Unfortunate TV scheduling conflicts that might cut down on youthful viewers tonight.

[Baitball Blogger]

I thought about this last night, and I was hoping someone would confirm these time scheduling issues that might presents time conflicts if the goal is to get the young to tune in to see Obama's speech.

The MTV Video Music Awards kick off at 8 p.m. ET, while the Toronto Film Festival begins Thursday and runs through Sept. 16.

Why this is a big deal is because of the issue that has the attention of, especially young women, 18 - 21 age group. At the MTV Awards will be Robert Pattinson who is the actor who plays a vampire in the Twilight movies. In the Toronto Festival, which I suspect has some kind of an airing tonight, will be his ex-girlfriend, Kristen Stewart. The Stewart appearance is an anticipated public appearance because it's the first time she will appear at a public function since she got caught cheating on her boyfriend.

http://www.digtriad.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1825459624001&odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|featured

If my suspicions are correct, is there any way to pull in that youthful audience to watch Obama, especially if the much heralded event takes place before he steps up to speak?

[MADem]

1. The "youth vote" is almost always a disappointment.

It hasn't lived up to its potential in forty or so years.

Anyone who wants to watch some bozos from a vampire movie won't be motivated to change the channel no matter who is on. They'd probably forget what day of the week it was, and realize they didn't vote until the first Wednesday or Thursday in November.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. This is not good news.

I can understand why we were so active in the sixties when so many of our brothers, lovers and fathers were dying because of decisions of old men. But what I see from the young is a feeling of futility.

[MADem]

23. It's not futility with all of them.

Some are bloody selfish, frankly--the Mini-Mitts with their parents who have sheltered them from adversity and given them a life of unreasonable ease. Others do care but their lives get in the way--they can barely make ends meet, so voting isn't a high priority. And some have that 'tude' that Nothing Matters or they're too cool to care.

If we were gearing up towards a meat-grinder war and a draft was on the horizon, there'd be more motivation. Where people stand is where they sit--and plenty of kids aren't feeling the pain, yet, because their parents are absorbing it, or the loans haven't yet come due.

We can do this without that extra "push" from the youth vote, but it's so much easier if they pitch in. Maybe they'll get the spirit--a lot of them are just now back to college; hopefully they'll catch the feeling.

[onenote]

2. MTV moved up the start of the VMAs so they will be over before Obama comes on

The VMAs now are on from 8 to 10, not 9 to 11.

And how many US voters will be watching films at the TIFF in Toronto at 10 pm tonight? Some, but not a signficant portion of the potential audience.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Excellent!

I hope someone puts a plug in for Obama.

[Greybnk48]

3. DVR? I'm 63 and I know how to

"walk and chew gum at the same time" when it comes to T.V. I'm sure it will be fine.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. What a wonderful world we live in.

I just hope that Obama gets a good slice of the t.v. audience live.

[tjdee]

4. They're already Obama voters, don't worry.

And as mentioned I think, MTV plans to end at 10 anyway.

No one airs the Toronto film festival as far as I know.

Just gotta GOTV with these young people.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. Interesting about the Toronto festival.

So I guess it's just down to photos and hand held videos?

[tjdee]

28. Yeah, there will probably be pics and breathless interviews

in the blogs/rags/E!/Entertainment Tonight tomorrow.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. That demographic does streaming

and so do I as do many many here on DU. They can multi-task their programs if they are really interested.

There is a DNC app and many other streams of the DNC convention.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. I'm multi-tasking now!

Frankly, those MTV Awards are such raunch fests. I suppose that's what it takes to get the attention of kids who haven't yet been there, done that.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. For all we know (since Clinton debuted there 20 years ago) the Obama campaign

may have already bought advertising during the show...

During the "Made in America" concert here in Philly last weekend, President Obama had Jay-Z run a "register and vote" video. So they know ways to can get to them and there were almost 50,000 people there watching this (including one of my younger nephews and his buddies - some of whom will be eligible to vote this year).

[nolabear]

6. The kids can multitask like a house afire. Streaming, watching, plus

MTV moved the time for Obama and I'd bet you money there'll be a shout-out or two. They DO rock the vote out there.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. Love to hear it.

Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to combine the times.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. Youth don't watch what's on now, they watch what they want when they want. So do I.

And if you don't mind me saying, 18-21 is not the age group that swoons for Twilight movies. The Toronto Film Festival is a cultural event in Canada, a great film festival, but not at television event, nor one Americans are much aware of outside film circles.
And I'm sure MTV will not conflict with the President, they want viewers and they have been known to point young people toward the ballot box themselves....

[Jennicut]

15. I know, I thought it was 13 year olds that were Twihards.

Besides, lots of people just catch up on the DNC events on Twitter or watch speeches on youtube.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. Twilight is so 3 years ago. It's all about Hunger Games now.

And the Toronto Film Festival? Today there will be a reading there of the screenplay for American Beauty, a film that premiered at the festival. It has tons of stars and there is no way to see it unless you are present in the hall, not even Canadian TV will air it. It is like worrying that a chamber concert will pull people away from the World Series.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Never heard of it before now.

I guess it will be the paps that will be active with their camerass. No, that wasn't a typo.

Agree with you on the Hunger Games, but there is one last mystery door to Twilight. No, it's not Breaking Dawn Part 2 that will air in November. It's whether Pattinson and Stewart will appear together for the premiere.

[Baitball Blogger]

18. They were thirteen when the series started.

Now they're voters!

[Jennicut]

21. I doubt they watch it now. I once listened to the New Kids on the Block.

I think you outgrow those things by the time you are 18.

[Baitball Blogger]

22. We'll just say, that Twilight ran its course.

But I doubt that those kids are NOT going to see the final chapter.

[avebury]

19. Young people are technologically adept. Even if they

don't watch the convention live tonight, if a big enough buzz is generated they will watch video clips on line.

[one_voice]

20. MTV replays a gazillion times.

[Curtland1015]

24. I'm sure people will watch, but in general the VMAs really aren't what they used to be.

Neither is MTV for that matter.

Hell, good luck even FINDING a video on MTV these days!

[jsmirman]

25. Good to hear of the change - but this sports nut

and I am a pretty, pretty big sports nut, trust me -

sports takes a backseat for me during the Convention.

I didn't watch a second of my beloved Giants losing last night (although with a SB in the memory bank and me beyond ticked off at the Tisch half of the ownership for disgraceful cruelty to a feral cat colony at their Loews hotel, this is already a less fanatical year for me).

[RagAss]

26. Generation Zero doesn't vote anyway......

They will get what they deserve.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

27. Will the speech be posted online?

The youth are used to watching what they what, pretty much when they want. They can still watch it, just later.