A Maine Public Broadcasting Network official apologized Friday for the poor broadcast quality of Thursday’s live debate between U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, and Republican challenger John Frary of Farmington.
Televised on all MBPN stations at 8 p.m. Thursday, the program's satellite link was badly flawed, said Joe Riley, vice president and director of television for MPBN.
Organizers from both campaigns as well as viewers were right to be critical of what they saw, he said.
“There was a problem that we thought was fixed early that triggered another that we couldn't ID until we were on the air,” Riley said. “We are actually embarrassed that the broadcast was marred in this way.”
The picture was blank for most of the debate and large gaps occurred in the audio, said Robert Shaffer, a paid consultant for Frary’s campaign.
“I have received over 50 e-mails today complaining of the broadcast,” Shaffer said Friday. “Apparently the radio feed worked fine, but that was about it.”
The Michaud campaign also heard some complaints, said Monica Castellanos, the congressman's press secretary.
Frary and Michaud took the technical miscues in stride, their representatives said. Neither they nor their representatives were aware of the broadcast blackouts until the next day. Frary, Shaffer said, answered the news with typical aplomb.
“It could be worse. We were, after all, up against the Red Sox,” Frary joked.
As Boston was playing the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series, the hourlong debate featured Frary and Michaud, both candidates for state's 2nd Congressional District, fielding questions from MPBN moderators Jennifer Rooks and A.J. Higgins.
Both sides gave their candidates high marks in the debate.
“He was wonderful,” Shaffer said. “No one watching the debate would not have assumed that he [Frary] was not the incumbent. It was vintage Frary, by turns serious and satirical.”
“I think the congressman did very well,” Castellanos said. “He is running on a record that we are very proud of.”
The debate will be rebroadcast without the flaws at 4 p.m. Sunday on MPBN, Riley said.
“It wasn't taped off the broadcast so none of the difficulties that occurred are on the tape. We should be able to replay it without difficulties,” he said.
On 10/18/08 at 8:57 AM,
billmoores wrote:
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Not only was the broadcast of extremely poor technical quality, but, the stage setting was amateurish. The podiums were oversized and clownish, both for the candidates and the moderators. A curtained background would have help dress up the stage a little more professionally. All in all, I think that the poor tech quality combined with the cartoon style set was highly disrespectful of the candidates and made the MPBN hosts look silly. Not television worth paying for... this time.
On 10/18/08 at 2:31 PM,
Mark44 wrote:
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Considering this unintentional technical glitch, that happened coincidently during a very rare 2nd District debate, and at a time that the voters could have viewed for themselves the actual candidates side by side~ I’m sure this was just a very innocent thing!?!?!???
At the very least, I think the good professor’s numbers will illuminate someone to the fact that complacency will always catch up to you.
My election predictions are:
Senator McCain 49% verses Senator Obama 47%
Senator Collins 61% verses Congressman Allen 33%
Summers verses Pingree too close to tell
Professor John Frary verses Congressman Mike Michaud too close to tell
District 27 State Senator Doug Smith by a sweeping majority
Millinocket State Representative Herbie Clark by a sweeping majority
But no matter who wins, there is a long road of repair after all the lawyers go home, the lights get turned off, and we the taxpayers are stuck with another bill…..
.
On 10/18/08 at 2:33 PM,
Mark44 wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
Considering this unintentional technical glitch, that happened coincidently during a very rare 2nd District debate, and at a time that the voters could have viewed for themselves the actual candidates side by side~ I’m sure this was just a very innocent thing!?!?!???
At the very least, I think the good professor’s numbers will illuminate someone to the fact that complacency will always catch up to you.
My election predictions are:
Senator McCain 49% verses Senator Obama 47%
Senator Collins 61% verses Congressman Allen 33%
Summers verses Pingree too close to tell
Professor John Frary verses Congressman Mike Michaud too close to tell
District 27 State Senator Doug Smith by a sweeping majority
Millinocket State Representative Herbie Clark by a sweeping majority
But no matter who wins, there is a long road of repair after all the lawyers go home, the lights get turned off, and we the taxpayers are stuck with another bill…..
.
On 10/18/08 at 7:01 PM,
wspahn wrote:
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Wow. A conspiracy theory about a House of Representatives debate? Seriously?
On 10/18/08 at 8:37 PM,
AlainO wrote:
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Maine Public Radio...in spite of the fact that our contribution might be considered our "widow's mite, it is still worth the price I and my family pay monthly. Stuff happens. Get over it.
On 10/20/08 at 8:46 PM,
KarenW wrote:
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You'll find that Mark is full of conspiracy theories, and resentments, among other things ...
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