Although Federal law bans live TV or radio coverage from criminal trial courtrooms, Boston TV stations WBZ-4, WCVB-5, WHDH-7 and WFXT-25 had hours of live coverage this afternoon (August 12th) when Boston mob leader James "Whitey" Bulger was convicted of 31 or the the 32 counts he had been accused of.
I would think---although I have heard nothing on-air as of 5:15 P.M. EDT about this---that at least one of the four over-the-air stations mentioned above would air a 60-to-90 minute special wrapping-up the verdict and trial this evening.
Today's verdict is the second-biggest local news story in Boston during the 21st century (surpassed only by the terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon back in April), and I feel it is worth prime-time specials.
New England Cable News has also had lots of live coverage; I wouldn't be surprised if they go nonstop with it until late this evening.
Nationally, I think some of the cable news channels may have specials tonight; and perhaps even a broadcast network or two.
The Bulger trial was the highest-profile criminal trial held in Massachusetts since the Sacco and Vanzetti case in the late 1920's; however, it may not be for long (this assumes that the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving Marathon bombing suspect takes place in Boston, but I think there is a good chance that due to the intense publicity, it may be impossible to find an impartial jury at Boston Federal Court, and as a result, the trial could be moved to another part of the country).
I would think---although I have heard nothing on-air as of 5:15 P.M. EDT about this---that at least one of the four over-the-air stations mentioned above would air a 60-to-90 minute special wrapping-up the verdict and trial this evening.
Today's verdict is the second-biggest local news story in Boston during the 21st century (surpassed only by the terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon back in April), and I feel it is worth prime-time specials.
New England Cable News has also had lots of live coverage; I wouldn't be surprised if they go nonstop with it until late this evening.
Nationally, I think some of the cable news channels may have specials tonight; and perhaps even a broadcast network or two.
The Bulger trial was the highest-profile criminal trial held in Massachusetts since the Sacco and Vanzetti case in the late 1920's; however, it may not be for long (this assumes that the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving Marathon bombing suspect takes place in Boston, but I think there is a good chance that due to the intense publicity, it may be impossible to find an impartial jury at Boston Federal Court, and as a result, the trial could be moved to another part of the country).