John McCain Memorials to Get Massive TV Coverage

Both cable news networks and big broadcast networks will devote much of their air time from Friday to Sunday on the memorial services in honor of late Senator John McCain. The services will feature eulogies presented by McCain's friends and colleagues, as well as former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Donald Trump, who has hurled insults at former POW McCain, will be excluded from the events. Read on for details.

Via Deadline.

John McCain was unsuccessful in both of his attempts to become President of the United States, but in death the Arizona Senator is getting a send off from the networks worthy of a Commander-in-chief.

I'm very proud that the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 is now law and I’m humbled that my colleagues in Congress chose to designate this bill in my name. Serving as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and working on behalf of America's brave service members has been one of the greatest honors of my life. There is no higher calling than to serve a cause greater than self-interest. Through the committee’s work, I’ve been privileged to support our men and women in uniform who have dedicated their lives to that noble cause.

A post shared by John McCain (@senjohnmccain) on Aug 13, 2018 at 1:17pm PDT

CBS, NBC and ABC are all planing extensive coverage of the events this week leading up to Sunday’s private funeral of the American hero and self described maverick, who passed away from brain cancer at the age of 81-years old on August 25. Of course, starting today, CNN, Fox New Channel and MSNBC are going wall-to-wall with coverage of Sen. McCain’s memorial in his adopted state and all the way up to his funeral on September 2.

It was a great honor to receive the National Constitution Center's 2017 #LibertyMedal from my dear friend Joe Biden in Philadelphia last night. I have had the good fortune to spend 60 years in service to this wondrous land and I'm so very grateful for the privilege.

A post shared by John McCain (@senjohnmccain) on Oct 17, 2017 at 8:58am PDT

While Donald Trump has been distinctly not invited, former Presidents and respective McCain White House bid rivals George W. Bush and Barack Obama are scheduled to deliver eulogies for the six term Senator at Washington National Cathedral on September 1. The son of a distinguished military family, the former Navy pilot and Vietnam War POW will be buried at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on September 2.

Among the pallbearers for Sen. McCain’s D.C. memorial will be Warren Beatty, ex-VP Joe Biden, who will speak in Phoenix tomorrow about his long time friend, FedEx founder Fred Smith, former Sen. Gary Hart, and ex-NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

As all of the Big 3 are rightly set to go big on the farewell to Sen. McCain, of all the network news anchors only NBC’s Lester Holt will be on-air covering the memorials. CBS’ Jeff Glor is off this week and, as he has in past big events such as this, ABC’s David Muir is handing over the reigns to Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos. As it does in such circumstances of national interest, Fox will pepper simulcasting of FNC’s broadcasts throughout its regularly scheduled programming.

Get the rest of the story at Deadline.

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