Cable News Was Biggest Convention Winner

Broadcasters cede historic role as political pundits

By Jess Kilby, Newser User

Posted Sep 1, 2008 9:33 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Democratic Convention made it official, writes Scott Collilns in the Los Angeles Times: The broadcast networks have passed the political torch to the cable networks. CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC not only delivered “wall to wall coverage” compared to the broadcast nets' paltry hour of nightly programming. Their ratings soared, while the networks' "stank."

CNN’s numbers jumped 82% over ’04, and gains at Fox and MSNBC are “nearly as impressive," notes Collins. He adds that at such highly scripted events, the news lurks in the margins. “The conventions play to cable's strength at saturation coverage and instant analysis,” writes Collins. CNN president John Klein was less charitable. "Networks are not in the news-coverage business anymore. They put on newscasts."

[Images (5)]

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MSNBC's Joe Scarborough reports from the floor during day two of the Democratic National Convention at the Pepsi Center August 26, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Terry McAuliffe, campaign chairman for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, talks to reporters on the floor at the Democratic National Convention last week. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Cable news anchors, including MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, have been launching "rhetorical cannons" all over the place in their recent political coverage, writes Scott Collins in the Los Angeles Times. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, file)

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper reports from the site of the Democratic National Convention at the Pepsi Center August 24, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Fans take pictures of CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper on the CNN set during day one of the Democratic National Convention August 25, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. (John Moore/Getty Images)

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My God, we're talking about one of the most important presidential elections we've had in this country in some time. - JIm Lehrer of PBS, who says broadcasters used "bad editorial judgment" in limiting their convention coverage

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Cable News Was Biggest Convention Winner