Cable networks crowd campaign trail

CABLE NETWORKS CROWD CAMPAIGN TRAIL
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Gail Schiller]
Now that the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary have launched the presidential race, non-news networks are piling on to document an election season seen as just too entertaining to pass up. While outlets such as MTV and Comedy Central have long been using campaigns for programming fodder, newcomers to the presidential race are hoping TV viewers will cast their ballots with them -- especially given that the writers strike has shut down most original TV programming. "This election is gearing up to be perhaps the most interesting TV series of the season, and everyone technically has the rights to it," said Robert Thompson, professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University. Among the new entrants: the gay-themed Logo, women's cable channel WE tv, the Independent Film Channel (IFC), young men's channel Spike, and country music outlet CMT.
http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN0955546020080109