PBS' Iraq Documentary Sets Online Viewership Record

[CatWoman]

Executives at "Frontline" do not yet know how many people watched their recent four-and-a-half hour documentary, "Bush's War," because of PBS's complicated Nielsen ratings.

Online, however, "Bush's War," which was produced for the fifth anniversary of the United States' invasion of Iraq, has set a record, with more than 1.5 million views of all or part of the program, which was streamed in 26 segments.

"Frontline" has streamed most of its documentaries free since 2002 (www.pbs.org/frontline), part of an effort to reach younger audiences than typically tune in to PBS. The online viewing to date of "Bush's War," which was broadcast in two parts on March 24 and 25, is an estimated "10 times the traffic of a normal show for us," said Sam Bailey, the program's director of new media and technology. Viewers are also sticking around much longer than they usually do on the site, typically for 7 to 10 minutes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/07/pbs-iraq-documentary-sets_n_95370.html

[Kolesar]

1. That's where I watched it and it depressed the h--- out of me

For two nights in a row!!

[babylonsister]

2. That's good news; people NEEDED to see this. nt

[JohnyCanuck]

3. PBS on Iraq: A Compilation of Deceit

PBS on Iraq: A Compilation of Deceit

By Morgan Strong
March 30, 2008

There have been five agonizing years of this war in Iraq. Five terrible years of bewilderment and rage.

Commemorating that anniversary, Frontline, the PBS investigative series, allotted four-and-one-half hours over two nights to an in-depth analysis of the war in Iraq and how it came about.

What the broadcast revealed was nothing new. Others have engaged the subject as thoroughly as did Frontline. What we did see in this broadcast, however, was a compilation of the deceit, pettiness, treachery, arrogance, ignorance and stunning callousness by those who took us into this vile war.

The key figures who promoted the war were Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Lewis Libby. Those names were not new, but a new motive for the war was revealed: the recognition of Israel by a new democratic Iraq.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, in an interview with Frontline, revealed this motive in the context of his suspicions about Ahmed Chalabi, the Iraqi exile who was chosen by the Bush administration to run Iraq. The State Department was funding Chalabi and his Iraq National Congress.

SNIP

Those American officials who promoted the war hoped that a Chalabi-led Iraq would recognize Israel and a new era in the Middle East would begin. Libby, the Vice President’s chief of staff, and Cheney – along with Perle, Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld – endorsed the idea of Chalabi running Iraq and convinced a hopelessly befuddled Bush.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/032908b.html

[Blue_In_AK]

4. This is very positive.

I was concerned that not many people would watch since it was on PBS. If even a few new people are educated, it's a good thing, and it benefits the rest of us to be reminded of the seriousness of our situation. This administration has put us in a truly untenable position where catastrophes can't be avoided, whether we stay or we go. I truly believe this could have all been avoided. How could we have let these people do this much damage to our country's honor? Not that we were all that honorable before, but at least we appeared to be honorable. Now even that is lost.

We will not regain the good will of the world until we bring these people to justice. WE have to do it. It's no good if we have to wait for some other country to place them under arrest for war crimes. It has to come from us.

I do wish the candidates would speak to this issue.

[KoKo]

5. Thanks for the Post. Good one to pass around for those who missed it

to view online.

[callous taoboy]

6. Couldn't see it, Austin PBS station had it on at really late hours....GRRR....

[KoKo]

12. Can you link it from the PBS Site in the OP? If you are on Dial Up...I understand...

but, even so, you might be able to get it in small bits.

[jtrockville]

7. I wonder how many folks are seeing this info for the 1st time. (nt)

[spanone]

8. k&r

[huskerlaw]

9. I started watching it online this weekend

I kept waiting for PBS to replay it, but then I found it online. I've only watched 4 segments so far...I got so pissed that I had to turn it off, but I'll go back!

[Elspeth]

10. I need to watch it. Our PBS outlet doesn't show interesting stuff

And I am so sick of the folk singer fund drives they seem to show every night.

[KoKo]

11. Kick...for those who missed it who might want to check out...n/t

[Fumesucker]

13. I think that is the one

That never once mentions the word "OIL"..