Convention will have unconventional coverage

Ted Koppel may not be gracing the Republican National Convention with his presence. But Gideon Yago will. The 21-year-old New Yorker is covering the convention for cable's MTV network. In contrast to the "Nightline" anchor, who made a highly publicized exit from the GOP gathering in 1996, Yago thinks the conventions are worth the trip. "Maybe this isn't going to be the most contentious of political happenings," Yago said, "but there are going to be people outside the convention trying to force issues onto the convention floor. Protests are planned. Shadow conventions are going on. This isn't just a coronation." Yago is more than the voice of a new generation. He's part of a new wave of convention coverage that has rushed in to fill the void left by the three traditional television networks. Since 1976, ABC, CBS and NBC have continually scaled back the airtime they devote to the political conventions. During that time, Nielsen ratings for the conventions have declined every year but one. This year, however, no fewer than eight cable channels will be in Philadelphia for the GOP gathering. And even more Internet sites will be devoted to the convention, dishing out more information and analysis to political junkies than the networks ever imagined doing. No one knows if any of this will spark voter interest in the conventions. A recent survey conducted by the Vanishing Voter project at Harvard University found that 66 percent of Americans plan to watch "little" or "none" of the convention coverage. That's up from 47 percent in 1996. Barring a miracle, the number of people tuning in to see what Gov. George W. Bush will say in his acceptance speech Thursday will be smaller, probably much smaller, than the number tuning in Wednesday to see which castaway gets kicked off "Survivor." Other than on the night of Bush's speech, network coverage of the GOP convention will be minimal. ABC and CBS each plan only five hours in prime time all week. NBC will broadcast only half that amount; its cable arm, MSNBC, will shoulder most of the convention coverage. Of the broadcast networks, only PBS will carry the conventions in generous portions each evening. On the cable side, however, the trend is toward giving viewers more convention coverage, not less. Not only will C-SPAN offer uninterrupted coverage of the entire convention, but visitors to its Web site, www.c-span.org, will be able to watch the proceedings on streaming video from one of four cameras positioned around First Union Center. There are three cable news channels at the convention this year instead of two: Fox News Channel joins CNN and MSNBC. And the role of specialty cable channels is larger than ever, because these niche providers have realized that the political process offers a unique way to connect with their viewers. Lifetime, a cable channel aimed at women, will focus on women's issues and plans to interview former GOP presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole on Monday. Nickelodeon is sending a young actor, Josh Peck, to tape reports from Philadelphia for a series later this year, "Kids Pick the President." And Comedy Central has signed up former presidential nominee Bob Dole and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich to supply tongue-in-cheek accounts from the convention. MTV kicks off what will be a very busy week from Philadelphia with "Choose or Lose," a report broadcast at 9 p.m. tonight that features Yago and three other MTV correspondents. The cable network has sponsored voter turnout drives in the past, notably its "Rock the Vote" campaign. Yet MTV's research found that twice as many people from Ted Koppel's age group (45 and up) went to the polls in 1996 as those in the MTV generation (30 and under). That's a trend Yago hopes he can help reverse. A European history major, Yago came to MTV with no political or journalistic background. But while studying at Columbia University, he was energized by the writings of Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel, notably "The Power of the Powerless," an essay Havel wrote in 1978 while resisting his country's communist rulers. Yago thinks that people his age have something in common with oppressed people: They're not apathetic so much as disenfranchised. "Young people are very politically engaged and have fully formed political views," Yago said. "But they don't connect that with going to the voting booth." This week the MTV reporters will roam the convention floor and the streets of Philadelphia carrying lightweight camcorders. They will report live each day on MTV and shoot video for several election-related programs that will be broadcast on MTV this fall. - To reach Aaron Barnhart, call (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com Broadcast convention coverage ABC (Channel 9) and CBS (Channel 5) will broadcast convention highlights at 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. They will be joined by NBC (Channel 41) on Wednesday, also at 9 p.m. On Thursday, Channels 5 and 9 will begin their coverage at 8 p.m., Channel 41 at 8:30 p.m. PBS (Channel 19) will offer three hours of convention coverage each evening, beginning at 7 p.m. On Thursday night, after Bush's speech, Channel 19 will broadcast a special live edition of "Ruckus" that will include viewer call-ins. Viewers with digital TV reception will be able to watch the sessions in high definition from PBS on Channel 18. Gavel-to-gavel coverage on C-SPAN will begin at 9 a.m. each day. When the convention is not in session, C-SPAN will either show taped highlights or carry convention-related activities around Philadelphia. C-SPAN also will carry today's "Shadow Convention" at 10 a.m. All-day coverage from the convention floor and convention-related activities will be on CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC. Comedy Central will broadcast "The Daily Show" from Philadelphia at 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with analysis from Robert Dole, Robert Reich, John McCain, Rep. Mary Bono and others. MTV presents a half-hour special, "Choose or Lose: Why Care?" at 9 p.m. tonight and a wrap-up special at 8 p.m. Thursday. In Philadelphia, MTV correspondents will file live reports all week during news breaks (50 minutes past the hour) and "Total Request Live" (2 p.m.). The Web site ChooseOrLose.com will feature online chats each night around 10 p.m. Lifetime will carry updates from Philadelphia on "Lifetime Live" (11 a.m. weekdays). Many Internet convention-related events will be listed at Yack.com. Streaming video works best with a high-speed cable or DSL modem and a newer computer. >>>