The Debate: Viewer Comments, Online Simulcast
A Democratic Underground poster sarcastically estimated that one hundred people were watching MSNBC's debate on a Sunday night. "Geez .... another one? How many debates are they having each day?," one Free Republic member asked. Notable convergence: MSNBC.com simulcast their debate live. 8:40:29 PM

Last Debate before Caucus on MSNBC Now
MSNBC broadcasting another Democratic debate tonight, from 8 to 10pm. A live Hardball follow-up at 10pm. (H&L; featuring Hillary Clinton preceded at 7...hmm.) First question: moderator Lester Holt asked for Dean's response to the caucusgoers-are-extremists comment. 8:06:24 PM

! The Influence of Cablers: Campaign 2004
38% of adults "regularly learn something" about the presidential campaign from cable news networks, a new Pew study says. (Another 37% said they do "sometimes.") Cable news networks are the second most popular source of information about the presidental campaign, eclipsed only by local television news, at 42%. Detail: "When individual TV outlets are tested, 22% say they get most of their news from CNN, [and] 20% cite Fox." Notable: Cable news nets are the "most frequently cited source of campaign news for young people." The Pew summary and the raw data are fascinating; here are the AP and Reuters stories. 5:08:32 PM

Quote of the day
In a Toronto Star story titled "If it scares, it airs:" "CNN will convince you that there is some terror or horror or disaster awaiting you around the next corner. And if you turn it off, you realize you walk the streets and things don't fall out of the sky and kill you." (Ken Finkleman, director, "The Newsroom," CBC) 5:01:07 PM

Dean Asserting "More Message Control"
For Howard Dean's campaign, the McCain model of near-total media access is being gradually superseded by the Bush model of "controlled accessibility." "There's certainly a change," MSNBC embed Felix Schein tells the Boston Globe today. On Reliable Sources, Chicago Tribune reporter Jill Zuckman said Dean was "asserting a little more message control." "Sounds like the old-fashioned bubble is being created," host Howie Kurtz responded. 12:15:41 PM

More Free Video on MSNBC.com
First the week in pictures, and now MSNBC.com introduces "The Week In Video." Click the link on their main page to open up the media player. 12:10:11 PM

Will Pundits' Hot Air Warm New Hampshire?
The New Hampshire Sunday News (Union Leader) discusses the torrent of media types who will soon descend on the hamlets of New Hampshire. (Sounds quaint, doesn't it?) FOX News political programming executive producer Marty Ryan says the primary is "a big deal and we’re making it a bigger deal." CNN will have 150 crew members come January 27. Details... 2:39:22 AM

MSNBC's Third Debate of 2004 Scheduled
After the caucus, following the first primaries, Wisconsin's turn at a presidential debate will come February 15. The event, to be broadcast live on MSNBC, will be sponsored by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WTMJ-TV, and Journal Communications. (More info in this article.) MSNBC airs a debate Sunday evening, then again at the end of this month... 2:39:09 AM

This Could Be An O'Reilly Factor Drinking Game
This TVHead comment made me smile early this morning: "I'm going to start counting the number of times [Bill O'Reilly] mentions/references/alludes to/flat out pimps his latest book the next time i watch "The Factor." Not to mention the amount of time he wastes enticing the viewer to visit the flea market he set up on his website." Don't forget 'the radio factor on Westwood One.' 2:38:53 AM