Networks May Scale Back Convention Coverage For Obama's Speech

Politico:

Major television networks are considering curtailing coverage of the Democratic National Convention after Monday's announcement that Barack Obama will accept his party's nomination in a Denver stadium.

According to several broadcast executives, the networks will still cover all the major speeches. But beyond that, all options are open as they look for savings to balance out the anticipated costs surrounding the stadium event. The acceptance event is an unexpected departure from the traditional convention hall format they had spent months planning for.

Network executives expect Obama's relatively late-breaking decision to speak at Invesco Field at Mile High, a 76,000-seat football stadium, could add hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs to already cash-strapped news divisions. Each network has budgeted millions to cover the political conventions, but that spending is already accounted for in specific costs ranging from hotel rooms to staffing to building convention platforms.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[lovethesinner]

I watched Chuck Todd try to suppress this topic on Hardball when Howard Fineman brought it up, yesterday. There's no way in hell NBC or MSNBC is going to cut back on this, they're just trying to hedge their bets because of the Olympics. They've probably spent past their market share to put it on, and want to finagle a deal with the Dems for better access.

Once the competition gets going between the networks, this will turn out to be the most COVERED convention in US history.

I can't wait to see Lanny Davis's commentary for FOX when they announce Jim Webb as the VP.

Obama-Webb '08

[closetodemfection]

Webb turned it down. There are two articles on Huffpo regarding that topic.

[GuyFawkes]

Webb wasn't offered the VP slot, so he couldn't have turned it down. He just said he wasn't interested in taking it.

"There are two articles on Huffpo regarding that topic."

[Heavenhelpusall]

Just imagine the economic stimulus this one event is creating for the city of Denver. They are bluffing. They will have so many additional ads airing as a result of this audience.

[EvSmith]

These people are Iraq war contractors. What else can we expect ?

[rosal]

Yes, and I believe in the Tooth Fairy. The corporate owned media was looking for an excuse. They don't want their patron saint McLame to look bad in a room the size of my living room, with 30 of his best friends around him. I am sure if it was McCan't in a big stadium, they will cover every minute.
The MSM-Big Oil, are doing their duty.

[john85msy]

1. Jack Abramoff
2. Swift Boat Vets
3. Michael Richards
4. A couple of K street Lobbyist
5. Tom Delay
6. Rush Limpbo
7. Sean Hannity
8. A man with a R. Reagan mask sitting next to a man with a Karl Rove mask.
9. Cindy McCain
10. Rev. Haggee who McCain sought the endorsement of who at the pulpit preached that Hitler was Gods hand to deal with the Jews.

[partyofone]

What a joke. What about the mega millions in TV ad revenue from the longest, most expensive presidential campaign in history. It's also the most important election. Let CSPAN cover it and the networks broadcast rerun crime scene detective shows.

Do they really think the banter of the anchors, analysts , floor reporters and commentators add something to coverage? The networks could cut cost way back, use a pooled camera, simply show the speakers, and have one anchor sitting in NYC. No one would know the difference.

[Cynth]

It certainly would minimize the biases!

[doctorwang]

Of course the biggest benefit of having it on C-SPAN is no Wolf Blitzer.

[Daly]

ture that MSM glory hounds thinks THEY are the news

[condew]

I would notice the difference, everything you recommend would make it BETTER than what they typically do.

[Wildcatdiva]

They can all go to hell, it'll be covered and bootlegged and distributed by the next day, they will be the only ones losing out. lol

[presto]

Bootlegged? Do you know what network news is? It doesn't even matter. Cable and cspan will be perfectly adequate.

[rich3324]

I'm throwing the BS card.

[nonconformist2]

If they cover the republican convention in its entirety and then "scale back" on the democratic convention, they will be crucif-ied by the public.

Don't these idiots understand that this is history they are preempting for a dancing with the stars rerun.

[levibatgirl]

Just set up at the Mpls/St Paul International Airport men's bathroom for the GOP convention.

Thats where all the crowds and action will be.

[bosshogg]

lmao funny but probably true........

[allonfla]

I don't buy this story one bit. What exec would be that stupid to NOT cover the first African-American accepting the nomination of the Democratic party. Complete nonsense!

[bosshogg]

there are dumb executives out there ,just because they have 10 degrees and make a lot money don't mean they are smart.........................

[southafrica4obama]

Jealous Execs. We will do it live by radio and you tube.

[Heaphy]

My gosh, what a bunch of pathetic whiners these network news executives are. Aren't these the people who think that Christy Brinkley's and A-Rod's divorces are the most important news of recent days? And then they claim this convention ISN'T news? They are being asked to cover an historic event in a football stadium. It isn't as if it's not already wired for TV cameras. They even have great parking places for their news vans! And they are given six weeks advance notice to plan for it. Aren't they supposed to cover fast-breaking news developments anywhere in the world? Well, any network that doesn't want to, can skip all or part of the convention. The viewers will find the networks who do cover it., and reward them with increased viewership.
- Jim Heaphy

[olivia]

They're doing their best to rain on this joy-filled event.

Doesn't matter. They are only making themselves less relevant.

[PioneerKing]

The republican share holders, republican CEOs, and McCain's buddies in the main stream media thnk they are in control. Too bad they don't understand live webstreaming.
Imagine how wonderful it will be to have live webcast without all of the inane and inept main stream media pundits.
Yeah, way to go main stream media idiots - this has got to be one of the dumbest group think decisions ever made.

[shamaniceconomist]

Instead of sending their own crews to the stadium, the major broadcast networks could chip in to pay MTV News to cover the speech. It sounds like they would save a fortune and get better reporting too.