With the cable news networks going nearly round the clock with political convention coverage, will viewers still turn to ABC, CBS and NBC for their limited dispatches?

The broadcast networks are counting on it. All three have committed to slightly more coverage of the Democratic and Republican gatherings than they did in 2004, when they were chided for carrying prime-time reports on only three of the four nights of each convention.

This year, all three networks have committed to producing live hourlong news specials each night, airing at 5 p.m. CDT.

The networks' daily newscasts -- including the flagship evening broadcasts anchored by Brian Williams, Charles Gibson and Katie Couric -- will originate from Denver and St. Paul during the events. But it remains to be seen whether the long-dominant broadcasters will be able to attract sizable audiences for their reporting.

And without a contested nomination at stake, many news executives contend that the events amount to four days of party advertising. Meanwhile, the production costs are enormous, running about $6 million per network -- a major investment at a time when news budgets have been curtailed.

PBS' Jim Lehrer believes the investment is well worth it. He will be anchoring three hours of live coverage each night on "The NewsHour," beginning at 3 p.m. CDT.

"The conventions, the idea that they're not news -- that's baloney," he said. "What is more exciting than electing the president of the United States?"

LOS ANGELES TIMES