ABC on the DNC, Vol I
Reported by Melanie - July 26, 2004 -
Here's what ABC did (with observations about other networks) when it devoted one hour of coverage to the Democratic National Convention on July 26, 2004:
ABC's coverage began at 10:00 p.m. ET with opening words by George Stephanopoulos. At 10:02 p.m. ET, ABC went to Glenn Close who introduced Haleema Salie, a woman who lost her daughter in the World Trade Center. Ms. Salie gave a passionate, sweet, strong, poetic speech.
At 10:13 p.m. ET Fox was off live coverage. CBS and NBC were on ads. ABC continued live.
At 10:15 p.m. ET NBC was interviewing Caroline Kennedy. CBS was on Al Gore's speech of an hour (or more) earlier (as if it had just happened).
At 10:15 p.m. ET ABC was still live at the DNC.
At 10:16 p.m. ET CNN was on a round table discussion with Wolf Blitzer, Judy Woodruff and Jeff Greenfield. The CNN folks were talking about a picture that appeared today on the Drudge Report - of Kerry getting out of a space capsule, dressed in a sterile suit. Just as Drudge did, CNN compared the Drudge photo to the photo of George Dukakis, with Dukakis (and thus Kerry) looking inept as he drove a tank in a l988 photo. (COMMENT: I guess CNN continues it's effort to dive to the bottom as fast as possible.)
At 10:19 p.m. ET ABC went to its first break with Peter Jennings saying that defense of the country has "always been seen as a Democratic weakness."
(COMMENT: It has? Peter: This is a GOP talking point. Don't run with it.)
10:21 p.m ET - ABC was back on the convention.
10:35 p.m. ET - ABC and Jennings go to Caroline Kennedy for about 30 seconds as Bill Clinton starts to speak.
10:35 p.m. ET Peter Jennings said we're seeing a "very relaxed and immensely confident Bill Clinton."
ABC carried Bill Clinton's speech uninterrupted until it ended at 11:00 p.m. ET.
