But that doesn't mean there will be less TV coverage. Five other networks, four of them cable outlets, will cover virtually every minute of both party gatherings. C-SPAN plan extensive coverage that adds up to about 375 hours of TV time. In fact, more convention coverage will be on television this year than in any year since conventions were first shown 52 year ago. The broadcast networks' share of the television audience is shrinking.
Younger viewers make little distinction between broadcast and cable networks.
Also, most Americans don't watch the conventions. The complaints about declining network convention coverage are a holdover from the days when political conventions chose nominees and broadcast networks were the only channels on the television. Neither is true anymore. This year, the networks will all air acceptance speeches by Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Gore and by each party's vice-presidential nominee. Neither the Big Three networks nor the party conventions have the clout they used to.