NBC interrupts Olympics for John Edwards coverage
NBC has interrupted its coverage of the Olympics opening ceremony tonight in order to report on John Edwards' affair and is considering postponing or canceling coverage of most major events at the Beijing games so it can track every development in the story over the next several weeks.
"The Olympics happen every four years -- there's kind of a 'been there, done that,' quality to the whole thing," said NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker. "But finding out that a presidential candidate had an affair -- that's a rare and riveting event of such epic importance to the nation that it should supersede coverage of a bunch of people throwing balls and hitting things."
NBC has recalled most of its correspondents in Beijing, including Bob Costas, Brian Williams, Tom Brokaw and Richard Engel in order to stake our the homes of Edwards and his ex-lover Rielle Hunter. In addition, White House correspondent David Gregory has been assigned to follow National Enquirer journalists in order to report on whatever more they uncover about the story in real time.
Zucker added that several camera operators and interns have been left in Beijing to tape Olympics highlights that will most likely air on NBC Universal-owned stations Telemundo and Oxygen in the early morning hours.
