NPR: Networks Promise to Unshackle Their Debate Video

Networks Promise to Unshackle Their Debate Video

Another small victory for the citizen activists on the Web. They have convinced two more broadcast networks to make footage of presidential debates available on the Internet. ABC and NBC have joined CNN in allowing the video to be "legally shared, blogged, excerpted and put on sites like YouTube," MoveOn.org announced. Fox is still holding out. CBS is, so far, mum. (NPR already agreed to share tape of its debates next year.)

The New York Times' Caucus blog is amazed that conservative and liberal bloggers banded together to pressure the networks to open source the debates. They note that groups on the left like MoveOn.org joined with rightwing sites like Redstate.com. But we are seeing more of this cooperation. Both sides want the Internet to have a significant role in the 2008 elections, and if that takes a momentary truce, so be it. Both sides, for instance, are pushing Republicans to make sure that the GOP's CNN/YouTube debate actually happens.

There are, by the way, already more than a thousand questions for the Republican candidates waiting on YouTube for the debate to go forward. Remember the snowman at the Democratic debate? Over on the blog PrezVid, they found Santa Claus waiting for the GOP.

Watch Santa Claus ask the presidential candidates a question.

YouTube

- Robert Smith

10:45 AM ET | 08- 9-2007 | permalink

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.