it was more than speculated Ailes was taking a jab at shining CNN star Anderson Cooper.

Totally, not true said a CNN spokesperson. Major lie. False, inaccurate, just-plain-old-wrong.

"We have no idea where Mr. Ailes came up with that number, but here are some numbers that are accurate. So far in July 2006, Anderson Cooper 360 is up double digits in both total viewers and the key advertiser demo (up +45% in P2+ and up +57% in P25-54 [compared to July 2005]), while On the Record is down double digits versus a year ago (down -32% in P2+ and down -33% in P25-54)."

Because saying how much they do spend marketing Anderson Cooper would have been so much less effective in proving their point.

$20 Million To Hype Cooper? No Way [TV Newser, Mediabistro]