DALLAS — President Trump’s unprecedented midterm GOP convention might be tough to find on TV — facing stiff primetime competition from the NFL’s opening game and uncertain airtime from major networks.
Republicans will gather in Dallas on Wednesday and Thursday for two packed days of fundraising, workshops, face time with Trump and a full slate of speeches — including one by Trump each night.
But Wednesday and Thursday also conflict with a major American pastime: football.
The season kicks off with a game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, airing on NBC and its streaming platform. On Thursday night, the San Francisco 49ers face off against the Los Angeles Rams in a game streamed on Netflix.
Many major TV networks have remained vague about their convention coverage plans. But C-SPAN will air wall-to-wall coverage on TV and its website, and Fox News will have a large presence, committing to live programming from the convention site with its shows airing from Dallas.
ABC, NBC, CBS, and MS NOW did not respond to The Post’s request for comment. NBC pays more than $2 billion annually for football rights and is committed to airing Wednesday’s game.
Despite the potential viewership challenges, RNC officials are confident the convention will attract a big audience.
“There is no bigger headliner than President Donald J. Trump – he is ratings gold,” Danielle Alvarez, a senior advisor at the Republican National Committee, said in a statement.
“This historic midterm convention will make the choice between common-sense conservatism and liberal extremism clear. Voters will be tuning in.”
“President Trump is one of the greatest showmen in history, and we fully expect to have a spectacular showing in Dallas draw a massive viewership,” RNC spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre told The Post.
Most of Fox News’ anchors and top correspondents will be in Texas for the convention. Sean Hannity’s show will air for two hours in prime time each evening.
“CNN will be covering the RNC Midterm Convention and bringing the newsiest moments and speeches to our audiences,” a source said.
The TV networks are expected to have detailed coverage on their websites and social media channels.
A source familiar with CBS’s coverage plans told the Washington Examiner there will be reporters on the ground who will report on the convention “closely,” but that it does not “have plans for anything major.”
This week’s event is the first of its kind, and it will also be the first time a convention has been open to the public. There will be over 20,000 people in attendance, the RNC said.
Typically, political parties only hold conventions in presidential years. And even those events — meant to formally introduce the party’s White House nominee to the nation — have seen ratings decline, with many viewers feeling they have become predictable.
This week’s convention will promote GOP congressional candidates, but some swing-state contenders are expected to skip to campaign in their district.
Republicans face an uphill battle to keep control of the House. Democrats only need to gain three seats to take the majority.
Other than Trump, many candidates and Vice President JD Vance will address the event.
“It’s more of a Trump rally than a real convention of the whole Republican Party,” Dennis Lennox, a GOP strategist from Michigan, told The Post.
“That dynamic also impacts media coverage. The legit conventions barely get a fraction of the coverage they used to receive. Why should the media cover a faux convention that Republicans admit is just a dressed-up Trump rally?”
Lennox has been to each Republican presidential convention since 2004, but is skipping Dallas.
Social media will heavily distribute the Republicans’ message, as will conservative networks like Rumble, Newsmax and OAN.
