Re: The 200 Boston (?) Conventions and Minimal TV.

[ASchinella@aol.com]

This isn't about television ratings or the promotion of the city of Boston,
this is about money: About $150 million of it according to pretty liberal
estimates, that will be brought into the area's economy. My question is why
are we spending $35 million dollars with a crap-shoot chance in hell to get at
that $150 million? The bigger cities like Los Angeles and Philadelphia are in
key states the Dems must win in 2000 whereas Massachusetts very rarely votes
GOP so it isn't a wise decision to randomly pump that money into a state that
will already vote with you. That is just the dynamics of the political
situation. Then you have the whole VP Gore not wanting to give our Senator
John Forbes Kerry-Heinz, who is consider a 2000 run, a home turf advantage. 
Personally, I think it would be cool to have the convention here, but with the
Big Dig and all the other expansion and development, 2004 is much more
feasible. So let's be bluntly honest: There are a lot better ways to spend $35
million! Now, when will Fenway host the All Star game? 

In a message dated 6/23/98 12:55:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
norwood@mln.lib.ma.us writes:

<< One reason Boston is bidding for the 2000 Democratic Convention
 is to get a positive image of the city for four nights on prime-time
 TV.
 
 Mayor Menino and Company--wake up and smell the coffee!
 
 Thanks to declining TV ratings--and the fact that Presidential nominees
 are now chosen in the primaries--ABC, CBS and NBC are only planning
 two hours of live coverage of each of the 2000 conventions, all of it
 on one night-the acceptance speeches of the Presidential and Vice-
 Presidential nominees on the final night of the conventions. Otherwise,
  the "big 3" will completly ignore the first three days/nights of the
 2000 conventions, sticking with regular programs. In fact, late local
 newscasts on many affiliates during convention week in 2000 will
 probably give lip service--if anything--to the conventions. While
 the Democrats meet in Boston to nominate a candidate (if they pick
 the Hub), most 11 P.M. local newscasts across the country that week
 will lead with crime and fires!
 
 Joseph Gallant
 
 <notquite@hotmail.com>
 
 P.S.: CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel will be there gavel-to-gavel,but
 that will draw only a minimal viewership. >>

------------------------------