Current TV Adding Morning Program Block

By Alex Weprin 

Current TV is finally getting into the morning TV game, adding simulcasts of radio programs “The Bill Press Show” and The Stephanie Miller Show.”

The shows will start simulcasting in the Spring, with Press airing from 6-9AM and Miller from 9AM-12PM. The new shows will add six hours of original programming to Current’s lineup, effectively doubling it. At the moment the network has original programming from 7-10PM.

Press regularly fills in as a guest host on “Countdown,” and Miller appears on Current with some regularity.

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In a statement, both Press and Current TV president David Bohrman took aim squarely at MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” which has been a centerpiece of Current TV’s criticism of that network:

“2012 is a crucial year in the history of our country and we felt that morning cable television programming was simply not speaking to Americans with progressive viewpoints and ideas,” said Bohrman in a statement. “This new block will be an alternative to the tired banter and light news that is found on the air today. We are proud to be the only cable news network presenting independent, intelligent and engaging progressive programming for viewers every morning.”

When asked about MSNBC’s status as a progressive network, Bohrman and Current founder Al Gore have routinely pointed to “Morning Joe” as proof that it is not. Host Joe Scarborough is a former Republican member of Congress.

Simulcasting radio shows has long been a trick used by cable networks to fill airtime. Don Imus is currently simulcast on Fox Business Network, and before that his show aired on MSNBC. On sports TV, local sports talk radio programs are regularly on regional sports networks.

Simulcasting radio shows is much cheaper than producing an entirely new program.

The Current TV statement:

MORNING BECOMES PROGRESSIVE:

CURRENT TV LAUNCHES NEW MORNING NEWS BLOCK FEATURING BILL PRESS AND STEPHANIE MILLER

“Talking Liberally:  The Stephanie Miller Show” and

“Full Court Press: The Bill Press Show” To Debut in Early Spring

 

New York, NY – March 5, 2012 – Current TV today announced the launch of a new morning news block featuring live simulcasts of the radio programs “The Bill Press Show” from 6am-9am ET and “The Stephanie Miller Show” from 9am-12pm ET every weekday starting early this spring.  These additions further strengthen Current’s line-up of political commentary and analysis programs which include “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” “The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur,” and “The War Room with Jennifer Granholm”.

 

“I’ve followed Stephanie and Bill for years.  They provide the kind of smart, insightful news analysis that our viewers want to hear,” commented Current TV Chairman, Al Gore.  “Bill brings a vital perspective directly from the heart of the Beltway, and Stephanie’s fresh take on politics and news has a decidedly outsider flair.  We’re really looking forward to bringing their voices to our viewers.”

 

“2012 is a crucial year in the history of our country and we felt that morning cable television programming was simply not speaking to Americans with progressive viewpoints and ideas,” said David Bohrman, President, Current TV.  “This new block will be an alternative to the tired banter and light news that is found on the air today.  We are proud to be the only cable news network presenting independent, intelligent and engaging progressive programming for viewers every morning.”

 

Every weekday Current TV’s camera will be live inside Bill and Stephanie’s studios to bring viewers live coverage of two of the most progressive radio shows on the air today.  Current viewers will now have access to daily live interviews, political commentary, listener calls, as well as Bill and Stephanie’s take on the news of the day.

 

“The addition of Bill and Stephanie to the Current TV news line up delivers on the promise of creating a 24 hour progressive cable news network that speaks truth to power and offers a true alternative to traditional programming,“ Bohrman continued.

 

“Current has the young, progressive and involved audience that I want to reach everyday,” said Stephanie Miller.  “The Current team shares our view that progressive political news and commentary is critical for an intelligent and informed populace and we’re excited to be part of their growing line-up of talented news broadcasters.”

 

“The conservative stranglehold on morning cable news television in America is over,” said Bill Press.  “Current TV and I share a common goal of cutting through the talking points and shouting heads to present sane, intelligent political commentary and analysis.”

 

“The Bill Press Show” – called “Full Court Press:  The Bill Press Show” on Current —  is a nationally syndicated radio program featuring Press addressing, commenting, and analyzing the issues of the day.  Bill Press began his career as a political insider and media commentator on KABC-TV and KCOP-TV, both in Los Angeles.  Over the years, he has received numerous awards for his work, including four Emmys and a Golden Mike Award.  The former co-host of MSNBC’s “Buchanan and Press,” CNN’s “Crossfire” and “The Spin Room,” Press has built a national reputation on thought-provoking and humorous insights from the left side of the political aisle.  Press is the author of six books: Spin This! (Atria, 2002), Bush Must Go! (Dutton Books, 2004), How The Republicans Stole Christmas (Doubleday, 2005), Trainwreck (Wiley, 2008), Toxic Talk (Thomas Dunne Books, 2010), and his latest, The Obama Hate Machine (Thomas Dunne Books, 2012).  Press attends the daily White House press briefing and writes a syndicated newspaper column, distributed weekly by Tribune Media Services.  “The Bill Press Show” can be found online at billpressshow.com or on Twitter at @BPshow.

 

Since its September 2004 debut, “The Stephanie Miller Show” – referred to as “Talking Liberally: The Stephanie Miller Show” on Current is distributed on America’s largest radio network, Dial-Global, and heard on satellite radio via SiriusXM, and has become the top show in Progressive Talk.  Stephanie was named Talk Radio’s Woman of the Year by Talkers Magazine and her Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour (the No. 1 comedy tour in the country) continues to break box office records and remains the first political comedy album to reach No. 1 on the comedy charts for iTunes, Amazon and Billboard.  The Stephanie Miller Show and Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour also feature comedians Hal Sparks and John Fugelsang who make regular weekly appearances on the show.  Fans can find “The Stephanie Miller Show” online at Stephaniemiller.com or on Twitter at @SMShow and @SexyLiberal, with a combined reach of over 70,000 followers.

ABOUT CURRENT MEDIA:

Home to “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” as well as “The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur,” and “The War Room With Jennifer Granholm,” hosted by the former Michigan governor and author, Current is dedicated to providing insightful news and analysis of important issues – and digging deep into real stories to uncover how they affect real people.  “Vanguard,” the network’s Peabody Award-winning documentary series shines a light where other networks won’t dare and boldly explores provocative subjects – opening minds, sparking conversations and forming deep connections with its viewers.  The Peabody-and Emmy Award-winning television and online network was founded in 2005 by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, and features the very best in news, analysis, commentary and information programming.

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