Earlier this year I asked readers which network had "the best political team on television." CNN officially uses the line, but it doesn't mean it's true. Though I do have to say that I find myself watching CNN the most this election season because they truly do seem to go out of their way to be fair and bal...OK, I won't say that exact phrase, but they do have a good mix of people, from Dems Paul Begala and Donna Brazille to Republicans William Bennett and Alex Castellanos, not to mention analysts like Gloria Borger and John King. It can get pretty unwieldy though, all those pundits spread across various tables. It's like that big World Series of Poker room mixed with a game show set, and if you have HD and can see the scorecards on the sides of the screen, it actually is like a game show.
Tonight's final Presidential debate will be telecast on many different channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, CNBC, CSPAN, PBS, and BBC America (FOX has the Dodgers/Phillies game). I don't get MSNBC on my cable system anymore (unless I want to pay extra), and I never think of turning on BBC America for their U.S. politics coverage, though I bet it's interesting. I bounce between CNN and CBS, but what channel will you be watching it on tonight?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-15-2008 @ 5:39PM
Paul Davies said...
I like the live focus group results CNN shows at the bottom of the screen, so I'll watch on CNN. But MSNBC has good post-debate commentary and a dial group of their own, so I may bounce there afterward.
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10-15-2008 @ 5:41PM
Pinwiz said...
I believe that CSPAN just shows the two candidates the entire time so you can see their reactions. I have a feeling tonight that's going to be the one to watch.
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10-15-2008 @ 5:41PM
Pinwiz said...
And then MSNBC afterwards for commentary.
10-15-2008 @ 9:15PM
D-Bo said...
I always watch the CSPAN broadcasts.
10-16-2008 @ 10:42AM
ac said...
CNN showed them both on split screen as well. Interesting how they both had, "oh that motha f--ker just didn't say that!" looks whenever the other talked.
10-15-2008 @ 5:45PM
Darren said...
Thankfully I have stuff recorded so I won't have to watch this garbage! When is this election over with already! In Canada it's 37 days - in the US it's been almost 2 years!
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10-15-2008 @ 6:03PM
Elf said...
I thought I'd hate the live scorecards on CNN-HD but I've grown to like them. Plus I'm sure there's a drinknig game in there somewhere, such as take a shot when one of the righty commentators scores a positive point for Obama or vice-versa for McCain. And I will also flip to MSNBC once the actual debate is over.
More importantly, I wonder if Sarah Palin will be allowed by her handers to appear live on any network to answer questions immediately after the debate like Joe Biden did last time out.
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10-15-2008 @ 6:54PM
Dan said...
I watch it on PBS because they are the only station that shows the entire debate, without a single commentary or stupid "scorecard" to distract from what's actually going on. I will watch both the PBS and the MSNBC post-debate coverage (love that 2-tuner DVR) and may check out what CNN has to say as well. Honestly, for anything political, PBS is so far superior to the others that there isn't even a comparison. Every other news station has commercials, commentators or stupid graphics everywhere, PBS just has a HQ HD signal and no frills.
Fox News...I won't even go there. Anyone who CHOOSES to watch Fox News just simply does not get it. Though it is funny sometimes to hear them try to claim the GOP candidate "wiped the floor" with the Dem...like they did with the last debate and the VP "debate".
Regardless, I am really happy to see how much more people are following this election and love the fact that I can talk about politics with almost anyone and that more people are watching the Debates than Top Model or other crap like that.
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10-15-2008 @ 7:08PM
tozmervo said...
ABC has the least obnoxious on screen graphics. They win.
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10-15-2008 @ 7:15PM
r.r.r. said...
i watch the debate on PBS. but then right after, i go to MSNBC for keith olbermann and rachel maddow. :)
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10-15-2008 @ 7:16PM
Jeff N. said...
I watch CNN. They have the best coverage!
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10-15-2008 @ 7:47PM
Bill said...
Definitely PBS. There are no graphics or anything else going on, so you can take in the debate without someone else telling you how you should be taking it in. The post-game analysis is brief, calm and intelligent, and it's all in HD.
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10-15-2008 @ 7:53PM
segsig said...
I've watched CNN at the debate parties I've been at, then came home and watched their rebroadcasts. Since I'm home tonight I might try something different, since I can still catch their second showing.
Dan, I was tempted to turn on Faux news the morning after debate to see douchey spin their own focus group's Obama win.
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10-16-2008 @ 8:35AM
Jimmy said...
Debate parties? Hah! Good one!
10-15-2008 @ 8:00PM
Tucker said...
PBS has hands-down the best HD feed, though I don't get CNN HD. PBS also has the best audio mix.
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10-15-2008 @ 8:00PM
Ryan said...
I go back and forth between CNN and ABC.
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10-15-2008 @ 8:06PM
Michael said...
BBC America
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10-15-2008 @ 10:45PM
No1Dad said...
You're soooooo hip :p
10-15-2008 @ 8:44PM
tv junkie said...
ABC, then Pushing Daisies after the debate, here in the west coast.
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10-15-2008 @ 8:48PM
Justin said...
Current for Hack the Debate!
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