NBC has hijacked Sunday's Democratic debate in Milwaukee

[sybylla]

Just received this e-mail from Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. The debate will be confined to broadcast in Milwaukee. If you want your candidate's message to get to the rest of the state, consider clicking on the links and sending a message to the media in Wisconsin that they cannot hijack our debate.

********

The appearance of Janet Jackson's breast at the Super Bowl has prompted a federal investigation, but the probe is sure to steer clear of indecency in the media with far more serious implications for American society.

Sunday's presidential primary debate in Milwaukee will be aired live by NBC affiliate WTMJ, but if you don't live in the Milwaukee TV market you're not so lucky. NBC has exclusive rights to the candidate debate and it has been offered to other local NBC affiliates, but network stations in Madison, Green Bay, Eau Claire and Rhinelander all are opting to show the movie "Shrek" instead.

What's worse, Wisconsin Public Television tried for several weeks to get rights to broadcast the debate statewide, but was denied.

Interesting concept.... Broadcasters can buy exclusive rights to political dialogue and then refuse to allow it to be aired.

If you think a candidate debate leading up to what is arguably Wisconsin's most meaningful presidential primary in over 40 years is more important than "Shrek," let the NBC affiliates in your area know about it.

To contact Channel 26 in Green Bay, go to http://www.nbc26.com/contacts.htm

To contact Channel 15 in Madison, go to http://www.nbc15.com/Global/category.asp?C=41818&nav=G6p2

For Channel 13 in Eau Claire, go to http://www.weau.com/feedback.asp

And for Channel 12 in Rhinelander, go to http://www.wjfw-nbc12.com/feedback.htm

On the national level, it has been reported that something on the order of 200,000 people called to protest the Super Bowl halftime show. Congress now is having high-profile hearings to debate the crisis in American media and is vowing quick action to increase fines for indecent programming.

Last summer, the Federal Communications Commission passed rules allowing media giants like Viacom, which owns CBS and MTV, to get even bigger. Millions of Americans flooded Congress and the FCC with phone calls and e-mails protesting relaxation of media ownership limits. Funny, but the response in Washington has been anything but high-profile and the action has been anything but quick.

Media concentration has reduced elections to horse races and has led to less children’s programming, cuts in newsroom staff, a decline in minority-owned media, and the stifling of independent voices.

Call your representative in Congress. Urge him or her to

co-sponsor House Joint Resolution 72, the resolution of disapproval

that would roll back the new FCC rules. Members of Congress need to hear that the real solution to the problems of our media has to address the root cause - the growing concentration of media ownership.

For contact information for your representative and detailed instructions, go to http://www.mediareform.net/callcongress.php

Right now is a critical moment. Take 3 minutes and make a difference.

And, to support WDC's work, go to www.wisdc.org/joinpage.html

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
210 North Bassett Street, Suite 215
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: [phone]
Web Site: http://www.wisdc.org

[AP]

1. Just when Edwards and Kucinich were guaranteed to get more air time...

...big media is cutting off their access to the public's attention.

Sick.

[pezcore64]

2. WOW

Shows how smart I am! I thought it would be a nationally viewed debate!!!

ONLY IN ONE CITY!?!

thats crazy talk!!
whats wrong with these people!
im writing!

[cheezus]

3. Why wouldn't MSNBC want to show it?

[AP]

7. Because it could only help Edwards, and becuase Kucinich will have more

time to say things that are true about how bad the media is.

Remember the first couple debates? Edwards and Kucinich (and CMB) were always the bottom three in time given.

They can't bury them now under discussions about who said what about Dean, so they'll just not air the debates at all.

[BL_Zebub]

4. Will C-SPAN carry the debate?

So far they have every one, except for that last one on FAUX, which was suspiciously cut off towards the end and never aired again.

[sybylla]

8. I imagine they will, but just not live

The problem is that most of the state, outside Milwaukee and Madison is heavily rural with poor access to cable programming. Even if you have access to cspan, having to hunt down the broadcast of a debate that should get free air play in Wisconsin is just plain rediculous.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. WHAT!!!???!!!!

I'm in neighboring IL and I want to see these debates! And it's not just Edwards and Kucinich exposure. This is supposed to be Dean's "showdown" state. :nuke: *PISSED BIG TIME!*

[pezcore64]

9. EXACTLY

once again the media throws a wall infront of the Dean Campaign.

[indigo32]

6. that completely sucks

eom

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. Time to blast NBC with complaints

n/t

[Skip Intro]

11. MSNBC WILL air it (live) - NBC will not.

Still sucks that you have to have cable to see it, but, nationally anyway, this is the way its been this whole cycle. As for WI, it should be statewide on broadcast stations. I mean, we are choosing the next president of the US.

http://www.wisconsindebate.com
-----------------------
Wisconsin Presidential Debate scheduled for Feb. 15
There will be a nationally televised presidential candidate debate in Milwaukee Feb. 15, 2004, two days before the Wisconsin open presidential primary. The debate, titled Wisconsin Presidential Debate 2004, is sponsored by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WTMJ-TV, and Journal Communications, Inc. (NYSE:JRN).

The 90-minute debate, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. will be hosted by Marquette University and will be held in the Alumni Memorial Union on Marquette's campus in Milwaukee.

Democratic presidential hopefuls have been invited to participate in the debate.

The debate will be broadcast live on NBC affiliate TODAY'S TMJ4 and to a national audience on MSNBC. TODAY'S TMJ4 Anchorman, Mike Gousha will moderate and will be joined by a panel of journalists, including Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel Washington Bureau Chief; Lester Holt, MSNBC News daytime news anchor, and Gloria Borger, co-anchor of CNBC's "Capital Report" program.

[sybylla]

12. and Kick

because the citizens of Wisconsin shouldn't have to pay to hear their politicians debate issues that effect them.

[genius]

13. They should have a debate after the debate and give it to someone

who will show it.

[sybylla]

14. Kick and an update

Just since we sent out our e-mail alert on presidential debate coverage this morning, a large number of people have been contacting their local NBC stations and are being told that Milwaukee's NBC affiliate, WTMJ, has exclusive rights to air the debate and won't let other NBC affiliates around the state have it.

That doesn't square with what at least one local NBC affiliate and other sources were saying yesterday, but assuming the different tune being sung today is on the up and up they're implying they'd be willing to air the candidate debate instead of "Shrek" if WTMJ would just let them.

Contact WTMJ http://www.touchtmj4.com/4feedback/ and ask why any broadcaster should get exclusive rights to political discourse and then prevent it from being aired on public television statewide or on local affiliates in other parts of the state.

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
210 North Bassett Street, Suite 215
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: [phone]
Web Site: www.wisdc.org

[sybylla]

15. one more kick. eom

[bobthedrummer]

16. As a local musician that had a video broadcast locally during

Campaign 2000-NBC 26 will be getting some complaints. "Shrek"?:puke:

[cheezus]

17. Oh, C'mon, it's not Shrek's fault

Shrek is cool man

[goodhue]

18. but it will be on MSNBC I believe

your gripe is with broadcast affiliates