Posted on 07/08/2008 3:44:35 PM PDT by mdittmar
Major television networks are considering curtailing coverage of the Democratic National Convention after Monday’s announcement that Barack Obama will accept his party's nomination in a Denver stadium.
According to several broadcast executives, the networks will still cover all the major speeches. But beyond that, all options are open as they look for savings to balance out the anticipated costs surrounding the stadium event. The acceptance event is an unexpected departure from the traditional convention hall format they had spent months planning for.
Network executives expect Obama’s relatively late-breaking decision to speak at Invesco Field at Mile High, a 76,000-seat football stadium, could add hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs to already cash-strapped news divisions. Each network has budgeted millions to cover the political conventions, but that spending is already accounted for in specific costs ranging from hotel rooms to staffing to building convention platforms.
For most networks, any additional outlays for the convention would come out of their 2008 campaign budget.
Obama’s decision “makes it enormously more expensive,” said Paul Friedman, senior vice president at CBS News. “It does add to the overall question of how the networks should cover what is a non-news event.”
“We're trying to figure out ways to cover what we need to cover and still stay in our budget,” said Bob Murphy, a 30-year veteran of ABC News and the executive in charge of their convention coverage. “The change in the schedule clearly has put some very severe cost issues on the table and we are trying to figure out how to deal with that.”
Among the options now being considered by broadcast executives is a reduction in staffing at the Democratic convention, with some news staff being asked to stay back in New York or Washington instead of traveling to Denver — though that is a measure the networks hope to avoid.
Another alternative that several networks are mulling involves the long-standing idea of anchoring the convention from someplace other than the Pepsi Center, where it is scheduled to be held in August.
One network planner explained that the stadium staging might have only minor repercussions if the networks decide to pool the coverage of the final night’s speech and station their anchors at another Denver location.
The latter possibility — anchoring from somewhere in Denver other than the Pepsi Center or Invesco Field — would save money for the networks on expensive cabling fees, large set costs, staging and staffing, and allow the networks to plan for the convention with significantly more independence from the convention staff, a pleasing notion to the networks.
Already, the planner added, “We’ve been searching for cost cuts everywhere” to “find money in little places to avoid cutting major election night needs.”
Some executives first got word last week that Obama might change the staging of his acceptance speech, an event typically held on the final night of the convention. Network representatives held a tense conference call Monday afternoon to consider the logistical implications of the change in venue from the Pepsi Center to Invesco Field.
In terms of overall impact, ABC News spokeswoman Emily Lenzner said, “While it doesn't change our plans to cover the convention, we are now taking a fresh look at all components of our coverage.”
That fresh look might end up haunting Democrats. While all the networks divide the cost of covering major speakers, they have considerable leeway for expanded coverage, contingent on their own budgets. Additional costs necessitated by the stadium speech could end up limiting coverage of the preliminary three days of the convention.
“We want to anchor at it,” one broadcast executive said. “[But] do you need to be there to anchor for all four nights? That’s something that we are asking ourselves.”
“We are still planning to carry the most significant appearances and speeches from Monday on, in primetime,” he noted. “It doesn’t seem smart to invest in a full anchor setup at both locations when the candidate is only going to show at one location.”
The broadcast executive added that Obama’s decision will, at a minimum, lead the broadcast networks not to go “whole hog at the Pepsi Center,” which is nearly two miles from the outdoor stadium.
“I don’t think we are forced to cover both [conventions] equally,” the network executive said. “The amount of resources we were willing to have committed to the first venue [at the Democratic convention] is now greatly diminished.”
The staging turnabout and its anticipated costs come as network executives also feel the sting of record expenditures from covering the protracted Democratic primary election.
For several presidential election cycles, the networks have considered anchoring the conventions from New York as a cost-cutting measure. But as the conventions neared, the networks have acquiesced, acknowledging the tradition of live-and-in-person coverage.
Heightened public interest in the 2008 race means that news executives expect higher ratings from the conventions this year, and the onetime prospect of a contested Democratic convention led them to consider broader coverage than in 2004, when the networks decided not to broadcast the speeches on the second night of the convention. Now, however, the 2004 model suddenly seems attractive again to some executives.
“It’s an historic event, obviously,” said a network executive. “But everybody is working on a very tight budget.”
LOL the “Recreate 68” crowd will be livid if they don’t get camera time!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Well, there ya go.
Typical for NObama. NObama first, last, and always. The hardship and cost to others of his decisions is of no account to the annointed one.
-DT
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Gee I planned on limiting my viewing of the conventions also.
I don’t plan on watching them at all.
"Network evening newscasts will go dark after the '08 elections and their news divisions disbanded."
Today Rush was saying that Hillary is still working on getting the nomination. Her underling Terry McCaullife, according to Rush, was the one who convinced Obama to move toward the center, so that the left will get so ticked off at Obama, they’ll nominate Clinton instead.
I wonder how many of the recreate68, tent state and code pink members will gain access to invesco field. This could be a laugh-riot...as well as a real one.
Really if it’s more than a 90 second segment in the regular evening news it’s too much. None of the interesting stuff that happens at conventions happens in front of the camera anyway, they’ve always made lousy TV. Back in the old days conventions were my chance to rediscover PBS.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
How about the Goodyear Blimp for coverage of Camelot II?
This may be the setup to censor the riots so the Rats will look good to the useful idiots.
It will be the defining event of the convention. People who are watching will see the absurdity portrayed by the extreme left and some will realize this is the base that wants to control the platform.
There will be more "independents" afterwards.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I put my money on the old man.
I think moving to the stadium is going to prove to be a big mistake. How are they going to transport the delegates two miles? How many locals are going to be interested in going to hear political speeches?
I love it because they are going to have to pay a lot more money.
I hope it rains on the HOPE parade!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Meanwhile, the Republican Convention will get a blurb in the Evening News.
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