IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

NBC News convention coverage plans

The networks of NBC News will offer unprecedented coverage of this summer's political conventions on the NBC television network

The networks of NBC News will offer unprecedented coverage of this summer's political conventions on the NBC television network, NBC's cable news network MSNBC, NBC's financial news network CNBC, NBC's Spanish language network Telemundo, MSNBC.com on the Internet and on NBC News radio.

Tom Brokaw, who has covered every presidential election since 1968 and has anchored NBC's convention coverage since 1984, will lead NBC News' team coverage live, on-site from the Democratic National Convention in Boston and the Republican National Convention in New York City. Joining Brokaw will be Washington Bureau Chief and "Meet the Press" moderator Tim Russert, and NBC News' Brian Williams will be the lead podium/floor correspondent at each convention. In addition, Katie Couric, Matt Lauer and Campbell Brown will anchor coverage on-site, as well as MSNBC's Chris Matthews and Chris Jansing, CNBC anchors Alan Murray and Gloria Borger and Telemundo anchor Pedro Sevcec.

The NBC News political team will feature veteran political reporter Andrea Mitchell, who will work stories inside the convention hall and behind the scenes. Her recent scoop on the Edwards Vice Presidential pick is the latest in a string of political reporting firsts. Carl Quintanilla and Kelly O'Donnell will cover the Kerry campaign, and David Gregory will report on the Bush campaign. Campbell Brown will also report from the floor of both conventions. Also reporting will be the team of MSNBC/NBC News campaign reporters Felix Schein, Becky Diamond, Tommy Llamas and Priya David, all of whom have been shadowing the Democratic presidential contenders for almost a year – longer than any other television reporters.

In both Boston and New York, NBC will deploy a large and fully integrated editorial and production team serving all of its programs on all networks. Coordinated by the "Decision 2004" political desk and the NBC News Specials Unit, and serving NBC's owned and operated stations and affiliates, this unified team will give unprecedented depth and breadth to NBC's political coverage from the conventions.

NBC News has secured four skyboxes inside each convention arena for the NBC networks and programs. In addition, NBC will have live camera positions for correspondents and guests throughout the convention hall and approximately 16 cameras positioned to cover every angle of each convention. NBC News has also secured broadcast anchor locations in Boston at Fanueil Hall and in Times Square in New York City.

All of NBC News' coverage will be directed from our political newsroom located at both convention centers. Because of the size of NBC's live broadcast operation, in addition to our on-site control room truck and transmission control center, control rooms in New York, Washington D.C., Secaucus, Miami and Englewood Cliffs will assist in the handling of the production throughout each convention.


MSNBC TV
MSNBC's convention coverage begins the Friday before each convention, with "Hardball with Chris Matthews," 7-8 p.m. (ET) live in Boston and in Times Square, N.Y.

The Sunday before the Democratic convention, July 25, MSNBC will present a full day of live pre-convention coverage, with Chris Jansing anchoring from Boston. At 6 p.m. (ET) Jansing and Chris Matthews anchor a live convention preview. At 7 p.m., Chris Matthews hosts "Hardball," live from Boston. Immediately following, MSNBC presents three hours of special convention-themed programming: "Picking a President," 8-9 p.m., hosted by Matthews and "NBC Nightly News" anchor Tom Brokaw; "John Kerry: Bringing the War Home," 9-10 p.m., hosted by NBC News' Brian Williams; and "Battleground America: Winning the White House," hosted by Chris Jansing, 10-11 p.m.

Monday through Thursday during the conventions, Chris Jansing will anchor for MSNBC live from Faneuil Hall in Boston and from Times Square in New York City, with live updates throughout the day. From 6-8 p.m., Chris Matthews hosts a two-hour "Hardball" live from Faneuil Hall and Times Square with reports from NBC News correspondents on the convention floor, and live updates from NBC News anchors Tom Brokaw and Tim Russert. At 8 p.m., "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" recounts the latest convention news as well as the rest of the day's top stories. Chris Matthews returns at 9 p.m. to host "Hardball: Battle for the White House," live primetime convention coverage through 12 a.m. From 12 a.m.-2 a.m. "Scarborough Country" host Joe Scarborough and MSNBC political analyst Ron Reagan host "Convention After Hours," continuing live coverage of the day's events.

MSNBC's live convention coverage includes a panel of political experts, including "Weekend Today" co-anchor Campbell Brown; NBC News' Andrea Mitchell; MSNBC political analyst Ron Reagan; former White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers; Newsweek's Howard Fineman; former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown; MSNBC election analyst and former Howard Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi; MSNBC's "Scarborough Country" host Joe Scarborough; MSNBC political analyst Pat Buchanan and others.

The primetime convention schedule is as follows:

6-8 p.m. "Hardball with Chris Matthews" live from Boston and Times Square
8-9 p.m. "Countdown with Keith Olbermann"
9 p.m.-12 a.m. "Hardball: Battle for the White House" live primetime convention coverage, anchored by Chris Matthews
12-2 a.m: "Convention After Hours," live late night convention coverage anchored by Joe Scarborough and Ron Reagan