DALLAS — President Trump’s highly unusual midterm Republican convention could face a visibility problem on television, with prime-time audiences also being courted by the NFL’s season-opening spotlight and several major networks still unclear about how much coverage they plan to provide.
Republicans are set to descend on Dallas on Wednesday and Thursday for a tightly scheduled two-day gathering featuring fundraising events, policy workshops, opportunities to meet with Trump and a lineup of speeches — capped by remarks from the president on both nights.
The timing, however, puts the GOP event up against one of the country’s most reliable ratings draws: football.
The NFL season opens Wednesday with the New England Patriots taking on the Seattle Seahawks, a matchup airing on NBC and streaming on the network’s digital platform. The following night, the San Francisco 49ers will play the Los Angeles Rams in a Thursday night game carried on Netflix.
Several major television networks have offered little clarity about their plans for convention coverage. C-SPAN, however, is set to provide full gavel-to-gavel coverage on both television and online, while Fox News is expected to maintain a major presence in Dallas, broadcasting live programming and shows from the convention site.
ABC, NBC, CBS and MSNow did not respond to The Post’s request for comment. NBC, which spends more than $2 billion a year on NFL broadcast rights, is already locked in to carry Wednesday night’s football opener.
Even with the challenge of competing for viewers during a major sports week, Republican National Committee officials say they expect the Dallas convention to command strong interest.
“There is no bigger headliner than President Donald J. Trump – he is ratings gold,” Danielle Alvarez, a senior adviser to the Republican National Committee, said in a statement.
“This historic midterm convention will make the choice between common-sense conservatism and liberal extremism clear. Voters will be tuning in.”
“President Trump is one of the greatest showmen in history, and we fully expect to have a spectacular showing in Dallas draw a massive viewership,” RNC spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre told The Post.
Most of Fox News’ anchors and top correspondents will be in Texas for the convention. Sean Hannity’s show will air for two hours in prime time each evening.
“CNN will be covering the RNC Midterm Convention and bringing the newsiest moments and speeches to our audiences,” a source said.
The TV networks are expected to have detailed coverage on their websites and social media channels.
A source familiar with CBS’s coverage plans told the Washington Examiner there will be reporters on the ground who will report on the convention “closely,” but that it does not “have plans for anything major.”
This week’s event is the first of its kind and it will also be the first time a convention has been open to the public. There will be over 20,000 people in attendance, the RNC said.
Typically, political parties only hold conventions in presidential years. And even those events — meant to formally introduce the party’s White House nominee to the nation — have seen ratings decline with many viewers feeling they have become predictable.
This week’s convention will promote GOP congressional candidates, but some swing state contenders are expected to skip to campaign in their district.
Republicans face an uphill battle to keep control of the House. Democrats only need to gain three seats to take the majority.
Other than Trump, many candidates and Vice President JD Vance will address the event.
“It’s more of a Trump rally than a real convention of the whole Republican Party,” Dennis Lennox, a GOP strategist from Michigan, told The Post. “That dynamic also impacts media coverage. The legit conventions barely get a fraction of the coverage they used to receive. Why should the media cover a faux convention that Republicans admit is just a dressed up Trump rally?”
Lennox has been to each Republican presidential convention since 2004, but is skipping Dallas.
Social media will heavily distribute the Republicans’ message as will conservative networks like Rumble, Newsmax and OAN.
