NBC News, and its cable properties, announced plans for the 2008 conventions today.
Some notes from the release:
• Brian Williams “leads” coverage, anchoring each night on NBC for an hour at 10pm in addition to his Nightly News duties.
• As reported earlier, Luke Russert joins NBC News as a correspondent, covering youth issues from the convention.
• Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann lead prime time coverage on MSNBC, anchoring each night beginning at 7pmET, with coverage continuing until 2amET. The broadcast originates from outdoor sets with “fans, visitors and supporters,” encouraged to visit.
• Norah O’Donnell returns from maternity leave to lead the MSNBC analyst panel.
• David Gregory anchors “Race for the White House,” at 6pmET, and reports from the convention floor for NBC and MSNBC.
• John Harwood reports from the convention for CNBC.
Click continued to see the full release…
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 Denver on Sunday, Aug. 24 and from 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.