Television

Television will provide a wide range of options for the Democratic National Convention (Monday through Thursday from Denver) and the Republican National Convention (Sept. 1-4 from St. Paul, Minn).

ABC

The times: an hour a night, starting at 9.

The talent: Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos are the anchor team.

Special features: This Week, Good Morning America, World News and Nightline will originate from the convention cities. ABC News Now provides wall-to-wall coverage at abcnewsnow.com.

CBS

The times: an hour a night, starting at 9.

The talent: Katie Couric anchors. Bob Schieffer and Jeff Greenfield provide analysis.

Special features: Couric offers live Web specials at CBSNews.com and CNET.com afterward. Face the Nation, The Early Show and the CBS Evening News originate from the cities. CBSNews.com provides wall-to-wall coverage.

CNN

The times: coverage starts at 5 a.m. daily.

The talent: Anderson Cooper anchors at night in Denver; Campbell Brown does the honors from St. Paul. Gloria Borger and John King assist. Wolf Blitzer is afternoon anchor.

Special features: Coverage originates from the convention floor. King will use his multi-touch wall to explain delegate math. Newsmakers meet at the CNN Grills, restaurants near the conventions. Live streaming at CNN.com.

Fox

The times: extensive coverage, starting at 5 a.m.

The talent: Brit Hume will anchor from 8:45 to 10 each night. Hannity & Colmes runs from 8 to 8:45. Greta Van Susteren shifts to 10 p.m.

Special features: Fox won't be based in the hall. A grill serves as Denver headquarters; a custom-built tent is the backdrop in St. Paul. Analysts include Karl Rove, Lanny Davis, Newt Gingrich and Howard Wolfson.

MSNBC

The times: Twenty hours a day live, starting at 5 a.m.

The talent: Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews anchor from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. NBC anchors get an hour each: Brian Williams at noon. and Tom Brokaw at 3.

Special features: All those hours, and all those analysts, who include Rachel Maddow, Pat Buchanan, Eugene Robinson, Mike Murphy and Harold Ford Jr.

NBC

The times: an hour a night, starting at 9.

The talent: Brian Williams leads the coverage. Andrea Mitchell and David Gregory report from the floor. Ann Curry will be a podium correspondent. Luke Russert, son of Tim, focuses on youth issues.

Special features: Meet the Press goes to each city. The Today plan: Matt Lauer goes to Denver, and Meredith Vieira travels to St. Paul. MSNBC.com offer gavel-to-gavel coverage.

PBS

The times: 7 to convention's conclusion each night.

The talent: Jim Lehrer anchors. Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill report from the floor. Mark Shields and David Brooks provide analysis.

Special features: PBS promises "extended, uninterrupted coverage of podium activities and speeches."