The Nominating Convention TV Show

by Mark Rhoads

“By putting her name (Sen. Hillary Clinton) in nomination, you're putting people on the spot,” said former delegate counter Matt Seyfang, adding a second potential drawback: “Having a roll call...just chews into your broadcast time.”

Niether the Obama or McCain campaigns want any drama or surprise to unfold at their respective party conventions that could knock them "off message." They look upon the business of the convention as a distant second in importance to producing four nights of hour-long political commercials paid for by networks and a few sponsors.

HUT levels (homes using television) are normally at their lowest point in August due to summer activities. But every four years, networks hope that the Olympics and conventions will generate some better than normal August HUT levels that play a part in the murky world of TV ratings.

As usual, convention planners are decades behind the times because they have such long memories. Some Democratic planners still recall the 1972 convention disaster when George McGovern made his acceptance speech at 3 am Eastern Time to an audience of no one. Network news coverage of conventions is a shadow of its former self with time cut way back and losing market share all the time due to many more entertainment choices on cable than in the days when three networks dominated more than 24 years ago.  Little bounce in ratings for conventions means only a negligible bounce to benefit a nominee. Maybe if convention planners allowed some freedom and drama, they might get some viewers back.