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RNC chairman chides TV networks over convention programming

Posted at 3:46 PM, Aug 24, 2012
and last updated 2012-08-24 15:46:06-04

By Peter Hamby, CNN Political Reporter

Tampa, Florida (CNN) – Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus suggested Friday that the big three television networks were declining to broadcast portions of next week’s GOP convention out of political bias.

Priebus specifically questioned the decision by the broadcast networks to not broadcast any GOP Convention programming on Monday evening, when Ann Romney is supposed to speak.

“I am pretty disappointed with the networks for not covering us on Monday, but we are getting good at dealing with the mainstream media,” Priebus told CNN.

Priebus said it’s been an uphill battle negotiating with the networks over broadcast time.

ABC, CBS and NBC will each air one hour of prime time convention programming on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights of both the Republican and Democratic conventions.

But unlike the Democrats, who have no events on the Monday before their three-day convention, Republicans have four days of podium action and a full slate of speakers for Monday night. The networks are not taking any of that nights programming live in primetime.

“Listen, I think the media has an obsession with distractions, they haven’t been focused on the economy, jobs and the promises that Obama has failed to deliver,” Priebus said. “Again, we getting used to getting our message out in spite of the mainstream media.”