KCBX and the presidential debate
Hi all,
In case you or our listeners want to know, KCBX will not be carrying the
presidential debate on Thursday because NPR does not have the rights to
broadcast it. Here are some talking points, if anyone asks:
CNN has sole rights to the broadcast, and is making it available only to
its affiliates and members of its network pool (NPR isn’t a member, and
says the licensing fee for the debate is cost prohibitive).
According to NPR, “This is the first debate in decades that will not be
distributed by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The Commission
historically provided NPR with the feed for their three Presidential
debates and one Vice Presidential debate at no cost. The Biden Campaign
announced earlier this year that they would not participate in the
scheduled CPD debates, which opened the door for individual broadcasters
like CNN to host debates and set their own licensing fees.”
In the meantime, NPR is “continuing to urgently explore all viable options
for providing the debate” to NPR stations. If it happens, I’ll let you
know. Also, we will be looking at ways to embed the YouTube live stream on
our website.
More to come, as I learn more.
Marisa
__
Marisa Waddell (she/her)
Director of Programming and Content
KCBX Central Coast Public Radio
(805) 549-8855
Hi everyone!
NPR got last-minute rights to broadcast the CNN Presidential Debate
tomorrow. KCBX will air the debate and analysis from NPR from 6-8pm our
time. We will also carry NPR’s live blog with fact checking and the video
of the debate on our website.
Ciao!
Marisa
From: Marisa Waddell [mailto:mwaddell@kcbx.org]
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 5:44 PM
To: 'Onair' onair@list.kcbx.net
Subject: KCBX and the presidential debate
Hi all,
In case you or our listeners want to know, KCBX will not be carrying the
presidential debate on Thursday because NPR does not have the rights to
broadcast it. Here are some talking points, if anyone asks:
CNN has sole rights to the broadcast, and is making it available only to
its affiliates and members of its network pool (NPR isn’t a member, and
says the licensing fee for the debate is cost prohibitive).
According to NPR, “This is the first debate in decades that will not be
distributed by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The Commission
historically provided NPR with the feed for their three Presidential
debates and one Vice Presidential debate at no cost. The Biden Campaign
announced earlier this year that they would not participate in the
scheduled CPD debates, which opened the door for individual broadcasters
like CNN to host debates and set their own licensing fees.”
In the meantime, NPR is “continuing to urgently explore all viable options
for providing the debate” to NPR stations. If it happens, I’ll let you
know. Also, we will be looking at ways to embed the YouTube live stream on
our website.
More to come, as I learn more.
Marisa
__
Marisa Waddell (she/her)
Director of Programming and Content
KCBX Central Coast Public Radio
(805) 549-8855