OPINION
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Cable News Was Biggest Convention Winner
Broadcasters cede historic role as political pundits
By Jess Kilby
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Posted Sep 1, 08 9:33 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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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."