MIA: ABC, CBS, NBC

[kentuck]

http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=6563

<snip>
But you would never know that from the greedheads who run the networks. The Democratic National Convention is now on, and the major, over-the-air networks — ABC, CBS and NBC — are devoting barely three hours each to the whole thing. The plan was to show Bill Clinton’s speech Monday, and an hour each of speeches Wednesday and Thursday by John Kerry and John Edwards.

And that’s all. They devoted far more time last month to the long-expected funeral of the long-brain-dead Ronald Reagan. That was about nostalgia and the past. They did that, but they ignore our future. Once every four years, the current, rising and future stars in each party come together to nominate candidates, yes, but to also share their views, personalities and ideas with a national audience

<snip>
In other words, the nation’s future is far more likely to be impacted by “Big Brother 5” than by Ronald Reagan Jr. talking about the importance of stem-cell research. Heyward’s toady comments are, of course, bullshit; this is all about money. The networks think they can make more serving up the same old crap. “So what else is new?” you shrug. “What’s the big deal?”

Well, here is what few people know: CBS, NBC and ABC do not own the airwaves. They do not own the frequencies on which they broadcast. You do.

....more

[readmylips]

1. But if we complaint too loud now...

we'll be seeing the repig convention 24/7. They will shove the repig lies down our throats.

[hatrack]

2. Thank you - exactly!!

"Well, gee, after careful consideration and a lot of viewer feedback, we've decided to expand coverage of the GOP Convention to three hours per night, every night, just so Americans can become better informed about the issues this year."

[Alpha Wolf]

3. Conventions are just week-long commercials...

both of them are. Ever since the conventions stopped being about anything real-- as in the delegates actually choosing the candidates at the convention-- the conventions have turned into really long commercials for the parties. Cue the music, drop the confetti, release the balloons, etc. I don't blame the networks (which I hate, btw) for scaling back their coverage of both conventions over the years. In reality, they ought to charge the parties for that air time.

[Logansquare]

4. And what, pray tell, was Ronniepalooza?

I don't mind "fair and equal" removal of political commercials from the networks. I'm very, very interested to see how much coverage is given to the GOP convention.

[kentuck]

5. "commercials" ???

I heard speeches from important people that were attempting to tell the truth about what is happening to our country and what needs to be done differently. Hardly a commercial...

[Alpha Wolf]

6. That is a commercial

"I heard speeches from important people that were attempting to tell the truth about what is happening to our country and what needs to be done differently. Hardly a commercial..."

That is exactly what a commercial is-- whether I'm selling toothpaste or a political party/candidate. The networks used to cover more of the conventions when something newsworthy was happening there-- like the candidates actually being selected. Look, all I'm saying is that for an old-school Democrat like myself who was a young firebrand in Chicago in '68-- these choreographed glitter-parade, every-fricken'-second-scripted conventions are a sad testimony of how illiterate and image-oriented the sheeple have become in this country. They have all bowed too long at the feet of the TViety.