(Networks') Bare-Bones DNC Coverage Draws Lower Ratings

[West Coast Democrat]

(Surprise! Viewers want to watch longer coverage!)

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

[POed_Ex_Repub]

1. What this tells me...

Is that there are fewer undecided voters this time around. I'll be honest in saying I haven't been watching the coverage that much myself. *nor do I plan to watch the RNC coverage*. It's gone from platform discussion to a well-scripted drawn out advertisment, which is then spun and spun and spun by the talking heads. I mean really, what's the point?

The debates on the other hand... that could be interesting.

[faithnotgreed]

7. if you could watch on cspan i think you would really enjoy it.

especially starting about 8 or 9 pm, from what ive seen (and i never watch conventions), i have enjoyed it immensely.
the speeches are really good. i am impressed with what ive seen and am glad im watching my first convention

[West Coast Democrat]

10. I agree! I've been glued to CSPAN!

I don't know why people get the impression any of it is boring!

[2Design]

32. next time I am going to order cable in time to see conventions or

I will be at convention.

I have found pbs ok. And tonight I came into computer room and used cspan for the roll call but on dial up you miss the picture.

So I feel I have missed some good parts. Like the little girl speaking last night from kidsForKerry.

They commentaries are annoying. I find that at the thanksgiving day parade. I wish they would just show the parade and not the speakers. They are in the way. They do that in all sports and it is annoying. Except I don't remember them doing it in baseball...but I don't watch baseball on tv

[West Coast Democrat]

12. Many of the speakers so far have been quite moving....

and did not come off as "scripted." Pres. Clinton, Al Gore, Obama, Ron Reagan, Theresa...you name it.

[UpInArms]

2. since the alphabet has decided not to be "controversial"

or to offer real news, is it surprising?

[daleo]

3. It will be interesting to see how much coverage the Republican Conv. gets

Logically, it should be the same. I won't be surprised if the networks choose to go heavier on the Bushco event, though.

[West Coast Democrat]

4. The networks will probably show more of the Republicans....

but their ratings will not be any better.

[mom cat]

17. If they do, some cantankerous lawyers will have a fieldday!

[AndyTiedye]

24. Lawyers Won't Do Any Good. They Nuked the Fairness Doctrine Years Ago

The networks can do all-Bush*-all-the time and that's fine with the FCC.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

29. They won't. 3 hours for each.

[hatrack]

5. Well DA-yum, Myrtle!

These here cars without engines and with four flat tires just ain't sellin' - damned if I can figger out why!!

Can't wait to hear the network anchors deplore Americans' lack of participation on election night, bemoaning their lack of participation in the political process.

Fly-blown whores, one and all.

[leeman67]

6. So predictable the outcome

Yes, the SCLM will realize the error of their ways just as this convention is ending and say to themselves, "yes, we DO have a civic responsibility to the public to show these conventions". Then they'll proceed to give us gavel-to-gavel coverage of Chimpfest '04.
x(

[faithnotgreed]

8. good point. welcome to du!

[leeman67]

11. Good to be here!

thank you. :)

[mom cat]

20. Hi there and welcome to DU. I see your point, But my take on it is

that all hell will break lose if they try that one. Trere is no way now that they could get away with that. There would be lawsuits up the colon. In fact ,the media drouth will come at the very time that dimson needs it the most. :evilgrin:

[PROGRESSIVE1]

30. I Agree!!! I WILL BOYCOTT ALL U.S MEDIA IF THAT...

WERE TO OCCUR. ALSO, A JOHN KERRY FCC WOULD BRUTALIZE ALL MEDIA.

[TahitiNut]

27. Suggestion: SCUM = So-Called Unbiased Media

At least for me, it has more panache. :silly:

[Algomas]

33. Chimpfest... I don't think I can take this much longer.

If he is reselected an overt battle for the soul of America will begin. The repression will be intense and so will be the response.
I need to get in shape!!

[rocktivity]

9. That sends the networks' theory right down the crapper, doesn't it?

Unless they didn't want to expose broadcast audiences to the Democrats in the first place. I mean, now that they're learned the error of their ways, does that mean they'll "change their mind" and offer up more GOP convention coverage?

:headbang:
rocknation

[aquart]

13. I'm being introduced to political figures I did not know.

I'm watching from 8-11 on PBS because I don't have cable and I'm not regretting a minute of it.

[Dover]

14. That's because the REAL coverage is on CSPAN

but for those without cable it's imperitive that at least ONE network cover it. Maybe they could agree to take turns on a rotating basis if they don't like their ratings, or could give it exclusively to PBS.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I'm glued to Air America personally

but it has been amazing

[NashVegas]

16. duplicate thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x713932

[West Coast Democrat]

18. Yes. We posted at about the same time...

but this thread seems to have more posts.

[NashVegas]

19. Doesn't Reallly Matter

Generally, DU doesn't go by the number of posts when it comes to dupes, but by the clock. Happens to everyone now and then.

[West Coast Democrat]

22. Fine. They can delete it then.

[w4rma]

21. 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.

[porkrind]

23. I like watching the speeches on C-SPAN

It's nice to listen to a speech that doesn't include fear-mongering and war lust.

However, when the talking heads start their commentary between speeches, I mute it in disgust. I refuse to listen to these traitorous fascist enabler fuckers blab on. They, through their cowardly lies, enabled the chimp to destroy the USA during the last 4 dark years. They shouldn't even be at the DNC because they are completely unqualified to report on the workings of real democracy. Fuck Them.

:dem:

---

Read about the Right-Wing "Master Plan": http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/sam/sam-contents.html

Have you read "War is a Racket"?: http://lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm

Read George Orwell's classic "1984" free online here: http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984

[Algomas]

34. Well put porky!

[evworldeditor]

25. So refreshing to watch coverage on CSPAN

I've watched coverage everynight, gavel-to-gavel, and really enjoy the "pundit-free" broadcast where I get to hear all the speakers, not the just the ones the networks select.

And I think I am in love with Jennifer Granholm! ;-)

[SoCalDem]

26. Hey..their plan is working perfectly.. (the republican plan)

The way the coverage has been, it's as if the republicans are "humoring those pesky little democrats" by "letting" them have their little party...chaperoned of course , by the likes of PaT Buchanan, Liddy Dole, OllieNorth,Bill Schneider, Ralphie Reed etc..

By diverting coverage from the mainstream, the people are being funneled into the "screaming-head-zone"..where logic is twisted daily for your protection ..

[lolly]

28. They don't want us to watch either convention

The media really, really don't want us actually watching either the conventions or the debates. Why? It's kinda like the medieval church not allowing commonfolk to read the Bible: if they can't read it, we can just TELL them what it says, and they have to believe it. If we don't watch it, we hand over all the power of interpretation to the pundits.

Come next week, everybody who didn't watch the convention will "know" that it was just a big "hatefest" and that Kerry didn't "define" himself and is still a "mystery."

Just like everybody "knew" that Al Gore lost those debates . . .

[democrat_patriot]

31. You need to see it

in High Definition.

Truly amazing.

No commentary - No commercials - just straight coverage. In stereo.

It's like being there.

[SideshowScott]

35. Well the LAST thing the Cooperate owned Media wants is for people to vote

The don't want the people to be involved and vote..They want them to BUY and Watch and not care about poltics..
One of the things that stuck with me hard when I watched Fox news for a day ( class project )
They said TWICE in one day about their own Fox news " people don't want to be Informed they want to be entertained" Thats not true. The Cooperate powers that be want you entertained NOT Informed.
So yeah your gonna see limited coverage of the Dem Convention..And your prolly gonna see ALOT of coverage of the GOP convention. Alot the of O'Reilys, Blitzers, Matthews, Hannitys doing nothing but fawning over it..Hardly any criticism. They don't want you to vote ESP vote for a Democrat who will listen to the people.
One day they will get theres..