PRESS RELEASE from NBC News
August 16, 2012

ABC NEWS TO DELIVER EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON AUGUST 27-30 & SEPTEMBER 4-6

ABC’s Powerhouse Political Team Contribute to More Than 30 Hours of Anchored Live-Streamed Coverage on ABC News Digital Platforms and Yahoo! News During Convention Weeks 

“Good Morning America,” “World News,” and “Nightline” to Originate from Tampa and Charlotte – Rounding Out More than 14 Hours of Convention Coverage on the ABC Television Network 

Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos Lead ABC’s Primetime Network Coverage 

Univision News and ABC News to Collaborate on Convention Coverage

As the race for the White House enters its final months and both the candidates look to make their case directly to the American people, ABC News will provide comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the Republican National Convention in Tampa (August 27-30) and the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte (September 4-6). Coverage, led by Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos along with ABC’s powerhouse team of political correspondents and contributors, will span ABC News’ broadcasts and platforms — including more than 14 hours of coverage on the ABC Television Network, 30-plus hours of live-streamed coverage on ABC News Digital platforms and Yahoo!, and extensive reporting and analysis on ABC News Radio.  In addition, ABC News will be co-hosting newsmaker events with its partners at both conventions.

During the back-to-back conventions Sawyer and Stephanopoulos will be joined by ABC News’ powerhouse political team including:

The booming U.S. Hispanic population is challenging the conventional political wisdom in new and unexpected ways.  ABC News will tap into the expertise and insights of Univision News as it explores the impact the Latino vote will have on November’s elections and beyond. Jorge Ramos will contribute to ABC News coverage in Tampa, and Maria Elena Salinas will contribute in Charlotte. In May ABC News and Univision News announced a joint venture that will launch a 24/7 news, information and lifestyle network primarily in English to serve the youngest and fastest-growing demographic in the country: U.S. Hispanics.

ABC News will be partnering with Univision and the National Journal for “Next America” events in each city focused on Hispanics and American politics.  The events will be live streamed on the digital platforms of ABC News.

Convention coverage kicks off with a special edition of “World News with Diane Sawyer” originating from Tampa on Monday, August 27. Coverage will continue throughout the following weeks with all of ABC’s daily newscasts - Good Morning America,” World News with Diane Sawyer“ and Nightline“ - broadcasting from the convention sites. George Stephanopoulos, who also serves as chief political correspondent and anchor of “This Week,” will co-anchor “GMA” from the conventions.

Terry Moran will anchor special editions of “Nightline” from throughout the conventions in Tampa and Charlotte making ABC the only broadcast network providing viewers with convention coverage in late-night. “Nightline,” the most-watched broadcast in late-night, will dedicate the entire newscast to coverage of all the key moments of the day with analysis from ABC’s powerhouse political team.

Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos will anchor live primetime coverage of the Republican National Convention (#abcRNC) in Tampa for the ABC Television Network on:

Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos will anchor live primetime coverage of the Democratic National Convention (#abcDNC) in Charlotte for the ABC Television Network on:

Note: Outlined above are the confirmed primetime hours set to be broadcast on the ABC Television Network. ABC will finalize its coverage plans once the final convention schedules are announced.

ABC News Digital platforms will provide live coverage on each night of the conventions from 7:00-11:30 p.m., ET on ABCNews.com, Yahoo!, Yahoo! News, GoodMorningAmerica.com on Yahoo!, ABC News’ iPad & iPhone apps, as well as on ABC affiliate websites.

Live-streamed coverage will be anchored by ABC News political director Amy Walter and Yahoo! News Washington bureau chief David Chalian. They will be joined throughout the night by Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopoulos, “World News” weekend anchor David Muir, senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper, senior political correspondent Jonathan Karl, senior Washington editor Rick Klein, political contributor Matthew Dowd, and Yahoo! News’ White House correspondent Olivier Knox, senior political reporter Holly Bailey, and political reporter Chris Moody.

In addition, ABC News and Yahoo! News will host “Newsmakers Live” events in each city. ABC News and Yahoo! News will host a discussion with the architects of the Romney and Obama campaigns before a live audience of political influencers. The events will be live-streamed on the platforms of ABC News Digital and Yahoo!. Details to be announced.

ABC NewsOne, the network’s affiliate news service, will have correspondents Karen Travers and Brandi Hitt reporting live from the RNC in Tampa starting on Sunday, August 26, continuing through Friday, August 31.  Travers and Hitt will also report live from the DNC in Charlotte starting on Sunday, September 2 and continuing through Friday, September 7.  ABC’s Cokie Roberts will provide analysis for ABC’s station, affiliates and clients throughout the convention weeks. ABC NewsOne will provide production support for over 50 stations and clients, including the ABC Owned Television Stations, ABC affiliates, BBC, NHK Japan, Univision, Al Jazeera, and Nine Network Australia.

ABC News Radio will provide extensive coverage of the Republican National Convention beginning Monday, August 27 through Thursday, August 30, and the Democratic National Convention from Tuesday, September 4 through Thursday, September 6.  ABC News Radio correspondent Aaron Katersky will anchor live coverage each evening from 8:00-11:00pm, ET from both Tampa and Charlotte.

ABC News Radio’s team of correspondents – Vic Ratner, Ann Compton, Steven Portnoy, and Alex Stone – will contribute reporting and analysis, as will Sam Donaldson and political analysts Steve Roberts and Trey Hardin.  ABC News Radio will also provide digital coverage to over 400 affiliated radio station websites.

In addition, ABC News Radio also will provide coverage of both conventions to its digital partners at Slacker Radio and AOL Radio. Specially designed studio facilities will host ABC Talk Radio Row for more than 25 ABC News Radio affiliates from across the country.