broadcast TV options for Obama acceptance speech?

August 28, 2008 12:39 PM

Which broadcast network should I watch tonight to see Obama give his acceptance speech with minimal distraction-annoyance by commentators & talking heads?

I don't usually get my news from TV and to be honest I'm a bit television-weary and commentated-out by 2 weeks of Olympics-watching. I really want to see (not just hear) this speech though. No cable and the computer is too small for the whole family to hover around), so that leaves broadcast channels. I would appreciate opinions on their coverage so far and the likelihood of the nominee's speech being interrupted or otherwise upstaged by the commentators. Thanks.

posted by headnsouth to media & arts (25 comments total)

If you can get a PBS station over the air, that would be my first option.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 12:43 PM on August 28, 2008

If you're looking for few to no commenators, I'd recommend CSPAN.
posted by tundro at 12:50 PM on August 28, 2008

Seconding PBS. They broadcast in HD too!
posted by nitsuj at 12:50 PM on August 28, 2008

PBS has been fantastic all week - they even showed taped speeches they'd been talking during! And their pundits are, for the most part, respectable non-cable-news non-yellers and very collegial.

Your local PBS coverage (hope it's not too creepy that I checked profile) says 8:00 is the witching hour.
posted by mdonley at 12:54 PM on August 28, 2008

PBS. There are a few commentators, but not too many as to be distracting.
posted by piedmont at 12:54 PM on August 28, 2008

Without cable or satellite? PBS is very probably your only choice.

With satellite? CSPAN
posted by jlkr at 1:00 PM on August 28, 2008

PBS. But hit mute when David Brooks comes on to tell us all again how much no one understands who Obama is.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 1:03 PM on August 28, 2008 [1 favorite]

I would appreciate opinions on their coverage so far and the likelihood of the nominee's speech being interrupted or otherwise upstaged by the commentators.

During Obama's speech I can guarantee you will hear no commentary whatsoever from any of networks (broadcast or cable). Now with CSPAN or PBS you are less likely to hear commentary or opinions in the time leading up to and immediately following the speech but that is something entirely different.
posted by mmascolino at 1:12 PM on August 28, 2008 [1 favorite]

I like PBS just for the lack of "news bite" trivia running across the bottom of the screen.
posted by Hugh2d2 at 1:14 PM on August 28, 2008

CSPAN has no commentary at all.
posted by Ironmouth at 1:18 PM on August 28, 2008

Nthing PBS. Seriously. Their coverage has been surprisingly stellar this week. I'm appalled by the major networks (they've only show the final hour, and talk over the speeches until the headliner, which they've talked over), and disappointed by the news networks (Fox actually cut away from Mark Warner's speech after about two minutes). PBS hasn't talked over any speeches, only skipped a couple of speeches for commentary/discussion, and with the exception of David Brooks being, well, annoying?, the discussion has even been somewhat fruitful.
posted by General Malaise at 1:19 PM on August 28, 2008

I've been enjoying CNN's live online feed from the convention. There's no commentary, just the speeches.
posted by lkm at 1:22 PM on August 28, 2008

Not one station will have commentary during the speech!
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:23 PM on August 28, 2008

surprisingly stellar
You are suprised that PBS' coverage of a politcal event was better than the commercial networks? Huh.

But, yeah, PBS.
posted by dirtdirt at 1:39 PM on August 28, 2008

the computer is too small for the whole family to hover around

Is the computer really too small, or is the usual YouTube sized video window too small?

I ask, because the DNC has been webcasting the entire convention using Silverlight. I've been watching it full screen on my 15 inch MacBook Pro. Except for the occasional stutter, it looks as clear as a good television broadcast. I've been amazed that I've been able to get this quality over my RCN cable internet hookup.

I don't own a TV, so this has been a happy discovery, even if it does involve install Microsoftware on my computer.

To find the webcast, just google "Democratic National Convention."
posted by alms at 1:41 PM on August 28, 2008

Minority opinion here: I found that PBS has actually had some talking-over-speeches issues this week, and their bumper interviews (especially the debacle with Pres. Carter on Monday) are kind of awkwardly stop-and-start. C-SPAN is your best bet. (You may also want to check for live online feeds, depending on your connectivity.)

Haven't even bothered with any of the other networks for the reasons mentioned above.
posted by kittyprecious at 1:44 PM on August 28, 2008

Definitely PBS. Jim Lehrer & co. have been doing a bang-up job this week. They certainly won't be commenting while the speechifying is underway, but their measured, unsensational coverage will nicely bookend Obama and Gore tonight, should you want to hear from the media, political historians, and reserved pundits.
posted by mumkin at 1:44 PM on August 28, 2008

Wow, OK, serves me right for not actually reading the whole question. Short answer: yes, PBS, but it's not without its own blips.
posted by kittyprecious at 1:45 PM on August 28, 2008

So, wait, the Obama speech is on at 8pm eastern? All of the other speakers have mostly been on after 10pm. Just checking because I want to catch it and this seems unusually early. Won't the California people still be at work?
posted by onlyconnect at 2:41 PM on August 28, 2008

Obama's speech is on at 10PM ET, 8PM Denver time.

It's actually scheduled to start at 10:17 ET. There is a tribute video before that and then they're allotting 5 minutes for his entrance.
posted by spec80 at 2:46 PM on August 28, 2008

Thanks so much, spec80!
posted by onlyconnect at 2:51 PM on August 28, 2008

Ugh, NBC has had the most annoying animated network bug running during the speeches -- I switched to PBS. Great HD picture, almost no branding.
posted by crickets at 2:56 PM on August 28, 2008

Thanks everyone. We'll be watching Blue Ridge PBS tonight (I favorited mdonley's answer because he looked it up for me ... not creepy at all, mdonley!).
posted by headnsouth at 3:32 PM on August 28, 2008

Or ... not favorited, but rather marked as best answer.
posted by headnsouth at 3:33 PM on August 28, 2008

If you have a fast connection, the Dems themselves are streaming the whole thing live in HD. I've been watching for two hours and it's rock solid, and crystal clear. The only visible buffering/stuttering is very slight when you see a long shot of the stadium. Up close it's as good as broadcast TV. Plus no talking heads.
posted by Happy Dave at 5:02 PM on August 28, 2008