ABC, CBS and NBC decided at the last moment Monday to join the cable news channels in televising a Florida judicial hearing over whether a ballot recount can continue in three counties. Spokespersons for the networks defended the decision after their telephone switchboards were swamped with angry calls from viewers complaining about the absence of their favorite soap operas. "It's the most compelling news story in the country now," Su-lin Nichols, a spokesman for ABC News, told the Wall Street Journal. NBC spokeswoman Barbara Levin commented, "I don't think anyone can dispute the news value of what's taking place."

Source: Studio Briefing