I don’t know who was first but all the nets have been covering the passing of Ted Kennedy tonight. CNN was simulcasting CNN International at first but then switched over to CNN US with John Roberts picking up the coverage. MSNBC has Christina Brown anchoring its coverage with Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw phoning in. FNC had Ainsley Earhardt anchoring the coverage but the network has inexplicably dropped coverage in favor of joining a Glenn Beck repeat in progress…
Update: According to tweets from the New York Times’ Brian Stelter, FNC was late to live coverage first starting with a ticker and then after going live re-running a canned obit.
Update 2: FNC is back from tape covering it again. What is it with this network and late night breaking news? It did something similar with the Continental/Colgan plane crash in Buffalo earlier this year.
Update 3: FNC is back to Beck again. CNN and MSNBC still live.
Update 4: CNN has a live shot of Hyannis Port, Massachusetts in a split screen. But nothing’s happening…
Update 5: FNC come out of tape again with Earhardt talking to Fred Barnes. We should start a drinking game. Take a drink whenever FNC goes back to tape. On second thought, I don’t have that much booze. Seriously though, this network is supposed to be the #1 cable news network. It’s a major disservice to its viewers to abuse them this way. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that some tuned to other networks for coverage. The network is displaying “America’s News HQ” in its lower thirds. Considering what’s been going on, it’s a hollow boast.
Update 6: MSNBC has Keith Olbermann phoning in. David Gregory is also phoning in.
Update 7: FNC goes to commercial “we’re going to gather our thoughts” as Ainsley Earhardt said. Ooookay. An emailer sends this in…
FNC seems the least prepared for this, once the news broke MSNBC and CNN via CNN International have been live. FNC did quick 2 to 10min reports at 1:30am, 2am and 2:30am then went back to tape. The did not go with full live coverage till 2:50am.
FNC returned from commercial and Earhardt read a statement from Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger and then said this…
I’m going to be talking with the control room because we are flying by the seat of our pants. Rick where are we going next?
An emailer writes…
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