http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1951&u=/variety/20040823/va_tv_ne/nets_set_gop_confab_plan&printer=1
Nets set GOP confab plan
Sun Aug 22,10:26 PM ET
Pamela McClintock, STAFF
NEW YORK -- Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) won't make the cut, and neither will former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
With their limited primetime coverage of this year's political conventions, the broadcast networks will forgo carrying the remarks of these two political icons when the Republicans open their confab Monday in Gotham.
Their rationale? The public apparently doesn't want the broadcast nets to turn over their primetime skeds to the confabs -- and if folks do want to overdose, they can tune in those round-the-clock cable news nets.
ABC, CBS and NBC each are devoting only three primetime hours to the GOP's four-day gathering, the same amount of time allotted to the Democratic convention in Boston last month.
Monday night will be dark altogether, just as Tuesday was dark during the Dem confab, when the nets didn't carry U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama's rousing speech. (When setting their coverage skeds, the nets didn't know who would be speaking on what day, aside from the main speeches by the candidates.)
McCain is skedded to speak shortly after 10 p.m. ET Monday, opening day of the convention. Following his speech will be a brief 9/11 tribute and then remarks and benediction by Giuliani.
ABC News said it will carry a special live convention report anchored by Peter Jennings at halftime during "Monday Night Football."
On all three nets, regular primetime convention coverage will run from 10-11 p.m. ET Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday -- when President Bush (news - web sites) accepts his party's nomination.
Tuesday night, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) and first lady Laura Bush are set to speak in the 10 o'clock hour. Same with Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) on Wednesday.
NBC News, unlike its competish, has a sister cable news net to rely on to carry all aspects of the convention. MSNBC's coverage will be led by political host Chris Matthews, with the net building an outside set at Macy's Herald Square.
All told, the Peacock's news empire will offer something like 140 hours of convention coverage across NBC itself, MSNBC, CNBC, Telemundo, radio and the Internet.
CBS also is offering convention coverage on the radio and the Internet. Same goes for ABC, which last month launched a tiny 24/7 digital news channel for affils, ABC News Now.
The three network news anchors --ABC's Jennings, CBS' Dan Rather and NBC's Tom Brokaw -- will lead convention coverage in the primetime hours and during the evening newscasts.
Jennings also is lending his weight to ABC News Now, saying it gives him a chance to cover the conventions in a more thorough manner. Digital subchannel will remain in operation through the November election and is being carried by all 10 ABC owned-and-operated stations, as well as roughly 70 affils.
The network news anchors are of the generation that remembers when nominating conventions actually made news, vs. being a packaged infomercial for the political parties.
This year, the network news divisions have taken heat for their pared-down coverage, with critics saying more people would watch the conventions if there were more access across the primetime hours.
"I want anybody who criticizes us to name three or four friends who would have watched if we had put on more coverage," one news net exec said.
News networks agree the situation could be more fluid during the GOP convention, considering the many protests that are planned.
During the Democratic convention, the cable news nets made a strong showing in the ratings.
Like MSNBC, Fox News Channel and CNN are going all-out in their coverage plans for the Republican gathering. Fox News will broadcast its primetime shows from a booth within Madison Square Garden.
CNN will have an anchor set on the convention floor. News net also is taking over the Tick Tock Diner, across the street from the convention, where it will broadcast political shoutdown "Crossfire" as well as hand out free food to delegates and members of the media.
Comedy Central's "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" also will provide convention coverage along with the traditional news outlets. Show proved a ratings boon with its satirical coverage of last month's Dem confab. Show will amend its schedule next week, airing Tuesday-Friday.
Comedy Central announced Monday that Democratic prez contender John Kerry (news - web sites) will make his first guest appearance on "Daily Show" tonight.
Also tonight in New York, liberal activist org MoveOn will kick off a 10-week, pro-Kerry ad campaign featuring spots directed by Rob Reiner, Richard Linklater, Woody Harrelson (news), John Sayles and Doug Liman, among others. Comedian Margaret Cho (news) wrote and stars in another ad, while Wildbrain Animation directed "The Air We Breathe," featuring the voices of Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Bacon (news) and Ed Asner (news).
------------------------------------------------
So this is fair Take away time from 2 very influencial republicans, and for what reason?
Nets set GOP confab plan
Sun Aug 22,10:26 PM ET
Pamela McClintock, STAFF
NEW YORK -- Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) won't make the cut, and neither will former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
With their limited primetime coverage of this year's political conventions, the broadcast networks will forgo carrying the remarks of these two political icons when the Republicans open their confab Monday in Gotham.
Their rationale? The public apparently doesn't want the broadcast nets to turn over their primetime skeds to the confabs -- and if folks do want to overdose, they can tune in those round-the-clock cable news nets.
ABC, CBS and NBC each are devoting only three primetime hours to the GOP's four-day gathering, the same amount of time allotted to the Democratic convention in Boston last month.
Monday night will be dark altogether, just as Tuesday was dark during the Dem confab, when the nets didn't carry U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama's rousing speech. (When setting their coverage skeds, the nets didn't know who would be speaking on what day, aside from the main speeches by the candidates.)
McCain is skedded to speak shortly after 10 p.m. ET Monday, opening day of the convention. Following his speech will be a brief 9/11 tribute and then remarks and benediction by Giuliani.
ABC News said it will carry a special live convention report anchored by Peter Jennings at halftime during "Monday Night Football."
On all three nets, regular primetime convention coverage will run from 10-11 p.m. ET Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday -- when President Bush (news - web sites) accepts his party's nomination.
Tuesday night, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) and first lady Laura Bush are set to speak in the 10 o'clock hour. Same with Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) on Wednesday.
NBC News, unlike its competish, has a sister cable news net to rely on to carry all aspects of the convention. MSNBC's coverage will be led by political host Chris Matthews, with the net building an outside set at Macy's Herald Square.
All told, the Peacock's news empire will offer something like 140 hours of convention coverage across NBC itself, MSNBC, CNBC, Telemundo, radio and the Internet.
CBS also is offering convention coverage on the radio and the Internet. Same goes for ABC, which last month launched a tiny 24/7 digital news channel for affils, ABC News Now.
The three network news anchors --ABC's Jennings, CBS' Dan Rather and NBC's Tom Brokaw -- will lead convention coverage in the primetime hours and during the evening newscasts.
Jennings also is lending his weight to ABC News Now, saying it gives him a chance to cover the conventions in a more thorough manner. Digital subchannel will remain in operation through the November election and is being carried by all 10 ABC owned-and-operated stations, as well as roughly 70 affils.
The network news anchors are of the generation that remembers when nominating conventions actually made news, vs. being a packaged infomercial for the political parties.
This year, the network news divisions have taken heat for their pared-down coverage, with critics saying more people would watch the conventions if there were more access across the primetime hours.
"I want anybody who criticizes us to name three or four friends who would have watched if we had put on more coverage," one news net exec said.
News networks agree the situation could be more fluid during the GOP convention, considering the many protests that are planned.
During the Democratic convention, the cable news nets made a strong showing in the ratings.
Like MSNBC, Fox News Channel and CNN are going all-out in their coverage plans for the Republican gathering. Fox News will broadcast its primetime shows from a booth within Madison Square Garden.
CNN will have an anchor set on the convention floor. News net also is taking over the Tick Tock Diner, across the street from the convention, where it will broadcast political shoutdown "Crossfire" as well as hand out free food to delegates and members of the media.
Comedy Central's "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" also will provide convention coverage along with the traditional news outlets. Show proved a ratings boon with its satirical coverage of last month's Dem confab. Show will amend its schedule next week, airing Tuesday-Friday.
Comedy Central announced Monday that Democratic prez contender John Kerry (news - web sites) will make his first guest appearance on "Daily Show" tonight.
Also tonight in New York, liberal activist org MoveOn will kick off a 10-week, pro-Kerry ad campaign featuring spots directed by Rob Reiner, Richard Linklater, Woody Harrelson (news), John Sayles and Doug Liman, among others. Comedian Margaret Cho (news) wrote and stars in another ad, while Wildbrain Animation directed "The Air We Breathe," featuring the voices of Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Bacon (news) and Ed Asner (news).
------------------------------------------------
So this is fair Take away time from 2 very influencial republicans, and for what reason?
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