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Although most information programs long ago adapted to the 24-hour news cycle, network morning shows continue to reach viewers in the Mountain time zone on a two-hour tape delay — a practice whose archaic nature was put on display again on the morning of April 4. During the 7 a.m. half hour, news broke that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (pictured) had pledged to release fifteen British sailors held since March 23; see this Associated Press article for more details. This development was quickly reported on cable-news channels such as CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, as well as on live, local broadcasts from channels 2 and 31. However, Today, Good Morning America and The Early Show didn’t break in with an update at the beginning of their 7:30 a.m. segment. Today, for instance, kept its audience in suspense about the diplomatic breakthrough in order to update everyone on the previous night’s American Idol performances.
Talk about being behind the times. — Michael Roberts
