The Super Bowl of politics beats the real thing by a week.
President Bush is all over our TV screens tonight with his annual State of the Union Address (7 p.m., channels 4, 7, 9, 24, 31, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox News,
MSNBC, Telemundo).
The television audience for Bush’s sixth State of the Union talk should top the 39 million viewers, a relatively low number, who watched last year. His topics are expected to include all our favorites – spying, war, the economy, Social Security and prescription drugs. Analysis will follow. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine will speak for the Democrats and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will deliver a response in Spanish for the Spanish-language networks.
C-SPAN gets a jump on the field with interviews on the history and process of presidential addresses at 6 p.m.
Thanks to our electronic age, ordinary citizens can cast their opinions on talk shows and in numerous sites in the blogosphere.
When and where you can listen on radio:
Robert Siegel hosts NPR radio coverage and the Democratic response (7 p.m., KCFR 1340-AM).
KOA covers the speech at 7 p.m. and follows up with reaction on “Colorado’s Morning News” (5 a.m. Wednesday).
Or you can catch “Gilmore Girls” on KWGN-Channel 2.
Howard for Howard
Drumbeats and ballyhoo aside, Howard Stern’s move to Sirius satellite radio probably will have less impact than his publicity campaign would have us believe.
According to a survey of 1,008 adults by American Media Services, 86 percent of those interviewed said they were not likely to buy satellite radio because of the shock jock’s move from over-the-air to satellite radio. And 69 percent said their signing up was “not at all likely.”
Nevertheless, the deal is expected to net $670 million for Stern. After a surge of stock sales when he went on Sirius on Jan. 9, sales are falling off.
Around the dial
Behind-the-scenes: Assignment editors from Denver’s five television news outlets talk about approaching the news at a Society of Professional Journalists gathering at the Denver Press Club at 6 p.m. Thursday. It’s free … Local producer Brian Malone, whose documentary on “Blinky the Clown” won accolades last year, debuts his latest, “Breaking News,” about the Kobe Bryant and Michael Jackson media frenzies, at the Boulder International Film Festival on Feb. 17 … It’s Dave Barry Humor Week at KBDI-Channel 12. The author/ humorist guests on “Colorado Inside Out Live” with Peter Boyles at 8 p.m. Wednesday and at 9 p.m. Friday on “The Aaron Harber Show” … Quotable: “Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.” Ronald Reagan
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
