The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney

31 August 2005

Networks Oddly Absent With Katrina Coverage

Soaps, Trivia, Cooking Tips?

Broadcast Networks Have Odd Priorities Today


Why haven't the broadcast networks been going wall-to-wall today with Katrina coverage?

It's a perplexing question that baffles the Radio Equalizer.

Sure, there were plenty of early morning updates, but at 9am it was abruptly cut off for a return to normal programming.

Say what you want about Pat Robertson, but his 700 Club had superb Katrina coverage, while Regis and Kelly were doing trivia segments.

What's going on here?

Perhaps for NBC the issue is in not competing with its cable news channels, which is almost, but not-quite understandable.

What about the others? With good chunks of several states wiped right off the map, is it really a day to run soaps, game shows, or NBC's "guilt-free comfort food" morning show segment?

Does anyone really care about such petty matters today?

Even worse, NBC had the nerve to run a story on the eighth anniversary of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed's deaths. It just seemed sickening to discuss this today, as thousands in our own country may have met horrible fates.

Apparently, two foreigners who died eight years ago in a Paris car crash are more important than large numbers of not-so-famous Americans, swept to their deaths.

I kept waiting for one of the hosts to walk off the set in disgust, but they truly had no shame.

Even last night, I wondered why Jay Leno and David Letterman were seen in their normal times, rather than special hurricane programming. For once, ABC's Nightline had my full attention.

Have the networks simply ceded all news authority to cable news channels? If so, why?

When did they throw in the towel on huge stories?

It sure seems like Americans are heavily interested the latest developments, so what's the problem?


--- Also: more on
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s bizarre Katrina conspiracy theories from the Huffington Post.

--- Editor & Publisher gets into the moonbat blame-Bush routine as well.

--- New Orleans radio stations are moving to Baton Rouge.

--- Times-Picayune online here.

--- Refugees moving to Houston's Astrodome.

--- Cindy Sheehan even more unhinged on Bush, oil prices and Katrina.

--- Gas shortages and long lines in North Carolina.

--- New All Access (radio and recording industry trade publication) scoop:


In the category of "timing is everything" comes word that among the lawsuits filed by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) against another batch of file-swappers are some against individuals living in NEW ORLEANS.

The latest round of "John Doe" suits against 754 individuals across the country are targeting swappers who traded copyrighted music files through systems like GROKSTER, KAZAA, and LIMEWIRE, and follow 156 suits against named defendants filed earlier this month.


Besides suing people in the KATRINA-stricken areas of NEW ORLEANS and HOUMA, LA, the RIAA is going after swappers in CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MARYLAND, MINNESOTA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, and WEST VIRGINIA.


Sheehan graphic by Pete at IHillary. Your Amazon orders help to support this site. Thanks!

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