Republicans Will Air Convention On Cable TV

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, July 25) -- Creating an alternative to network coverage, the Republican Party plans to bring uninterrupted and more extensive coverage of its August convention in San Diego on a cable channel run by its political allies.

While the major networks are likely to show only an hour or so each night, televangelist and former GOP presidential candidate Pat Robertson's Family Channel will broadcast the GOP gathering commercial-free from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on most convention nights.

The Democrats have no similar plan. Though the San Diego Convention Center says it has picked up most of the cost, The Washington Post reported today that an unnamed corporate donor has contributed heavily, which Democrats claim is illegal.

GOP chairman Haley Barbour told reporters, "We want our convention to be participatory, to connect with the country by involving and reaching more people than just those gathered inside the convention hall in San Diego." (256K WAV sound)

Those serving as reporters for the broadcast will include Republican politicians, Barbour said, including Reps. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.), Jennifer Dunn (R-Wa.) and Henry Bonilla (R-Texas). Of the three, only Bonilla has any broadcasting experience.

Conventions have never been especially riveting television, and the San Diego convention hall apparently isn't helping. Network executives say the cramped quarters and low ceiling of the hall will make TV coverage difficult.

Even Bob Dole has noticed. "Very low ceilings there," the likely nominee commented on a visit to the hall last May. "We're going to have very small balloons."

Republicans Will Air Convention On Cable TV

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