I see absolutely no reason why this sort of cross promotional advertising does damage to the networks credibility. I mean, does doing soft human interest stories about nobodies that impact noone except to provoke emotional responses enhance news credibility? No as far as I can see, it's not news. But it may improve ratings amongst a particular demographic.

But interviewing the new presenters of the Oscars just before the event that the network happens to have a major stake in promoting makes good business sense. Especially when wanting to reach that soft, touchy-feely demographic the network has tried to build up for just such occasions.

To complain now that it's not news and that it damages the organisations credibility is a bit rich.

The segment was never 'news' and never about 'news'.