Salem Media Group will announce this morning that their radio division will partner with CNN to broadcast and facilitate three presidential primary debates during the 2016 cycle.
From today's press release:
Salem Media Group will team up with CNN as the exclusive radio outlet to broadcast three GOP presidential primary debates, sanctioned by the Republican National Committee. Salem will air the debates live with special pre- and post-debate coverage on the Salem Radio Network, the company's NewsTalk stations, and conservative news and opinion websites.
"We are pleased to be working with CNN," said David Santrella, President of Broadcast Media at Salem. “I am confident that both the access to our audiences and the incorporation of Salem talent will make the debates more accessible for the American electorate.”
The first of the three debates will take place September 16th at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Salem’s nationally syndicated radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt will join in the Q&A of this debate. Hewitt is a 25-year veteran of radio and broadcast journalism.
Hewitt will also broadcast special editions of his program pre- and post-debate. At the conclusion of the debate, candidates will be invited to join Hewitt to talk candidly about the event and the pressing issues facing the nation.
"I am delighted to be included with journalists posing questions as part of one of America's finest political traditions --the presidential debate," said Hewitt. "These debates come at a critical time, and good questions will allow Republican primary voters the opportunity to see and hear their would be nominees provide answers to issues that genuinely concern them. Any reporter who is also a political junkie welcomes the chance to be on such a panel, which of course I do."
Additional Salem national radio hosts will be announced later as leading participants in future debate coverage.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus stated, "I'm thrilled that Salem will partner with three of our Republican primary debates aired on CNN. When we set out to improve the debates, I promised conservative media would be part of the process. Salem will help the Republican Party have meaningful debates about new ideas for the future, while Democrats simply coronate Hillary Clinton."
The debates will also be extensively covered by Salem Media Group's news and opinion outlets, including SRN News and the Townhall Media web properties. Stay tuned!