MSNBC will produce and telecast live a debate among the Democratic candidates for President on Monday, Nov.24, at 4 p.m. ET, which will re-air at 9 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. PT, it was announced today by Erik Sorenson, president of MSNBC. The debate, which is the latest in a series of debates sponsored by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), will telecast live on MSNBC from the Polk County Convention Center in Des Moines and will be moderated by “NBC News with Tom Brokaw” Anchor and Managing Editor Tom Brokaw.
The live telecast of the debate will simulcast on NBC’s Des Moines affiliate, WHO-TV.
“This debate is a prime example of how MSNBC is the cable destination for the important events in American politics,” Sorenson said. “We’re proud to have Tom Brokaw moderate, bringing his extensive experience covering national politics to this important event, which comes at a pivotal time of growing intensity and interest in the battle for the White House.”
The Iowa debate will be the second debate organized by the DNC to be produced by NBC News as part of its comprehensive “Decision 2004” political coverage, which includes programming on NBC News, MSNBC, NBC News Radio, MSNBC.com, CNBC, Telemundo and NBC stations across the country. The previous NBC News debate among the Democratic candidates, which was telecast live on Sept. 25 and co-hosted by CNBC and The Wall Street Journal, was telecast on both CNBC and MSNBC.
In addition to the three complete telecasts on Nov. 24, MSNBC will also provide extensive analysis on special editions of "Hardball with Chris Matthews" and special coverage on MSNBC.com. NBC’s “Nightly News with Tom Brokaw” will also broadcast live from Des Moines on Nov. 24.
Also part of MSNBC’s “Decision 2004” coverage at the Iowa debate is the network’s innovative “campaign embed” program, which will provide detailed behind-the-scenes reports before and after the program. MSNBC's campaign embeds are dedicated video-journalists, each of whom serve as reporter, producer and cameraperson. Most of MSNBC’s “campaign embeds” have been covering the candidates exclusively since August 2003. The “embeds” have become fully immersed in the policies, strategies and personality of the candidate to which they are assigned, and have been granted exclusive access to follow the campaigns behind-the-scenes. Reports from MSNBC’s “campaign embeds” are ongoing and are featured on all NBC News properties, including the network, cable, radio and the Web.
Mark Lukasiewicz is Executive Producer of this debate and of NBC News/MSNBC’s “Decision 2004” coverage.