Can those unhappy about the debate scheduling tell us what day/night/time would have been optimal?

[Empowerer]

Serious question.

This is NOT addressed to those who believe there should have been MORE debates. I understand that argument. But many people have complained that the debates, particularly the last one, were scheduled at times that made it difficult for a lot of people to watch. Those are the folks to whom the question is addressed.

[Renew Deal]

1. Monday to Thursday from 8PM EST to 10PM EST. No holidays.

Those are start times. They would end 2-3 hours later.

[Ferd Berfel]

9. And how about NOT on the last Shopping weekend before Christmas

And NOT on a major Sports Playoff weekend.

for gawd sake. What a BS game you are playing. You know the problems Empowerer . This crap is right out of the Rove/Luntz playbook

[nashville_brook]

2. LOL

[redwitch]

3. A week night. 9 is fine.

The Saturday before Christmas was a really bad choice. Saturdays in general are terrible for debates.

Monday through Thursday.

[Empowerer]

4. Why is a week night preferable?

[restorefreedom]

20. many people are out on weekends

out of town, skiing, dinner, visiting friends/family, etc

not to mention most highh profile sporting events are on weekends, as are many concerts, plays, local spaghetti dinner fundraisers, bbqs, etc etc etc

it is well known that a tv show moved to a fri or sat night is on its way out. not sure about the sunday tv show schedule.

[lob1]

5. Republicans have their debates during the week. That's because

more people watch during the week. Less people watch during the weekend, especially on the Saturday before Christmas when everyone is shopping.

There are even fewer viewers on a three day weekend because people leave town or go on trips.

If you want the most people to see your candidates, hold the debates when people are watching TV.

[yeoman6987]

7. All true

However the debate viewing is up from 2008 by a lot.

[lob1]

12. Yep, people are watching the debates because everyone is

sick of the same old crap. This is not a good time to be a status quo candidate as the status quo is screwing most people. Imagine what the ratings would be during the week.

[tularetom]

6. Gee, the republicans don't seem to have any trouble getting people to watch their debates

WTF is the problem with the DNC?

[avebury]

8. Any night when a debate is not deliberately scheduled

at the same time as a major sporting event or other televised event that will pretty much guaratnee that most people can be guaranteed not to tune in. It seems like DWS schedule of Democratic Primary Debates are scheduled in such a way to benefit Clinton because people won't tune in and see that there might be an alternative candidate to her.

[Bradical79]

10. Monday through Thursday prime time

More viewers. It's pretty simple, and I thought we've all been very straightforward when it comes to that.

[Empowerer]

17. Whose "prime time?" Yours?

or someone else's? After all, what constitutes Prime Time differs depending on where you live.

[Bradical79]

18. good point

Honestly, I didn't think about it. I suppose whatever the numbers would show most likely to net the most viewers. I'm not an expert on TV scheduling, but for big live events the networks seem to settle on something like 9:00pm or 8:30pm start time for the East Coast. I thought this last debate was fine since it was on NBC for us non-cable users and for once there was no football game scheduled.

[Orangepeel]

11. Sunday is the most watched night, followed by M, T, W, Th, S and F

During the 2013-2014 season:

DAY AVERAGE VIEWERS (MILLIONS)
Sunday. 125
Monday. 120
Tuesday. 114
Wednesday. 113
Thursday. 112
Saturday. 108
Friday. 107



http://qz.com/278951/five-reasons-why-sunday-is-tvs-best-night/

[anigbrowl]

15. Yeah facts have not being running the complainers' way in these debate scheduling debates

I'm waiting for the argument for why having them on pay cable channels is better than free broadcast channels too.

[Live and Learn]

13. It is called Prime Time for a reason. But you knew that. nt

[Empowerer]

16. But "prime time" is not "real time" and doesn't really apply for live events

For example, Prime Time on the East Coast is the beginning of rush hour on the West Coast. Prime Time in California is bedtime on the East Coast.

[Gman]

14. There is no answer good enough

They want the free media but it's got to be on their terms.

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. Any time DWS deems unacceptable.