Dan Rather: Live Political Convention Coverage May Soon Wither to Nothing

AP ^ | 1-18-04

[Indy Pendance]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - CBS anchor Dan Rather says the day is coming soon when there will be virtually no live coverage of political conventions on television networks.

The Democrats and Republicans are to blame for scheduling four-day conventions that do little except advertise their established positions and candidates, he said.

"I think it's inevitable that the over-the-airways broadcasters and, for that matter, many in cable either take a pass or reduce their coverage even more than we've seen in recent years," Rather told the Television Critics Association this weekend.

CBS and the other broadcast networks haven't announced their plans for covering this year's conventions. Four years ago, they ran one-hour, prime-time wrap-ups during the first three nights, then gave slightly more time for the presidential candidates' acceptance speeches.

NBC said last week it was debuting many of its new fall entertainment shows during the week of the GOP convention, beginning in New York on Aug. 30.

[afuturegovernor]

NBC said last week it was debuting many of its new fall entertainment shows during the week of the GOP convention, beginning in New York on Aug. 30.

I wonder which party will get more primetime network coverage? Like it was 4 years ago the major networks will gave more time to the Dems.

[raybbr]

How about because by the time the convention gets here we have had over a year of baloney from all the politicians, their handlers and political pundits like Rather? We need a new regional primary system that takes place over an eight week period that ends six weeks before the election.

[jolie560]

Media panders to 'entertainment' and 'commercial breaks'.

Political conventions, if they want to be broadcast, had better hire a TV consultant to fit-into the TV formula.

[snopercod]

In an amazing historical first, I actually agree with Rather.

Is there anybody in America that actually cares about the total BS spewn by the candidates? We all know that they are saying whatever they think they have to say to get elected, regardless.

[Cicero]

It strikes me that the nine midgets have been getting an inordinate amount of time and coverage. It could be argued that Michael Jackson is more interesting than any of them. And frankly he isn't very interesting.

Yet when President Bush gives a major speech, none of the networks carry it.

It's a safe bet that the Democrat convention will get at least twice as much coverage as the Republican convention, and that most of the coverage of the Republicans will be whining and complaints about how selfish and awful they are.

[Mark was here]

Conventions might be interesting if something / anything was to happen that was not scripted months in advance.

[Keith]

There was actually a very good "West Wing" which covered many of the same issues. It was pretty accurate.

[SwinneySwitch]

Dan Blather is still alive??

[Rubber Duck]

How about the Deanie Weenies having a repeat of Chicago 1968 once the party establishment hands the nomination to some Clinton puppet like the Breck Boy?

[anonymous_user]

As if I'd ever watch the Republican National Convention with Damn Blather commenting on it.

[Prodigal Son]

I think the future of broadcast news is in doubt personally.

People have too much tech at hand to have to rely on the networks for info. That is just going to increase.

In the future, a broadcaster will offer several simulaneous threads of news and the viewer will choose which he wants to see.

A homeowner might have an entire wall of his house devoted to various media- all interfaced through and controlled with his computer. The average person's house will look like the CNN studio with all the different events going on and the viewer commanding it all, switching back and forth from event to event, switching to autonous views (web cams) etc.

The "talking head news anchor" will be the thing that becomes extinct. People will have a variety of self made 'news men' like Drudge who will comment on what's going on at any given moment- or the viewer will just switch the comment off and digest the news as he sees it for himself.

[CyberAnt]

But .. Dan wouldn't be saying this if the DEMOCRATS were in power. He's only saying it because he's trying to downplay the repub coverage of the convention.

Never forget .. it was the LIBERAL media who all but refused to carry the 2000 repub convention, but they carried all four nights of the dem convention.

THIS IS JUST MORE SOUR GRAPES FROM THE LIBERAL MEDIA!

[snooker]

Yep ... and why not. With campaign finance reform, no convention coverage and presto the Dan Blathers of the world own the stage.

hehehehe... people have been had again

[CyberAnt]

I actually care what the Republicans have to say, and I watch every minute of the coverage. When the dems' convention is on, I only watch part of the final night to see who the nominee is.

I am confident the dems say whatever is necessary to get elected, because they have no core beliefs .. but generally, the repubs don't. And .. it's been reported more than once that President Bush has said to his staff .. put politics aside. If he was pandering to the public, he would never say that.

Actually .. your statement is the real BS!

[ladyinred]

What does Rather Biased expect the parties to do at their conventions?

The media will already tell us who is going to be President before the conventions even begin.

Personally, I hope people like Rather stay away and just let us watch with no propaganda.

[snopercod]

Please, PLEASE, tell me what the "core beliefs" of the republicans are. I have been unable to pin them down.

Lower taxes? Sure, temporarily...

Balanced budgets. Well, no...

Less government? Less regulation? Absolutely not.

More freedom? "Your papers, please" every time you are forced to fly on an airliner... Massive databases kept on American citizens. (CAPPS II)

Respect for the U.S. Constitution? Bush has personally violated 9 of the first ten Amendments, as well as his oath of office.

Private property? Sure, as long as you do what the feds tell you to do with it. EPA budget increased by 25%. Riparian buffers. Endangered species. Clean air/clean water act all enhanced.

Personal responsibility? No, we will take care of you (Hillary care lite)

Free markets? Sure, as long as they are Chinese and Mexican.

Protect our borders? Not if it will gain us votes among the hispanic community.

Wake up, man.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. if that's what you believe the repub core beliefs are .. you have classified yourself as a liberitarian. I wish you luck!

[small voice in the wilderness]

I personally enjoyed the 2000 conventions. From the "It is time, time for them to go" to the pathetically hilarious gore "kiss" to the Elvis is In the Building walk of clinton, I found lots to cheer about with the Republican Convention and lots to laugh about with the Dem. Convention. This year should be even better. The Republicans in a celebratory mood, and the Dems. at a very large funeral.

[Wait4Truth]

The only good thing I have to say about C-Span is that they do cover the conventions in their entirety. I taped the entire 2000 Republican Convention with no loudmouth pundits talking over them. After Bush's speech, I switched to the cable channels to see what they were saying.