CALL to ACTION: ABC has 4th night of coverage on Monday for GOP Convention

[jackstraw45]

In primetime!

ABC is doing a "convention halftime special" report on Monday night
(the disignated night the networks are skipping convention coverage).

The three nights of 1-hour primetime coverage are Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday for the GOP.

But ABC is adding coverage at halftime on Monday. 30 second ads cost $273,000 in 2003 on MNF. The GOP is going to get MILLIONS of free advertising from ABC. THIS IS WRONG.

Did they have convention coverage for the Democrats on the Tuesday they skipped?!?!?!?!? Monday Night Football has a huge audience and their viewer demographics are rich with core voting groups.

CONTACT ABC News and question their unfair additional coverage of the GOP convention Monday night:

Mr. David Westin
President
ABC News
47 West 66th Street
New York, New York, 10023-6298

Phone: [phone]

[e-mail]

Fax [phone]

http://abcnews.go.com/service/help/abccontact.html



Source:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1951&u=/variety/20040823/va_tv_ne/nets_set_gop_confab_plan&printer=1

"ABC News said it will carry a special live convention report anchored by Peter Jennings at halftime during "Monday Night Football.""

[Connie_Corleone]

1. No.

None of the 3 major networks carried in on Tuesday.

[jackstraw45]

2. Then we MUST get on ABC about giving an uneven 4th night of coverage

We ALL know who watches Monday Night football and this is a FREE night of coverage for the GOP with highlights, interviews and at least 20-25 mintues of PRIMETIME coverage the DEMS NEVER GOT!!!!

[trogdor]

19. ATTENTION DALLAS AREA DU'ERS

Monday's televised game is Tennessee Titans at Dallas Cowboys. Go there. Bring signs. Wear Kerry gear. That is all.

[jackstraw45]

20. Tennessee Vs. DALLAS

Had to be Texas....

:)

And a swing state like Tennessee.

[lancdem]

3. No

And that was the night Obama spoke.

[jackstraw45]

4. CONFIRMED...on Tuesday Night, there was NO primetime coverage AT ALL

This is BULLSH*T.

This special broadcast was somehow omitted from their convention press release:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/Convention_Coverage_Press_Release.html

Equal time my ass!

[AmandaRuth]

5. email sent

and kick to the top

[NoBorders]

6. email bounced back

sent email to [e-mail] and it bounced (no such address). Let's see if we can find other contact info.

[jackstraw45]

7. Where are all the DU activists?

C'mon, let's stop this free GOP commercial!

[Beetwasher]

8. Well, We Knew This Would Happen

Time to step up...

[NightOwwl]

9. Remind me please before I send my email...

Did ABC show one hour of the Dem convention on 2 or 3 nights?

[jackstraw45]

13. three nights for 1 hour each

This "special report" at halftime will be a 4th night of primetime coverage of the GOP convention.

MILLIONS in free advertising during a HIGHLY rated broadcast (with the Olympics over and the season about to begin).

[liveoaktx]

35. One last video clip of ABC's Peter Jennings

nose in the air, talking about why they didn't spend more time on the Dem convention, because they were pre-packaged infomercials. This was at a media conference during the DNC.Even Judy W argues with Jennings.

Annoyingly Arrogant

Uh, and WHAT is adding RNC convention coverage during halftime of a football game?

[LastKnight]

10. kick, nominated. nt

[AmerDem]

11. I just called

The receptionist was very snippy. Told me she doesn't think it will be the entire halftime show but wasn't sure. I told her i'de call back for the exact time and even if 1 minute was given that would be 1 minute more then the Dems had. I didn't even mention Monday Night Football's audience playing into their decision.

So I shall call back in another hour or so. I suggest others do the same!

[David Dunham]

12. Everyone should e-mail these a-sholes and complain.

[AmerDem]

21. Update

Called back and receptionist was more pleasant but said she wasn't able to find out how long the report was going to last. She said she was going to forward my concern.

I'm not surprised but the more people that contact them the better chance there is going to be in getting this nonsense fixed!

[jackstraw45]

22. The length of the special report doesn't matter...

Every second is additional primetime coverage the democrats didn't get.

It would have been nice for ABC to do a special report the night Obama spoke, wouldn't it?

Well, it didn't happen.

The length of the special report doesn't matter...it's still FREE coverage for the GOP that the democrats didn't get.

Disney can shove it.

[AmerDem]

24. I made that clear.

That was the basis of my complaint. It was this info she was going to forward ( or not )!

[NightOwwl]

14. Called and emailed

Snippy is too kind a word for the receptionist. She said my comments would be passed to the "Audience Participation Division", which basically means "we don't give a shit what your opinion is."

I also asked for a list of advertisers and was told she did not have the information and there was no one who could provide a list of the sponsors. Bull. I also sent an email, but that will probably go right to the trash.

I'm contacting Media Matters; if you have the time please let them know about ABC's free ad for the GOP also!

[jackstraw45]

16. Good idea...sent them an email too

Keep the phone calls coming folks...send a fax or two as well.

These Disney-owned, ABC liars need to be called out on this.

[blm]

15. Those fockers. I hope this makes the front page, js.

.

[indyjones1938]

17. Surprise, surprise

Well, not quite a surprise. We all knew it was going to happen. But you're not going to get anywhere by contacting ABC News itself. They and parent company Disney sold out to the GOP long ago.

My advice is to instead contact MediaMatters.org, Michael Moore, as many Democratic bloggers as you can (including the John Kerry blog), Keith Olbermann, Jon Stewart, and so on. Also call up the Kerry-Edwards campaign itself. Tell them to get their so-called "Rapid Response Team" on the issue.

[democrat_patriot]

18. I emailed them, tried to keep it non-partisan.

Show the Republican National Convention and it's done.

My weekly tradition will be gone. I will convince at least half of all people I know as well.

I am emailing ALL of ABC Monday Night Football's sponsors.

I am emailing ALL other networks regarding your biased coverage.

I am emailing 50+ forums and Blog's regarding this - look for a HUGE boycott and backlash.

This covers ESPN as well.

How many footbal fans enjoy politics? Look for an 80% drop in 2nd half viewing.

[liveoaktx]

23. Also, file a COMPLAINT with your LOCAL ABC broadcaster

they are licenced to use the airwaves.... FREE... but have to be in the public interest. They screwed up with the Dem convention because they believed that the Dem convention was not newsworthy enough (baloney) but remember they can have their LICENCE REVOKED.

PUBLIC AIRWAVES

MORE

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/public_and_broadcasting.html

[MallRat]

25. Here's mine. The "catch more flies with honey" approach.

To Whom It May Concern:

It has come to my attention that ABC is planning a GOP Convention update during halftime of Monday Night Football.

If I am in error, please accept my apologies. But if this is true, then I feel that offering such a high-profile prime-time spot on a fourth night of the Republican National Convention violates the fundamental tenets of equal time in broadcasting.

Last month, the Democratic National Convention received one hour of coverage on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I do not recall any updates or special reports on that Tuesday night to show clips of Barack Obama's keynote address or Theresa Heinz Kerry's speech to a captive audience at home.

Please fulfill your duty as a fair and unbiased news source. I fear that any coverage of the GOP Convention beyond the three 1-hour specials afforded to the Democrats would jeopardize your excellent reputation.

Thank you,

XXXXX

[malachibk]

26. Just called

The receptionist sounded like she's been getting a lot of calls today. CALL MORE!!!!

[cthrumatrix]

27. will do........

[jackstraw45]

28. UPDATE: MORE ABC Media CONTACTS. CALL each of them...

...and ask why this "special report" was left out of press releases before the Democratic convention.

ABC News Media Relations:

Cathie Levine [phone]
Julie Summersgill [phone]
Susan Sewell [phone]

[jackstraw45]

29. SUGGESTION: Call AGAIN and demand they use their 7th night of coverage...

to equally cover Obama's speech and other events on the Tuesday of the Democratic National Convention when ABC couldn't find time to insert a "special report."

Since they initially didn't reveal this 7th night of convention coverage before the DNC convention, I guess now they can find time to cover the Tuesday speeches at the Dem Convention they never aired.

CALL! CALL! CALL!

[NoBorders]

30. tried the new email address n/t

[jackstraw45]

31. Kicking....c'mon folks, keep up the pressure

This is millions of free advertising for the GOP care of the same company that hired Rush for ESPN.

[Joe the Revelator]

32. Message Sent

Keep up the pressure people.

:kick:

[DUreader]

33. Does this violate the equal time election laws? I would think so

[JerseygirlCT]

34. Mailed. Thanks for the heads-up. nt

[ClassWarrior]

36. Done

:kick:

[cally]

37. Receptionist was very argumentative

She kept saying it's only two minutes and I said that's more than you gave the Democrats. Will you offer equal time to the Democrats? She said it doesn't matter because it's only two minutes. I asked her, politely, how much they would sell those two minutes for? She hung up. Keep calling.

[jackstraw45]

38. Monday Night football ad rates were $273,000 for 30 seconds last year

2 minutes my ASS....but even at that, that's over a MILLION DOLLARS in free airtime that the dems didn't get.

AND, if it's only going to be 2 minutes, WHY didn't ABC take 2 minutes on Tuesday, July 27 to cover the DNC convention?

But if you believe that Peter Jennings is going to anchor a 2 minute "special report," I have some beans to sell you.

Keep CALLING folks...

[AmerDem]

40. jackstraw, any idea on the avergae MNF ratings?

I know they are usually pretty good.

[jackstraw45]

54. They should be higher than the last few weeks since olympics over

and season about to begin.

We're talking at least 10-20 million viewers.

This is a complete farce by ABC. They SHOULD have found time to do a special report on Tuesday during the DNC.

NOW, there's no way they should do a special report for the RNC on Monday.

[AmerDem]

39. good one

"how much they would sell those two minutes for"?:toast:

[Julien Sorel]

42. If it's only two minutes, they should damn well give the Kerrry camp

the same "only two minutes." After all, it's "only two minutes," right?

[liberal N proud]

41. email sent!

[LastKnight]

43. kick.

i know the phones are closed after buisness hours... but email boxes are 24/7

-LK

[Stephist]

44. The Only Good Thing About This

Is that it is still an Exhibition football game so ratings will not be as high as a normal game. You know that the RNC will get far better coverage then the DNC. If Bush gets his name right CNN will hail it as the greatest acceptance speech of all time.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

45. ABC is owned by Disney, the SAME Disney that WOULD NOT....

Distribute Michael Moore's F9/11!

I'm not suprised, ABC is not a real network.

[fujiyama]

46. Well what do you expect from the media?

This is the same media that rolled over when it came to lies of WMD, Saddam=Osama, and a whole host of other things.

Oh and Peter Jennings is an arrogant prick. I can't stand him.or

[girl gone mad]

47. Dennis Miller used to be a..

commentator. They were considering hiring Rush before they chose Miller.

They pander to an audience the 'real men vote Republican' crowd, and they've been doing it for a long time now.

ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings
47 West 66th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10023
Tel: [phone]
Emails: [e-mail]

[jackstraw45]

48. Keep emailing overnight!

:kick:

[DeepModem Mom]

49. kick

[mzmolly]

50. ALTERNATE PHONE AND EMAIL CONTACTS FOR ABC HERE!

Phone: [phone]

How do I contact the ABC Television Network?
Mailing Address:
ABC, Inc.
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4551
Phone number: [phone]

Specials: Audience Relations Department at [e-mail]

For ABC Sports: [e-mail]

[jackstraw45]

53. DAY #2...KEEP the pressure on folks...

Equal coverage MEANS equal coverage...let's make sure ABC knows that.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

51. kick

[cally]

52. Make those phone calls and send the emails

:kick:

[a_knight_errant_4u]

55. National Football League

Since ABC and Disney probably don't care what Democrats think, perhaps complaints to the NFL would stir more interest. After all professional sports try to maintain at least an illusion of neutrality, and the NFL is the most cautious of all leagues.Maybe they wouldn't want their product drug into a presidential race.

[Irishladdie]

56. I Just called....LOL

The lady answered sounded very unhappy. She sounded tired of getting phone calls. She told me, News is on on Mondays.

[jackstraw45]

67. News is on Mondays?!?! So Tuesday is just for crappy ABC sitcoms?!?!?

Because it would have been nice on the Tuesday ABC skipped for a special report, in between crappy sitcome #2 and #3, to have a piece on Obama's speech.

[BrooklynRider]

57. SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND

Mr. Westin-

With the 2004 Presidential Election shaping up to be a contentious, aggressively fought and hard won fight, it seems incredibly unfair and unethical for your network to be offering Republicans a free half time special report during Monday Night Football, one of the most highly rated programs of the season. In the interst of fairness and in the interest of furthering the national debate on real issues, I ask you to refrain from creating prime time specials for the Republicans and cover it as you did the Democratic Convention. Surely, ABC does not feel that an NFL football game is more important than a presidential election. Should you choose instead to go forward with this clear partisan attempt to allow the Republican convention to reach a wider realm of voters, than would otherwise be expected, you can be sure I will be turning my channel to anything but ABC for my news in the future. I'd expect this from Rupert Murdoch, Roger Ailes and Fox News Channel, I hardly expected such a partisan plan from one of the Big Three networks. I encourage you not to screw around with a fed up American public with this event.

xxxx xxxx
Brooklyn, NY

[Northern Experiment]

60. Sample Letter....

Thats a pretty good letter. I'm definately going to call them and send them emails about this matter. I signed up just to respond to this unfair treatment of the democrats of America, hell of all American citizens.

[BrooklynRider]

58. BECOME AN ACTIVIST - WRITE OR CALL - DO SOMETHING!

[Irishladdie]

59. Here's their response to me....

Thank you for writing to the ABC Television Network.



When ABC Sports is carrying a live event, ABC News frequently schedules halftime news briefs as news warrants. In keeping with that, on Monday, ABC News will broadcast a brief news update anchored by Peter Jennings during the halftime show of Monday Night Football, which recently began pre-season telecasts on Monday, August 9.

[snyder]

61. Thanks For The Heads-Up!!

I've e-mailed and called. The receptionist said "it's only a two minute news brief." I said, "Did you give a two-minute news brief to the Democrats? Why don't you just put a Bush-Cheney bumper sticker on the crawl along the bottom of your screen?"

[Northern Experiment]

62. Hahaha!

Do they not realize the idea of it all? So what if its just two minutes!
It just isn't fair to just give the RNC extra time where as the DNC didn't get any extra time.
If anything, if they are going to show a couple minutes of the convention...then show a couple minutes of a rally that Kerry or Edwards is having that day or day before.

Balance it out!

[snyder]

63. Text of My Letter

I'm about to fax this to several people there:

Dear ABC:


I'm writing to protest ABC's decision to schedule a special "update" of the Republican Convention during your Monday Night Football broadcast. You broadcast three nights from the Democratic Convention, but are going to provide coverage of the Republican Convention on four nights. This is biased and unfair. Perhaps it reflects your ownership by Disney, which also attempted to kill Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911 for political reasons.

It's shameful that ABC would turn itself into a Republican propaganda apparatus. You know how Fox calls themselves "Fair & Balanced?" How about this for a slogan: "ABC: A Leisure-Time Service of the Republican Party."

On the one night of the Democratic Convention where your news operation didn’t provide coverage, ABC didn’t do a two-minute "news update." But you’re doing it for the Republicans. The value of this time is about half a million dollars, which is how much your company is contributing under the table by doing this.

What’s the deal? Does Disney World need a zoning variance in Florida? Maybe ABC has a matter pending before the FCC? This is blatantly corrupt.


Sincerely,

[Northern Experiment]

65. Re: Text of....

"What’s the deal? Does Disney World need a zoning variance in Florida?"
-Synder-


Haha, NICE! Sticking it to them.
They seriously need to re-think this. If they air this and won't air anything extra on the Democratic party, it'll give them a nice scar on their reputation.

[liberal N proud]

64. Response from ABC about Monday:

Thank you for writing to the ABC Television Network.


When ABC Sports is carrying a live event, ABC News frequently schedules halftime news briefs as news warrants. In keeping with that, on Monday, ABC News will broadcast a brief news update anchored by Peter Jennings during the halftime show of Monday Night Football, which recently began pre-season telecasts on Monday, August 9.

In other words, we don't give a $%!#.
Boycot Monday Night Football!

[jackstraw45]

66. BULLSH*T! So the DNC on TUESDAY wasn't NEWS?!?!?!?!?!?

Now they're calling it a "news update" instead of "convention special report."

This is BS!!!!

[Cha]

68. I never watch abc anyway..

but will call them and complain about extra coverage for the bush follies while The Dem Convention didn't get squat on Tuesday night..with our keynote speaker, Barack Obama..who is a Real newsmaker!

[ItsMyParty]

69. Take a chill pill. All they're going to have is bunch of pissed off jocks

Really, that's what is going to happen. The jocks want to hear the umpteenth rehash of every play of the first half. They don't want to watch political shit or general national news shit. And on top of it all, there will be people up there speaking who most of the jocks couldn't even identify much less listen to. You are going to be hearing the massive sounds of guy's peeing and digging through the frig and yelling "are they done with that shit yet?? - are they back to the game?--goddamn ABC is worthless". Trust me...I know jocks.

[wiseleo]

70. My letter to ABC

This is what I think. It could be incorrect, but I tried to keep it factual. Learned of this site through Majority Report.

Dear Mr. David Westin,

I am writing to question your decision to unfairly grant the RNC extra free coverage on Monday during one of the most highly rated shows on TV.

This decision, as I see it, constitutes nothing less than a clear violation of campaign financing limitations. By airing a prime-time special report, if priced at market rates, the GOP receives a gift of $5 Mil. If I remember correctly, the Democratic party received no such gifts on the "black Tuesday" of their convention.

It is absolutely irrelevant as far as the actual duration of this report. This extra incredibly unfair coverage, no matter how brief it may be in its duration, will have the profound effect of reaching millions of viewers who otherwise choose to not to follow the RNC.

You will receive another copy of this message from me via fax.

I urge you to reconsider your decision to grossly violate the US campaign finance laws in proceeding with this special during such an important hour. This is absolutely unfair to the supposed equal time that is supposed to be allotted to political events on national TV, and ultimately it is very much not in-line but is in fact contrary and detrimental to the democratic process of the United States of America.

Respectfully yours, but highly outraged,

Leonid

[DeepModem Mom]

71. kick

[The Ref]

72. Isn't it a football tradition...

...to expose your boob during half-time?