PBS NewsHour Announces Primetime Coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions As Details Emerge

ARLINGTON, VA (Updated, August 21, 2020) — PBS NewsHour plans to produce and broadcast live, primetime coverage of the in-person and virtual proceedings of the 2020 Democratic National Convention August 17 – 20, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the 2020 Republican National Convention August 24 – 27, 2020, as details of the parties’ respective events take shape.

This special coverage, produced with funding by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS, will air on PBS stations nationwide (to air during both conventions from 8 – 11pm ET) and across PBS NewsHour’s and PBS’s digital platforms. It will be anchored by managing editor Judy Woodruff at our studio in Arlington, Virginia, with senior national correspondent Amna Nawaz, correspondent Lisa Desjardins, and White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor reporting in the field and/or remotely (Desjardins reporting from Wilmington, Del. August 17 – 20). Guests – likely remote as well – include Cook Political Report national editor Amy Walter, syndicated columnist Mark Shields, New York Times columnist David Brooks, Washington Post columnists Jonathan Capehart and Gary Abernathy, Washington Post national political reporter and moderator of PBS’s Washington Week Robert Costa, American Greatness editor Chris Buskirk, and former Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter, with more to come.

“The 2020 election is proving to be unlike any other in modern history, as this global pandemic reshapes so many aspects of our lives,” said Sara Just, PBS NewsHour executive producer and a WETA SVP. “Nevertheless, it is our firm commitment to bring in-depth reporting and insightful analysis to all of our election coverage and especially these most unusual conventions, led by the incomparable Judy Woodruff, and our great team. These two weeks will be significant moments in this historic election – and like nothing we’ve seen before.”

Coverage will extend to NewsHour’s digital and social platforms, including livestreams of both NewsHour’s anchored coverage and the full convention feed, among other streams; reporting for NewsHour’s original podcast series America, Interrupted; and Instagram, YouTube and Facebook Stories.

PBS NewsHour’s total nightly audience for March – June 2020 vs. the same four months in 2019 was up 23%, at 2.8 million viewers per broadcast. At pbs.org/newshour, average total monthly website users were up 83% at 9 million. OTT streaming for NewsHour’s nightly broadcast during the same period averaged one million monthly total streams, up more than 200% year-over-year. During the month of June 2020 (vs. June 2019), NewsHour’s full episode on YouTube was up 175% at 7.2 million total views and up 185% at 2.7 million total hours viewed.

About PBS NewsHour
PBS NewsHour is a production of NewsHour Productions LLC, a wholly-owned non-profit subsidiary of WETA Washington, DC, in association with WNET in New York. Major corporate funding is provided by BNSF, Consumer Cellular, Fidelity, Johnson & Johnson, and Raymond James, with additional support from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Lemelson Foundation, National Science Foundation, Skoll Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Friends of the NewsHour and others. More information on PBS NewsHour is available at www.pbs.org/newshour. On social media, visit PBS NewsHour on Facebook or follow @NewsHour on Twitter.

About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’s premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV— including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

About the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
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Media Contact: Nick Massella, Senior Director of Brand Strategy and Communications, nmassella@newshour.org