Overwhelming News, Except in Prime Time

OVERWHELMING NEWS, EXCEPT IN PRIME TIME
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Paul Farhi]
On the night after the deadliest shooting spree in American history, the nation's most popular TV networks weren't covering the grim news during their prime-time hours. Instead, it was escapism as usual: ABC had "Dancing With the Stars" and "The Bachelor," Fox carried "24," CBS stuck with "Two and a Half Men," and NBC showed "Deal or No Deal." Which raises a question: Just how big does a story have to be these days to get the broadcast networks to pay attention during their most watched hours? More than a decade ago, faced with declining audiences and the choices of airing more profitable sitcoms and dramas, the networks began to cut back on coverage of the political conventions, presidential addresses and election-night results. More often than not, entertainment, not news, rules.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041601830.html
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-- See also --
* Channel 9 to Shut Its 'Eye on Washington'
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: John Maynard]
Washington (DC) TV station WUSA is pulling the plug on its weekend political round-table show, "Eye on Washington." The national public affairs show and the Saturday half-hour local newscast that followed will be replaced by "Entertainment Tonight."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041601809.html
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