MSNBC announces final schedule details for debates…
MSNBC put out a release for the final details for coverage of the first Democratic and Republican presidential candidate debates…
As previously announced, MSNBC will carry exclusive live national coverage of the first national presidential primary debates including the Democratic Candidates’ Debate on April 26, and the Republican Candidates’ Debate on May 3. NBC Nightly News Anchor and Managing Editor Brian Williams will moderate the South Carolina debate, which will originate from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm (ET). Chris Matthews will moderate the Republican Candidates’ Debate, sponsored by MSNBC, The Reagan Library and Politico.com, originating from the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California from 8:00 to 9:30 pm (ET). Both debates will stream live on MSNBC.com.
As the Democratic candidates gather in South Carolina to debate the key issues facing their party and the nation, MSNBC anchors will be on hand to telecast live from the venue including Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough and Tucker Carlson. MSNBC will preview the debate throughout the day on April 26th with all-day political coverage beginning at 9:00 am (ET). Anchors throughout the day will include NBC’s David Gregory, Chip Reid and Peter Alexander, and MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, Chris Jansing, Amy Robach and Norah O’Donnell. “Tucker” will telecast live at 4:00 pm (ET) from South Carolina State University. “Hardball with Chris Matthews” 5:00 pm (ET) will present a “Hardball College Tour” with special guests Elizabeth Edwards and the third highest-ranking democrat in the House of Representatives, Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-SC) before a student audience on the campus of South Carolina State University.
MSNBC’s pre-debate coverage will continue at 6:00 pm (ET) with co-anchors Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann and featuring NBC’s Tom Brokaw. The debate will telecast commercial free from 7:00 to 8:30 pm (ET) with NBC’s Brian Williams moderating. The debate will also stream live on MSNBC.com. In addition, the South Carolina NBC affiliates, WIS-TV in Columbia, WYFF-TV in Greenville and WCBD-TV in Charleston will broadcast the debate. The South Carolina Democratic Party has already announced that Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson are all confirmed to participate.MSNBC’s coverage will continue immediately following the debate, with Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews interviewing candidates, campaign surrogates and political analysts, beginning at 8:30 pm (ET). MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough will be live in the “spin room,” with interviews with campaign officials and additional analysis. Matthews and Olbermann will anchor until midnight. Joe Scarborough will anchor the network’s continuing post-debate coverage from midnight to 1:00 am (ET).
MSNBC will also provide exclusive live coverage of the “first in the nation” Republican Candidates’ Debate on Thursday May 3rd from the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, in partnership with Politico.com. Chris Matthews will moderate the debate, for which Sam Brownback, Jim Gilmore, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Tom Tancredo and Tommy Thompson are confirmed. Once again, MSNBC’s primetime anchors will be on hand to telecast from the debate site. MSNBC daytime will preview the debate all day May 3rd with another all-politics day anchored by Brian Williams, Tim Russert, Andrea Mitchell, Lester Holt, David Gregory and Chip Reid, as well as MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough and Chris Jansing.
“Hardball with Chris Matthews” will originate from the Reagan Library on the day before the debate, May 2 (live at 5:00 and repeating at 7:00 pm ET). MSNBC’s primetime schedule on the evening of the debate will telecast as follows (all shows originating live from the Reagan Library): “Tucker” will telecast at 4:00 pm (ET), “Hardball with Chris Matthews” will telecast at 5:00 pm (ET), a special edition of “Scarborough Country” will telecast at 6:00 pm (ET), and a special edition of “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” will telecast at 7:00 pm (ET). The debate, which will telecast commercial free, will begin at 8:00 pm and run to 9:30 pm (ET), moderated by Chris Matthews.
MSNBC’s coverage of the debate will continue at 9:30 pm with Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews. Matthews and Olbermann will provide additional analysis until midnight. Joe Scarborough will anchor the network’s continued coverage of the debate from midnight to 1:00 am (ET). MSNBC schedules for the debate days are further below, as well as usage rules for debate audio and video footage.
MSNBC.com, THE site for political coverage, will provide users with comprehensive insight and analysis of the upcoming debates with original reporting, news, commentary, live blog updates, on-the-scene observations and Web-exclusive analysis that can only be found at www.politics.msnbc.com.
MSNBC.com will stream the debates live on the site in addition to posting live blog updates from NBC’s political analysts. Video from the debates also will be available on www.politics.msnbc.com.
Millions of users can get involved by logging onto www.politics.msnbc.com to “Rate the Debate.” MSNBC.com is providing a unique interactive opportunity for users to rate the candidates both before and after the debates, and to weigh in on a series of votes about the candidates’ performance. After voting, users will be see how their vote rated along the political spectrum in comparison to the rest of the nation. Users are also encouraged to post their thoughts on the message boards.
Leading up to the debates, MSNBC.com will feature columns about the candidates from NBC’s Chuck Todd and Mark Murray, and Newsweek’s Howard Fineman. Msnbc.com will post video montages of the candidates from the campaign trail. These clips will be posted on each of the individual candidate pages. Users will have the opportunity to learn where the candidates stand on a variety of issues, and also review primers on South Carolina and why it matters as well as get insight on the relevance of “Super” delegates.
MSNBC.com is also encouraging users to send in questions for the debate. NBC News moderators will pull questions from the “Mailbag” and ask the candidates some of the questions.
MSNBC Schedule For April 26 (All Times Eastern)
9:00 am – 4 pm MSNBC Daytime Coverage - Politics Day4:00 pm “Tucker”
5:00 pm “Hardball College Tour with Elizabeth Edwards”
6:00 pm MSNBC coverage of the South Carolina Democratic Party Debate hosted by Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Debate
8:30 pm MSNBC post debate coverage hosted by Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews
Midnight – 1:00 am MSNBC post debate coverage hosted by Joe Scarborough
MSNBC Schedule For May 3 (All Times Eastern)
9:00 am – 4 pm MSNBC Daytime Coverage - Politics Day
4:00 pm “Tucker”
5:00 pm “Hardball with Chris Matthews:
6:00 pm “Scarborough Country”
7:00 pm “Countdown with Keith Olbermann”
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm Debate
9:30 pm MSNBC post debate coverage hosted by Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann
Midnight – 1:00 am MSNBC post debate coverage hosted by Joe Scarborough
I guess this will really help cement MSNBC role as the official news network for the DNC.
Comment by mlong — April 23, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
Did you just ignore the part about the Republican debate?
Comment by Randy — April 23, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
“Sarcastically speaking”, I’m not sure if it’s in the Republican’s best interests to be seen on a network that has obvious “Left Leanings”. With Chris Matthews (former aide to Tip O’Neil) and KO, along with the shift towards the left from NBC management it just doesn’t make much sense for the Republicans to have this debate hosted by this “partisan” network.
Now, as my first two (2) words in the paragraph above stated, I was being sarcastic. But, do you now see how “idiotic” it is for the Dems to boycott the debates on FNC because the far left blogs perceive Fox to be partisan to the Republicans.
This boycott by the Dems is a disservice to everyone and is just a disgrace.
Comment by Rich — April 23, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
I’ll be interested to read the write-ups about how KO handles the Republican debates. If he’s up to his old tricks, there are going to be a lot of very angry (and rightfully so) people out there… but more importantly, the Republican’s will turn it and relate it to non-Dem FNC debates. I wonder what type of leash they’ll put him on for the night.
Comment by ImNotBlue — April 23, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
Will KO actually be forced to face someone with an opposing viewpoint?..because he goes out of his way to avoid it on his regular show.
Comment by mlong — April 23, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
I am still disappointed that the candiates (including my guy Obama) dropped out of the Fox News Debates. I am not a Fox News viewer, but I do not like that the DEMS are caving to the far left in the party.
Comment by Obama in 08! — April 23, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
I’m more stunned they’re planning on shipping Olbermann to South Carolina. Why there’s not even a major league baseball team anywhere near there!
Comment by Alison — April 23, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Its funny, because amongst many of the liberals, they consider MSNBC besides Olbermann to be a platform for the GWB.
Comment by Randy — April 23, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
The most interesting question of the Dem debate will be what accent Hillary uses!
Comment by Ira — April 23, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
why is KO name being brought up in this post, Is he the one who is going to host the actual debates.
Comment by Sam — April 24, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Gimme a bleeping break. You would have to be living in the Arctic Circle without benefit of television NOT to recognize that Fox News is a Republican PR machine. The Democratic candidates made the right decision in boycotting this shamefully biased coverage. The problem is that journalism in this country has become a publicity program.
KG
Comment by KG — April 26, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
It is a joke to hear a liberal (KG’s comments) complaining about fox news and their right wing slant. Every other network on TV and Cable is slanted left of center. Media in general is slanted way left, it is laughable.
Comment by tp — May 30, 2007 @ 9:49 pm