Networks scale back convention coverage

Maybe they wouldn’t if Obama were having a better year? Via The Bulletin.

At 10:30 EDT on Monday night, Ann Romney is scheduled to take the stage at the Republican National Convention, in Act 1 of her husband’s four-day introduction to the nation. But tens of millions of people will not be able to watch.

CBS plans instead to show a rerun of “Hawaii Five-O,” its hit police series. Viewers on NBC will see a new episode of “Grimm,” about a homicide detective with the supernatural ability to sense evil. And ABC plans to show “Castle,” a series about a best-selling mystery novelist who helps solve crimes.

The networks, which reap considerable advertising dollars even from summer reruns, have told the Romney campaign that they will broadcast an hour of convention coverage on the final three nights — but no more.

The campaign is considering whether to move Ann Romney’s speech to another night, though it is proceeding for now with the Monday night plans.

Four years ago, the conventions were filled with the promise of high drama not seen at a big-party gathering in a generation — a possible fight over Hillary Clinton’s delegates, a speech by the country’s first major-party black presidential nominee in front of 85,000 people, and the introduction of a vice-presidential nominee who electrified her party. By comparison, the events this year seem to lack the possibility of any electrifying moments.