Do not adjust your set! (ABC News)
ABC News is gambling that health care reform — important, but let’s face it, a little dull — will be ratings gold as it devotes a huge chunk of Wednesday news programming to an ongoing erm, “conversation” with President Obama about health care.
“Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight” will both anchor out of the White House on Wednesday. The evening line-up will include a “Prime Time” special from the East Room of the White House, plus a special Nightline broadcast. GMA, World News and Nightline all will feature exclusive interviews with the president — who is selling health care reform.
It’s strange (to say the least) to see the administration turn the White House over to a network — NBC News did their “day in the life” bit from here, but those were cameras following the principals around. ABC News will be anchored out of the Blue Room — turning the historic, oval-shaped reception room (where Grover Cleveland got married) into a full-blown network news studio. GMA will broadcast from the South Lawn. Both are areas the press does not routinely have access to.
But the network and the administration have dovetailing interests. The other networks hated NBC News’ special, and want to look relevant and plugged in, too. Obama wants a big audience to deliver his health care informercial. The downside for the network is that their programming will be devoted to co-pays, tax debates and personal anecdotes from a specially selected audience — not fun pictures of Bo the dog and Team Obama passing up apples for M&Ms in the West Wing.
Polls tell us health care reform is an important issue — Beltway Confidential’s gut says people aren’t really following the details of the debate. Is this something to watch or avoid completely?
