ABC dumps new episodes of sitcoms for election coverage

[jal41]

This may be another result of the writer's strike, but ABC is airing coverage of the New Hampshire primary instead of regularly scheduled programming.

I suspect ABC is trying to extend the lifespan of unaired shows, and taking advantage of this event to do so.

Fox, CBS, and NBC are airing normal programming.

UPDATE: This was only from 8:30-9:30 PM. ABC is back to normal programming now.

 

[imhomerjay]

Unless there was some other feed, they moved the 9 p.m. According to Jim back to 8:30 and ran it in its entirety, followed by a 30 minute special.

 

[anotherguyTN]

Even that was an hour too much. With today's technology there's no excuse for needing to do anything more than running a trailer with the results, and perhaps have a 5 minute news break.

 

[mjlarochelle]

It's not even the real election. This kind of thing belongs on CNN.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

It's not even the real election. This kind of thing belongs on CNN.

Exactly. But with a writer's strike going on, it's always nice to have news people fill the void.

 

[radioguy555]

Just another example of how ga-ga the media has gone over covering every possible ounce of election-related news this time around. I hardly remember so much hype like this even in 2004!

 

[PTBoardOp94]

In 2004, at least one party's nominee was obvious ... G.W. Bush for the Republicans. Ditto for 2000, Al Gore and the Dems ... 1996 Clinton, 1992 Bush ...

 

[anotherguyTN]

I just hope the networks don't get the idea of showing more of the conventions this year.

 

[azumanga]

I just hope the networks don't get the idea of showing more of the conventions this year.

Unless the Writer's Strike drags on and on, in which in that case, we won't have any choice. (Yes, there's cable, but still...)

 

[ixnay]

I just hope the networks don't get the idea of showing more of the conventions this year.

FWIW regarding network scheduling, the Democratic convention (in Denver) begins August 25.

The Republican convention (in St. Paul) begins Labor Day, September 1.

All that according to my Googling. All VERY late in the rerun season.

ixnay

 

[TexasTom]

I just hope the networks don't get the idea of showing more of the conventions this year.

Remember...not everyone gets the cable channels. And, as has been noted by others already, the conventions are in the middle of rerun season, so about the only thing that would be preempted is the third runs of some CSI episodes and a lot of reality trash.

I would expect that coverage decisions will be at least partially based on ratings -- ABC got some very decent ratings with the back-to-back debates a couple Saturdays back, and that may have motivated them to try giving some time to the New Hampshire primary results in prime time. Unfortunately for ABC, the ratings weren't as good as they had been for the debates, probably because the debates were exclusively available through ABC, while primary coverage is available through more sources.

 

[anotherguyTN]

FWIW regarding network scheduling, the Democratic convention (in Denver) begins August 25.

The Republican convention (in St. Paul) begins Labor Day, September 1.

All that according to my Googling. All VERY late in the rerun season.

ixnay

So WHY is it necessary to keep pushing the primaries earlier?? ???

 

[KeithE4]

So WHY is it necessary to keep pushing the primaries earlier?? ???

In no particular order...

1. Because that's how and where the candidates are selected, not in the smoke-filled rooms of old. Those days ended over 30 years ago.

2. To give the Professional Windbags on the cable "news" channels and talk radio something to bloviate about.

3. To give the candidates and their supporters time to put their negative ads together. That, in turn, will give said windbags something to talk about other than the important stuff, like what the candidates actually want to do if they're elected.