Unlike MSNBC, Fox News Declines C-SPAN's Request To Carry Debate

[DeepModem Mom]

CBS News "Public Eye," May 15, 2007
Fox News Declines C-SPAN's Request To Carry Debate
Posted by Matthew Felling


(AP)

If you're interested in catching Fox News Channel's GOP Presidential Debate tonight, you better make a point of tuning in or TiVo'ing it. Unlike the two earlier debates hosted by MSNBC, you won't be able to find the debate anyplace else on the TV or radio dial.

Public Eye has learned that Fox News Channel refused C-SPAN's request to simulcast the debate on C-SPAN radio, as well as the opportunity to rebroadcast replays on any of the C-SPAN television channels. In the two MSNBC debates thus far, the cable network agreed to give the debates the added exposure through C-SPAN.

In an e-mail conversation, C-SPAN political editor Steve Scully informed Public Eye of Fox's stance.

As for the MSNBC and Fox Debates, only MSNBC has given C-SPAN rights (live on radio and tape delayed on C-SPAN.) Fox has said no to our request...and CNN's request is pending for its debates next month. (In a follow-up to the CNN issue, Scully added that he expects a simulcast/rebroadcast agreement will be worked out.)

Why does this matter? Think about the fact that MSNBC and Fox News Channel already spend a large amount of prime time painting the other as a villianous partisan meany. Keith Olbermann regularly chastises Bill O'Reilly as the "Worst Person in the World," and O'Reilly returns the favor by calling NBC and MSNBC "unpatriotic" due to -- among other quote-unquote reasons -- NBC News decision to refer to the situation in Iraq as a 'Civil War.'

With all that back and forth, there is likely a constituency of viewers loyal to each channel who refuse to tune into their rival. So where does that leave them when it comes time to find out about the political beliefs of the Romneys and Bidens and Pauls and Gravels?...

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/05/15/publiceye/entry2803901.shtml

[still_one]

1. I am not interested in anything that is broadcast over fox /nt

[meegbear]

2. A snip here, an edit there ...

and their candidate "never said that during the debate! Here's the tape!"

[Richard Steele]

7. Exactly. That's why they don't want anyone else having any rights to it.

They can edit it into sane-sounding snippets, air them 24/7,
and no one will be legally able to rebut them without violating
copyright.

Slimy as hell.

[meegbear]

9. And what they can do with the Democratic candidates ...

another reason not to bother with them.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. So Faux's doing a GOP debate tonight? I had no idea!

LOL! I don't watch Faux and will not tune in for the "event". Is there going to be a Democratic debate on Faux? :shrug:

[gatorboy]

4. It should be an Uber bigot fest tonite.

After all, the base will be watching.

[ginnyinWI]

5. not gonna watch

Life is too short--I think I'll be doing something else!

[librechik]

6. Republican Party is a proprietary asset of Fox News. Only they should profit

from the puny returns this boring debacle is bound to get.

[IDemo]

8. Another Raygun seance, nothing more

[damntexdem]

10. I won't watch Faux News.

But I don't watch GOP debates, anyway.

Hey, look at the bright side: this way the GOP candidates get less TV exposure.