THE
NETWORKS OF NBC NEWS PRESENT MORE THAN 200 HOURS OF COVERAGE FROM THE
DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
“NBC Nightly News”
Anchor Brian Williams to Lead Coverage of All Four Nights from Both
Conventions
MSNBC to Present 20
Hours a Day of Live Convention Coverage, Anchored by Keith Olbermann
and Chris Matthews in Primetime
Tom Brokaw
Contributes Reporting and Analysis for NBC News and MSNBC Throughout
Conventions
Luke Russert to
Serve as NBC News Correspondent at Large Focusing on Youth Issues
NEW YORK – July 31, 2008 – The networks of NBC News – NBC, MSNBC, CNBC,
Telemundo, MSNBC.com and NBC Mobile – will present more than 200 total
hours of live coverage of the Democratic National Convention, Aug.
25-28, and the Republican National Convention, Sept. 1-4. “NBC Nightly
News” anchor Brian Williams leads the network’s four nights of coverage
from each convention, while MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews
anchor coverage on cable. Tom Brokaw, who has covered every
presidential election since 1968, will contribute unparalleled
reporting and analysis on both the NBC network and on MSNBC throughout
both conventions.
Luke Russert joins NBC News in his first assignment for Decision 2008
as correspondent at large for the conventions, focusing on youth
issues. Luke Russert recently graduated from Boston College with a
double major in History and Communications. Since March of 2006, he has
co-hosted the critically acclaimed sports radio talk show "60/20
Sports" with political pundit James Carville on XM Satellite Radio. On
"60/20 Sports" he has interviewed the likes of former President
Clinton, former President George Bush, Bill Russell, Cal Ripken Jr. and
Lance Armstrong. Luke is the son of the late Tim Russert and of Vanity
Fair writer Maureen Orth.
"These are the stories that we live for at NBC News. Across all our
platforms, we are offering an unprecedented amount of convention
coverage, and we stand ready to field an incredibly talented, and
deeply knowledgeable team," said NBC News President Steve Capus. "We
will be on the air, on cable, online, on cell phones, on the radio --
wherever, and whenever you want us. Reporting the stories will be the
best team in the business, and we welcome Luke Russert to that group.
Never before in an election cycle has so much attention turned to the
youth vote, and Luke will bring a unique perspective to covering it."
"I am extremely humbled and grateful that NBC News is giving me this
opportunity,” said Luke Russert. “I believe youth issues will continue
to play a significant role during this election and I want to do my
part to report them honestly and objectively."
NBC NEWS
“NBC Nightly News” anchor and managing editor Brian Williams will
anchor NBC’s coverage of the Democratic National Convention, live from
the Pepsi Center and from INVESCO Field in Denver, Colo., Monday, Aug.
25-Thursday, Aug. 28, 10-11 p.m. ET and live from the Xcel Energy
Center in St. Paul, Minn., Monday, Sept. 1-Thursday, Sept. 4, 10-11 p.m.
Williams will anchor “NBC Nightly News” live from Denver and St. Paul
Sunday through Thursday of each convention week. Lester Holt will join
Williams on Sunday, August 24 from Beijing and Sunday, August 31 from
New York as anchor of special split editions of “NBC Nightly News.” The
broadcast will include in-depth reports on the issues, delegates,
candidates and other convention related stories from Williams and the
NBC News political team.
"Meet the Press," moderated by Tom Brokaw, will originate from the
convention centers in Denver on Sunday, Aug. 24 and in St. Paul on
Sunday, Aug. 31.
For the Democratic National Convention, Matt Lauer will co-anchor a
split edition of "Today" from Denver Thursday and Friday, August 28 and
29 while Meredith Vieira co-anchors from New York. For the Republican
National Convention, Meredith Vieira will co-anchor a split edition of
"Today" from the Xcel Center in St. Paul Thursday and Friday, September
4 and 5 from while Matt Lauer co-anchors from New York. Ann Curry will
be broadcasting from both conventions.
Curry will also serve as a podium correspondent from both conventions
for NBC and MSNBC, with Andrea Mitchell and David Gregory reporting
from the floor. Ron Allen will report from the convention floor in
Denver, and Lee Cowan will be with the Obama campaign; Kelly O’Donnell
will report from the McCain campaign and from the convention floor in
St. Paul, along with Savannah Guthrie; John Yang will cover President
Bush in St. Paul. Mike Taibbi and Tom Costello will report live from
locations around Denver and St. Paul throughout the conventions. NBC
News Political Director Chuck Todd will provide analysis for NBC News
and MSNBC.
MSNBC
MSNBC will be live 20 hours a day with complete coverage of both the
Democratic and Republican conventions, beginning at 6 a.m. ET with
“Morning Joe” from both Denver and St. Paul. Keith Olbermann and Chris
Matthews anchor MSNBC primetime coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET, with
coverage continuing until 2 a.m. ET. MSNBC will telecast live from
dynamic outdoor sets in both convention cities, outside Union Station
in Denver and from Rice Park in St. Paul, with fans, visitors and
supporters of all candidates encouraged to visit the set.
“Morning Joe” will telecast live from Sam’s No. 3 Grill & Bar in
Denver, and from Keys St. Café in St. Paul, 6 a.m.-11a.m. ET.
MSNBC
will continue live coverage throughout the day during the conventions,
with anchors including Brian Williams, Tom Brokaw, Andrea Mitchell,
Chuck Todd, Dan Abrams and Norah O’Donnell, all live from the
convention cities.
MSNBC’s evening coverage begins with “Hardball with Chris Matthews” at
5 p.m. ET, followed by “Race for the White House with David Gregory” at
6 p.m. ET, both live on-site in Denver and St. Paul. Gregory will also
report live from the convention floor in Denver and St. Paul for both
MSNBC and NBC News. MSNBC begins live convention coverage, anchored by
Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews, at 7 p.m. ET. MSNBC’s coverage will
continue live until 2 a.m. ET. Norah O’Donnell leads MSNBC’s panel,
including MSNBC political analysts Rachel Maddow, Pat Buchanan, Mike
Murphy and Harold Ford Jr. and Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post.
CNBC
CNBC's Chief Washington Correspondent John Harwood will be on-hand at
both conventions to provide political and economic analysis throughout
the day on CNBC – from the network's signature morning program "Squawk
Box" (6-9 a.m. ET) to Kudlow & Company (7-8 p.m. ET).
MSNBC.COM
Msnbc.com will offer extensive gavel-to-gavel coverage from both the
Democratic and Republican Conventions. According to a Pew Research
Center study, more consumers stated that they got their political news
from msnbc.com than any other online site, making msnbc.com THE leader
in online political news. Msnbc.com will feature live video streaming
from both conventions, exclusive multimedia features, and comprehensive
coverage, including special reports from the convention floor and from
events around both host cities.
The coverage will be anchored by NBC News’ political team, led by
Political Director Chuck Todd, whose reports, analysis and interviews
will be updated constantly on First Read, the must-read blog delivering
the best insight on the day’s political news. The site will feature
coverage from National Journal, The New York Times, Newsweek and The
Washington Post and other leading partners.
Politics.msnbc.com will feature reporting from citizen journalists at
both conventions. Newsvine.com, a wholly-owned subsidiary of msnbc.com,
will send six citizen contributors to the Democratic National
Convention and the Republican National Convention. Three citizen
journalists will attend and cover each convention and the surrounding
events. The original articles produced by Newsvine contributors will be
available on both on msnbc.com and Newsvine.com.
TELEMUNDO
As part of Telemundo's commitment to the U.S. Hispanic community, the
network will cover both the Democratic and Republican conventions.
Telemundo News Anchor Pedro Sevcec of “Noticiero Telemundo”
(6:30pm/5:30 C), will be reporting live from the conventions on all
four nights. The network’s Washington DC news correspondent, Lori
Montenegro, will be covering the Democratic convention while Los
Angeles-based correspondent, Carlos Botifol, will be at the Republican
convention. Sevcec and each of the Telemundo news correspondents will
blog their experiences on www.yahootelemundo.com.
NBC MOBILE/RADIO
NBC News 2 GO available to MediaFLO/Verizon Wireless customers, will
carry MSNBC’s live coverage throughout the day and through primetime.
NBC Mobile will be clipping and refreshing content with MSNBC coverage
throughout the evening. NBC News Radio will also simulcast MSNBC’s live
coverage during both conventions.