NBC Pays Gov’t $33.9 Billion For Election Broadcast Rights

[GOPAgainstGW]

Email Rec’d

Anybody know if this is true or not?

The idea was NBC was going to pay for the master rights, then sell down-stream use rights to all the other networks and the news media, as a way to "shove" money to their "Washington friends".

However, many political scholars called this nothing more than a legalized bribe and a big one at that. Networks have never paid for TV rights like this.

Maybe this is why the RNC convention is getting so much more air time and coverage than the DNC convention, since the GOP controls the Administration and Congress?

Maybe this is why we have had to hear about this 04 election for almost 8 straight months now in the media? - ALT

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NBC Pays Gov’t $33.9 Billion For Election Rights

December 1998
NBC buys election
NBC Exclusive Broadcaster Presidential elections

Despite recent declines in ratings for elections, NBC paid the U.S. Government $33.9 billion to be the exclusive broadcaster of the 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections. The deal, which also includes the 2002 Congressional elections, marks the first time an American election has been bought (By a television network, that is.)

The unprecedented move has taken Washington and the television industry by surprise. "I didn't really know they could do that. They can't do that, can they?" CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather said yesterday. The landmark deal gives NBC the rights to all political conventions, debates, interviews with annoying spin doctors, and election night coverage.

Reaction has been mixed. While representatives from CNN, ABC, and CBS expressed shock and dismay, those at Rupert Murdoch's Fox network did not seem to care. "So? Adults 18-34 don't vote anyway. Who cares?" Murdoch said.

NBC apparently felt that the investment was worth it. "In this time of increased competition from cable, these are the types of big events we need in order to prosper." NBC West Coast president Don Ohlmeyer said. When asked about the demographics, Ohlmeyer said, "Elections do skew older, but they still attract large numbers of young adult males that we can't get anywhere else."

[Eric J in MN]

1. It's a joke (nt)

nt

[Massacure]

2. Can they really afford $33.9 billion?

That sounds insane.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Sure....Iraqi slush fund.

But, yeah, this is a bogus story.

[Gothmog]

4. Joke

This is amusing but not possible under the law.

[notbush]

5. Yes, it is a joke....No network would pay ANYTHING to

televise a convention....their ratings are dismal.

[Awsi Dooger]

6. Turned out to be a bargain

In '98, when this deal was made, no one could have foreseen the Florida 2000 chaos and therefore an extra month of exclusive coverage for NBC.