It is a fact. As long as the nomination is in doubt the ratings for the cable Channels (FOX, CNN, CNNfn, CNN headlines. CNBC, and MSNBC) will be higher.
They could make real bucks if the democratic convention was a brokered convention. The main networks are not going to cover it, but a brokered convention could draw 7 to 10 million viewers to cable. And if the nominee is not decided unitil the convention all the cable news channels will have 6 more months of elevated ratings.
So when it looks like a Dean win they take him down. When it looks like a Kerry win they build Dean back up. Look at the video in the last 2 days... Fantastic for Dean.
As long as the media can keep it a 4 person race in the north with Sharpton making it a 5 person race in the south, there is no way there can be a winner.
No winner...equals big ratings.
Lets say that CNN decides that a race is bad for Democrats and good for Bush, so they decide to take Clark out.. CNN trashed Clark and Fox makes him look good. OH OH!.. there will be angery liberals at CNN. Couldn't have that could they.
Fox is in the drivers seat as the number one cable channel. If Fox tries to make the race last as long as possible it will last a long time. If the race stays with 4 contestants no one of them can win the nomination.
If no one wins the nomination the ratings stay improved until the convention and a brokered convention would drive all the cable channels ratings up.
The cable channels have many reasons for attacking who ever is in the lead...and building up who ever is on the bottom... and keeping this race going until the convention.
It will be interesting to see what happens.
Good points. I completely agree with you.