Republican National Convention TV viewership fell off significantly on its third night, which was highlighted by Vice President Mike Pence’s acceptance speech from Fort McHenry. According to early numbers from Nielsen, an average of 15.7 million viewers watched in the 10-11:15 p.m. ET time frame across six networks. That compares to 18 million who watched in the same period on Tuesday, when First Lady Melania Trump spoke from the Rose Garden at the White House.
Throughout the convention coverage Wednesday, there were hints that a lot was going on in the wider world. CNN weather forecaster Tom Sater delivered an apocalyptic view of Hurricane Laura shortly before 10:30 p.m. ET, and CBS’s Norah O’Donnell noted “the biggest day of sports activism ever.” NBC News cut to a reporter on the streets of Kenosha, Wis., and CNN’s Dana Bash read former President Barack Obama’s tweet in support of NBA players angered by police shootings.
Not only did Fox News pull in the biggest audience for the first night of the Republican convention, but the network scored more viewers than they did four years ago for the opening of the 2016 event. According to Nielsen Media Research data, Fox News averaged 7.063 million total viewers from 10 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET, an 11% jump from 2016, when it pulled brought in 6.348 million viewers for the opening night of the RNC that first nominated Donald Trump to be president.
President Trump lobbed unsubstantiated claims during his Monday speech in Charlotte, N.C. TV broadcasters are trying to balance voters’ right to hear directly from their president with efforts to keep viewers informed of the facts.
Day One of the Republican National Convention featured a complaint about his coverage by President Donald Trump, some aggressive fact-checking by television reporters and an odd social media backlash against Fox News Channel, the favorite network of the president’s fans. Above, Donald Trump Jr., is seen on a video monitor as he tapes his speech for the first day of the Republican National Convention from the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington.
The party is promising a more traditional in-person spectacle with President Trump speaking every night. Coming into this weekend, major TV networks had only a foggy idea of what to expect. Two producers of The Apprentice, where Trump rose to TV stardom, are involved in the planning. Sadoux Kim, a longtime deputy to Apprentice creator Mark Burnett, is a lead consultant on the production. Chuck LaBella, a former NBC entertainment executive who helped produce The Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump, is also on the payroll.
Exclusives
“It’s a different world, and it will be for a little while,” Trump said, explaining his decision. “To have a big convention is not the right time,” Trump added.
Jon Stewart Fires Back At Trump Speech
NEW YORK (AP) — Jon Stewart has told Donald Trump’s supporters they can’t take America back, because they “don’t own” the country in a riff that mirrored his signature segments […]
If the Republican National Convention is a political circus, Media Row is definitely the can’t-miss sideshow. In a parking garage next to Quicken Loans Arena, Republican politicians, convention speakers, delegates and (mostly B-list) celebrities have made the rounds this week along a long, winding line of more than 160 TV, radio, and online media outlet booths.
Cleveland Stations Provide Raw RNC Access
It’s been an interesting week for Americans watching the nomination process in Cleveland this week. And local TV stations news operations are providing on Facebook a look at the events that is often raw and unedited, just as it happens on the streets in and around the convention.
Ted Cruz Gives RNC Its Dramatic TV Moment
Ted Cruz’s non-endorsement speech for Donald Trump Wednesday night gave TV viewers the moments of excitement they craved from the convention when the floor erupted in boos and chants of “Endorse Trump.”
Cleveland Stations Providing Raw RNC Access
CLEVELAND (AP) — A speechwriter for Donald Trump’s company said Wednesday she made a mistake and apologized for using passages from a 2008 Michelle Obama speech in the Republican party […]
WEWS Creates Survival Guide For Clevelanders
Trump RNC Entrance Fit For Television
Donald Trump appeared briefly Monday night to introduce his wife Melania, but his backlit entrance to Queen’s “We Are the Champions” was reminiscent of a professional wrestler.
News-producing stations in the country’s 18th largest TV market have been hard at work preparing to offer comprehensive coverage of next week’s Republican National Convention that’s relevant to area viewers, while also ensuring staff have flexibility to cover unexpected activity and stay safe.
Louis Libin has been designated as the single point of contact for frequency coordination operations at the Republican National Convention, the Democratic National Conventionand the Presidential Inauguration. He’s tasked with insuring that all unlicensed, short-term operations play nicely with one another and with their licensed confrères in the high-pressure, congested-spectrum environment of these three high-profile events.
When Donald Trump and other Republican luminaries take their turns at the podium next month at the Republican National Convention, the reporters and producers of hundreds, maybe thousands, of television news organizations will focus their efforts on the messages emanating from the Quicken Loans Arena stage. The exception, though, will be the handful of hometown broadcast stations, whose cameras will be trained elsewhere.
Fox News was just about flat compared to 2008, losing around -2% of its viewership, while NBC (-56%), ABC (-26%), CBS (-30%), CNN (-52%)and MSNBC (-25%) were down mid double digits.
Tampa TV Is Geared Up For GOP Convention
WFLA, WFTS, WTSP and WTVT began planning a year ago to make sure they would be ready when the Republican National Convention gets underway from Aug. 27 to 30. The preparation includes figuring out how to deal with the heavy security that encases political conventions and devising contingencies plans in case that security is breached or if other emergencies arise. Nobody is saying exactly what the extra effort is costing, although one station said its budget is running “north of six figures.”
