[ajbrown]

I may be the only one with this opinion, but it amazes me that every channel that deals with news is covering the hurricane. I get that it is a big storm, I get there is a big surge, but every channel for every minute?

You would think one channel would have an approach of covering daily news and use a banner, then have a 15 minute update every hour or something.

Is Libya a new vacation resort?
Romney's hair still perfect?
US economy on the mend?

How would I know by watching tv, there is a hurricane coming

It's on the EAST coast! Its going to hit New York. Nothing else matters...

[Virtual Geezer]

I agree. Look what was going on a few months back with the rising of the Mississippi River in LA do to heavy spring rains in the Midwest and snow melt up north. It was the hot topic for days and then nothing. Did everything just go away and things are back to normal? I would have liked to know what happened to all the farm land that was flooded because of the spillways being opened. What is currently happening to that area now that it is under a sever heat wave?

[Sally Jo]

AMEN!!!! It's ridiculous.

[villagegolfer]

Thank goodness for the Golf Channel.

[GeorgeT]

Wow, the hurricane is a serious issue for everyone north of SC now and should be the #1 news story as it is. You are sitting at a computer right now and can read about any news story you want so what's the big deal?

[ilovetv]

After Katrina, there is hyper-awareness and hyper-warning going on.....the elected politicians don't want to get blamed and vilified when people make no effort on their own to get themselves out of known danger on its way.

[graciegirl]

The people who decide WHAT is news are playing a numbers game. They are showing what MOST people want to see.

It is a business like any other. A judgement call.

You know what ole Abe said.

I am interested in the Hurricane news.

[CarolSells]

I totally agree, also. I'm somewhat of a night owl and tuned in vey late last night and at first it was interesting. I also leave my television on all night so I checked in periodically and on several different channels.

Here are some things I saw:

1) HLN (the sensationalism channel a.k.a. Nancy Grace's station) had a female shreiking about people who "just blatantly refused to evacuate" as if she got left out of the Casey assasination!

2) All sorts of helpful hints for survival such as "bring those trash cans in - don't want those blowin' around", "turn your lawn furniture upside down to protect it", and "if you don't live in a poorer area and have some money left here at the end of the month go to the ATM and take out some cash" Really! "Stay away from windows!".

3) And the perrenial fav: "We have Bill on the line who lives in Atlantic City, N.C. where they are reporting torrential rain right now. (Add split screen shot where we can see said rain). So, Bill what can you see as you look out you window?". (She missed #2).

Oh well, at least they are leaving the housing market alone! Thanks for reading.

[tainsley]

If you get FLIX channel, Great Expectations is on. Good movie. I am watching the hurricane from my family room window. Oops power just went off. Oh its too early! Anyway... ah it's back on! Wind gusts are up to about 40-45 mph. Sure hope my trees can handle it. Still no cable...cable back on! Gonna be one of those days. Can't wait to get back to TV!

[cybermuda]

Try the BBC on PBS - world news every evening at 6pm (not sure about weekends)

A lot of their coverage the past few days has been on Libya, and before that it was Syria, but they have reported on the hurricane, financial matters and other events as well

[joycenemetz]

With this hurricane afftecting 29 million people, it is a pretty big deal. Even pretty far inland in NE PA, we have moved all the deck furniture out of harms way, stocked up on food & water, and batteries for the flashlights. All of our electric lines are above ground and here in PA we have a lot of old trees with old branches that could fall on the electric wires - we may not have power for a while - good to keep the news on and keep informed with the status of the storm.

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by GeorgeT

Wow, the hurricane is a serious issue for everyone north of SC now and should be the #1 news story as it is. You are sitting at a computer right now and can read about any news story you want so what's the big deal?

I do get my news from many places. I am not trying to change the world; just chatting on TOTV and wondering how others felt. When I use the computer I listen to the tv flipping between CNN and FOX, so I miss it when the cable news channels do this.

I whole heartedly agree Irene is the number one news story today, but I do not feel it is the ONLY news story of the day. The program manager for these stations feel the 24 hours coverage is best for their business, but I wonder if that is what MOST viewers want or they fear not keeping up with the other guys.

I could see running a normal Saturday segments updating us on the storm every 30 minutes as an option.

I would think a channel like MSNBC with lower ratings would take a chance and try to capture a new audience by NOT simply following the others.

Just my opinion as I await the first showers from Irene to arrive.

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by joycenemetz

With this hurricane afftecting 29 million people, it is a pretty big deal. Even pretty far inland in NE PA, we have moved all the deck furniture out of harms way, stocked up on food & water, and batteries for the flashlights. All of our electric lines are above ground and here in PA we have a lot of old trees with old branches that could fall on the electric wires - we may not have power for a while - good to keep the news on and keep informed with the status of the storm.

I hope no one reads into my posts that I do not think the hurricane is a big deal. I know it is a big deal and will affect many folks. If my posts diminished that concern, it is my lack of writing skills, not my intent.

I only started this thread curious how others felt about FOX, CNN, MSNBC and HLN providing exactly the same coverage as the Weather Channel every minute all day.

[villagegolfer]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

I hope no one reads into my posts that I do not think the hurricane is a big deal. I know it is a big deal and will affect many folks. If my posts diminished that concern, it is my lack of writing skills, not my intent.

I only started this thread curious how others felt about FOX, CNN, MSNBC and HLN providing exactly the same coverage as the Weather Channel every minute all day.

I agree , you would think that a Hurricane Update every 15 minutes would be enough or running a banner at the bottom of the screen.
Like someone said, maybe they are doing it because every other channel is doing it?