TV to snub conventions

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.thehill.com/news/063004/tv.aspx

The major TV networks are planning to cut coverage at the political conventions, ignoring major speeches early in the week.

The Republican and Democratic parties hope to nudge the networks into more live coverage, but broadcasters have concluded that there will be little news to report.

“We know we’re going to cover the nomination and the speech,” said one network’s spokeswoman, but “we’re not sure about the first two days.”

Previously, networks covered each day of the convention.

[mike_c]

1. they're not even the least bit interested in real news...

...even as it's being made.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Wouldn't want to cut into

"Love Boat" reruns, would we?

[NewJerseyDem]

10. The conventions are real news?

That is the funniest thing I've heard all day (Granted it is only 16 minutes into the day).

The conventions are just scripted wastes of times that are completely arcane and not needed any more. All they do is waste tons of money in security and inconvenience thousands, if not millions, of people who are trying to work and go about their lives. There are not newsworthy at all, even though I will obviously be watching them.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

20. I wouldn't call them a waste of time...

but they're certainly not news. I think that political conventions can serve the same purpose as any other type of convention -- namely to provide a source of information and networking. But that doesn't mean they're fodder for primetime.

[slinkerwink]

2. we all should call in our complaints to those networks

[Catch22Dem]

3. WE own those airwaves

It's not fair. We (Dems AND Repukes) should demand it.

[rocketdem]

6. Exactly. It's a matter of public responsibility.

It's no wonder we have such an ignorant and apathetic electorate.

On the other hand, probably the truth of the matter is that if they forced the networks to carry the conventions, I bet the ratings for ESPN and HBO would soar during those weeks. A large number of people honestly and truly don't give a shit (unless or until its their turn to complain).

[General Zod]

4. The sheep can't be bothered.....

.....with something as trivial as a political convention. Wouldn't want them to miss " The Simple Life".....

[rednek_Liberal]

13. Oh no! It's gonna interupt the Simple life?

[I Lean Left]

5. I'm not sure this is a bad thing.

You'll still be able to catch it on cable. Us hard cores will watch, but maybe having the general population swing voter skip the Clinton/Kennedy/etc or not be subjected to the Guiliani/Schwarzenneger(sp?)/McCain/etc might not be a bad thing. Our guy against their guy. Let's see what they have to say and shut the thing off.

Throw in the fact that we'll have a as of now unknow VP also making an acceptance speech, we're bound to get quite a draw.

[dolstein]

7. I wouldn't mind if the networks ignored Ted Kennedy

NT

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. I guess the truth must bother you.

[saracat]

15. Why would you

say that?????

[0007]

18. You never cease to amaze me dolstein.

[steely]

9. That figures - the major networks just plain suck.

I stopped watching their news programs long ago. The nightly news is filled with commercials and spin and feel good stories. The inportant stuff never gets to the substance of the matter.

I'll watch BBC or cspan or duetsche welle or France 2, or better yet, comedy central.

[TahitiNut]

12. En banc? That's called collusion and it's illegal.

It's looong past time to assert some draconian media ownership rules. For example, no broadcast, cable, or print media company can be owned by a corporate conglomerate not in a completely homogenous business - and vice versa. Combined ownership cannot exceed 25% of any regional market for that medium. Prohibit cross-ownership altogether. We need to break up these cabals.

[democracyindanger]

14. Ever see this?

CUT TO: INT. THE ROOSEVELT ROOM - DAY
Toby walks back in to the meeting with the media directors.

MEDIA DIRECTOR 1
We understand you have a counter offer.

TOBY
Yeah. You broadcast all four nights of the convention.

MEDIA DIRECTOR 2
Why?

TOBY
'Cause the public owns the airwaves not you, and you have a legal obligation to the public.

MEDIA DIRECTOR 3
The public could care less about the nominating conventions. So why?

TOBY
You have an FCC public obligation.

MEDIA DIRECTOR 3
Show me a station that's lost its licence for not showing enough public interest programming.

TOBY
I can't.

MEDIA DIRECTOR 3
So why?

TOBY
'Cause if you don't the Justice Department is going to investigate you for anti-trust violation.

MEDIA DIRECTOR 4
Anti-trust violation?

TOBY
A joint decision not to compete for the best convention programming.

MEDIA DIRECTOR 2
You're accusing us of conspiring not to show money losing programming?

TOBY
Not me so much as the Justice Department. 15 U.S.C. section 1. "Every contract combination
or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce is declared to be illegal. Every person who
shall engage in any combination..."

MEDIA DIRECTOR 3
All right, we get it. We all have lawyers that we'll have to talk to.

TOBY
Yes, no. There isn't going to be a horse race to cover, either in New York or San Diego,
but we gave you the air waves for free 70 years ago and 357 days a year you can say who's
up and who's down, who won the West and who lost the South but what's wrong with 8 days,
not every year but every 4 years, showing our leaders talking to us. Not a fraction of
what they said but what they said. And then th-the balloons.

[MaineDem]

19. Exactly my first thought

I was reminded of that West Wing episode, too.

[GingerSnaps]

16. They will cut coverage on the Democratic Convention

The right wing nuts are going to get tons of press.

[Judi Lynn]

17. This is unacceptable.There has NEVER been a more important election.n/t

[IndianaGreen]

21. Political Conventions have been reduced to being infomercials

Do some reading on the history of the Conventions and you will see the drama and excitement that has been replaced by the modern highly-scripted and very boring version. Some examples: how Ike beat Taft in 1952 despite Taft having more delegates, the 1956 Veep race when Democratic nominee Adlai Stevenson let the convention pick his running mate (JFK's concession speech propelled him as a leading contender 4 years later), 1968 Chicago.

[dusty64]

22. Oh I'm sure they

will cut a lot more into one than the other. Kinda like they treat the candidates speeches.

[Moderator]

23. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x654894