Sux GOP Debate to Appear Live Online

So I guess my gut was right. KTIV has decided to air its Republican gubernatorial debate live online. Good call.

The goods:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEIn addition to the web broadcast and initial over the air broadcast on Wednesday, April 7th, the debate will be rebroadcast on KTIV Sunday April 11th at 1:30 PM. KTTC will air the rebroadcast Sunday at 2:00 PM.

QUINCY NEWSPAPERS, INC. IOWA TELEVISION STATIONS TO OFFER REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE LIVE ON THE WEB

Debate will then air Wednesday April 7th at 7PM on KTIV in Sioux City, KWWL in Waterloo and KTTC in Rochester, MN (serving North-Central Iowa).

Quincy Newspapers, Inc. television stations KTIV of Sioux City, IA, KWWL of Waterloo, Iowa and KTTC of Rochester, Minnesota will be offering the first Iowa Republican Gubernatorial debate live on their station websites on Wednesday April 7th at 1:00 PM. The program will then be broadcast over the air that evening from 7:00 – 8:00 PM on each of the stations.

The debate featuring the three Iowa Republican candidates for governor (Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Bob VanderPlaats of Sioux City and State Representative Rod Roberts) is moderated by Matt Breen of KTIV, Ron Steele of KWWL and Tom Overlie of KTTC.

“Our stations originally planned to tape the debate on April 7th to air on April 10th,” says Jerry Watson, Regional Vice President of Quincy Newspapers, Inc. “Because the debate was a cooperative event involving three Iowa television markets, a number of issues had to be addressed. First, was the candidates' availability and second was time periods available to air the program on three NBC affliliates. We did not want to pre-empt NBC's new, popular show ‘Minute to Win It.' In the end, we felt Iowans should be able to view the debate live as it happens and on the air the very same evening.”

“We're excited to use new media technologies to bring this debate live to anyone who wishes to see it,” says KTIV Director of News and Operations Bridget Breen. “Our goal is to provide opportunities for the voters of Iowa to hear from the candidates and by partnering with our sister stations, we reach two-thirds of the state over the air. With a live broadcast online, anyone across the state or around the world will be able to see this debate live as it happens.”

The debate has also been made available to Iowa Public Television.