Bare-Bones DNC Coverage Draws Lower Ratings

[Only Me]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040728/pl_nm/campaign_networks_dc

9 minutes ago Add Politics to My Yahoo!


By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Fewer Americans are tuning into the Democratic National Convention than did four years ago as the major broadcast networks treat the event as hardly worth watching, according to ratings issued on Wednesday.

But gavel-to-gavel coverage offered by CNN, the Fox News Channel and MSNBC is drawing bigger audiences than in 2000, a sign that broadcasters are losing politically minded viewers to the cable news outlets.

Critics say that's no surprise given that ABC, CBS and NBC are limiting coverage of the Democratic and Republican conventions to just three hours a night for three nights -- and skipping one evening of the event altogether.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040728/pl_nm/campaign_networks_dc

[gottaB]

1. Dan Rather or a test pattern, which is in the public interest?

Tough choices for CBS affiliates.

:nopity:

[spooky3]

2. also, I think the broadcast networks are averaging lower ratings on EVERY

viewing time slot, compared with four years ago (I'm sure there are exceptions). As more and more people get cable and satellite, there are many more competitors for their viewing.

[w4rma]

3. Thats not bare-bones. Thats abridged/limited coverage.

CSpan is giving bare-bones coverage, which is coverage without the idiotic talking heads yapping over the folks we WANT to hear.

[stevebreeze]

4. seems to me the networks should be required to cover this

They do after all act in the public interest...



OK stop laughing but they are supposed to.
One of just many need reforms!
:Kick:

[teresafan]

7. networks should be required to cover Dem convention

I don't think so Steve.

[thebigidea]

8. yeah, it would be a real shame if they gave coverage, wouldn't it.

I suppose you have an argument for WHY it shouldn't be covered, but maybe its in storage next to your argument for how Saddam and Al-Qaeda were connected.

[jackstraw45]

5. From what I read here...CSPAN is the ONLY network truly showing it

From what I hear, CNN, MSNBC, FAUX, NBC, CBS, and ABC are too f-ing busy covering themselves!

[Love Bug]

6. Serves the networks right!

They SHOULD lose viewers to cable. I mean, what have they got to show anyway? "Fear Factor" reruns? Since they use the PUBLIC airways, they should be required to show both conventions without commercials as a requirement to keep their licenses. Greedy bastards.

[Only Me]

9. The real sadness is how many people won't get to watch..

or will, like most people, depend on some rw-newscommentator statements about the truth. Their right - leaning message does nothing but hurt our cause. It misleads the voters. On top of the fact I am really getting tired of the lack of general respect some of the so-called journalist pay to the members of our party.
The loose way they banty around the negative comments about our people. They act as though they are the only intelligent people on the planet. Give us abreak!!