MSNBC Planning Convention Coverage Bonanza
NBC Universal-owned news network to air live coverage from Democratic, Republican National Conventions 20 hours per day.
By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/21/2008 7:44:00 AM
MSNBC will telecast 20 hours per day of live coverage from the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the network announced Thursday.
As part of the coverage, all of the NBC Universal-owned news and entertainment networks will air a one-minute roadblock, hosted by Countdown’s Keith Olbermann, delivering the latest news and previewing coverage on MSNBC and NBC.
MSNBC’s coverage will kick off at 6 a.m. with Morning Joe, live from each of the convention cities.
Throughout the day, the network will trot out its heavy hitters to anchor its coverage, leading up to 7 p.m., when Olbermann and Chris Matthews take over.
The anchors will be:
• 11 a.m.-noon, Dan Abrams;
• Noon-1 p.m., Chuck Todd;
• 1 p.m.-2 p.m., Brian Williams;
• 2 p.m.-3 p.m., Andrea Mitchell;
• 3 p.m.-4 p.m., Norah O’Donnell; and
• 4 p.m.-5 p.m., Tom Brokaw.
At 5 p.m. will be Hardball with Chris Matthews, followed by Race for the White House with David Gregory at 6 p.m.
Olbermann and Matthews will pick up the anchoring duties at 7 p.m., with live coverage continuing until 2 a.m.
O’Donnell will lead NBC’s panel, featuring newly minted primetime host Rachel Maddow, Pat Buchanan, Eugene Robinson, Harold Ford Jr. and Mike Murphy.
