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Television will provide a wide range of options for the Democratic National Convention (Monday through Thursday from Denver) and the Republican National Convention (Sept. 1-4 from St. Paul, Minn).
ABC
The times: an hour a night, starting at 10.
The talent: Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos are the anchor team.
Special features: “This Week,” “Good Morning America,” “World News” and “Nightline” will originate from the convention cities. ABC News Now provides wall-to-wall coverage at abcnewsnow.com.
CBS
The times: an hour a night, starting at 10.
The talent: Katie Couric anchors. Bob Schieffer and Jeff Greenfield provide analysis.
Special features: Couric offers live Web specials at CBSNews.com and CNET.com afterward. “Face the Nation,” “The Early Show” and the “CBS Evening News” originate from the cities. CBSNews.com provides wall-to-wall coverage.
CNN
The times: coverage starts at 6 a.m. daily.
The talent: Anderson Cooper anchors at night in Denver; Campbell Brown does the honors from St. Paul. Gloria Borger and John King assist. Wolf Blitzer is afternoon anchor.
Special features: Coverage originates from the convention floor. King will use his multi-touch wall to explain delegate math. Newsmakers meet at the CNN Grills, restaurants near the conventions. Live streaming at CNN.com.
Fox News
The times: extensive coverage, starting at 6 a.m.
The talent: Brit Hume will anchor from 9:45 to 11 each night. “Hannity & Colmes” runs from 9 to 9:45. Greta Van Susteren shifts to 11 p.m.
Special features: Fox won’t be based in the hall. A grill serves as Denver headquarters; a custom-built tent is the backdrop in St. Paul. Analysts include Karl Rove, Lanny Davis, Newt Gingrich and Howard Wolfson.
MSNBC
The times: Twenty hours a day live, starting at 6 a.m.
The talent: Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews anchor from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. NBC anchors get an hour each: Brian Williams at 1 p.m. and Tom Brokaw at 4.
Special features: All those hours, and all those analysts, who include Rachel Maddow, Pat Buchanan, Eugene Robinson, Mike Murphy and Harold Ford Jr.
NBC
The times: an hour a night, starting at 10.
The talent: Brian Williams leads the coverage. Andrea Mitchell and David Gregory report from the floor. Ann Curry will be a podium correspondent. Luke Russert, son of Tim, focuses on youth issues.
Special features: “Meet the Press” goes to each city. The “Today” plan: Matt Lauer goes to Denver, and Meredith Vieira travels to St. Paul. MSNBC.com offer gavel-to-gavel coverage.
PBS
The times: 8 to convention’s conclusion each night.
The talent: Jim Lehrer anchors. Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill report from the floor. Mark Shields and David Brooks provide analysis.
Special features: PBS promises “extended, uninterrupted coverage of podium activities and speeches.” Other analysts include historians Michael Beschloss, Richard Norton Smith and Peniel Joseph.
