i don't quite understand why people wouldn't expect web archiving to increase access over live television broadcasting. the first debate has lost a few mirrors that, the previous time i checked, had it close to a million hits on youtube. the second debate is already at 500,000.
it's impossible to schedule a debate so that everybody can watch it. by putting it up on youtube, you're offering access on demand. anybody that wanted to watch it will find a way to watch it in real-time. the only difference is that people that weren't able to watch it will now be able to watch it when they want. that's a net increase.
it just seems like out-of-date thinking, this reliance on television, which is widely understood as obsolete at this point. i know i'm still not typical, but i moved out over ten years ago and i've never paid for cable. i may know i'm not typical yet, but that *is* becoming the norm.
speaking for myself, i would not have access to a consortium debate in real time, unless it were streamed. i'd have to wait for somebody to upload it somewhere.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/our-election-debate-system-is-a-national-disgrace/article26546325/
Susk
During the last election the consortium tv debate was watched by 14 million - so the norm you speak of is not even close. There is only one reason why the vast majority of voters will not be able to see a televised debate and that is because Harper is afraid to face the nation. I don't know what Doyle thinks we as a nation should do about it other than not vote for the man.
deathtokoalas
i don't know where you're getting that number from. i just googled it and the claim from ctv was 3.85 million, which was a 26% increase over 2008. the aug 6 debate apparently attracted 3.8 million on tv (according to the globe, and, according to my estimates, close to a million online.
jkg
Around 10 million people watched a portion of the English language debate. The 3.65 million only represented the CTV numbers and did not include Global and the CBC.
deathtokoalas
i'm afraid that that's not accurate, either.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=2011+election+debate+ratings
again: that's a huge number.
my best guess is that 3.85 was rounded to 4 which somehow became 14.