WMUR, Union Leader, CNN to produce first New Hampshire Republican primary debate

The New Hampshire Union Leader, WMUR-TV, and CNN are once again teaming up to present a Republican Presidential primary debate in America’s first primary state. The debate is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, 2011 in Manchester, New Hampshire, which will make it the first debate in the “First in the Nation” primary state of New Hampshire.

Information on the location and exact time of the New Hampshire debate will be forthcoming. The three news organizations have a long history of working together to host presidential debates in the state, most recently in 2007.

In addition to live prime-time airings on both CNN and WMUR, live video streams will be offered on CNN.com and WMUR.com along with in-depth debate coverage from the Union Leader.

“It is clear that New Hampshire will once again play a critical role with its first-in-the-nation Presidential Primary, said Joseph W. McQuaid, president and publisher of the Union Leader, said. “The Union Leader and UnionLeader.com are happy to team up with CNN and WMUR-TV to present voters with an early look at what promises to be an interesting field of Republican candidates.”
“WMUR is proud of its long tradition of producing Presidential Primary Debates as a public service to inform our viewers,” said Jeff Bartlett, president and general manager of WMUR-TV. “We are excited to partner with CNN and the Union Leader to continue our tradition in 2011.”

“CNN is thrilled to again be working with the Union Leader and WMUR to produce a New Hampshire debate,” said Sam Feist, CNN’s political director and vice president of Washington programming. “New Hampshire’s unique role in the presidential nominating process will make this first New Hampshire debate a critical event of the 2012 presidential campaign.”

The New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News is the largest circulated and only statewide daily newspaper in the Granite State, providing readers with a package that contains local, state and world-wide news, advertising, entertainment and opinion. Founded in 1863, the Union Leader is known for its comprehensive political coverage, opinions and influence, especially as part of the first-in-the-nation primary. The Union Leader can be found on the web at http://www.UnionLeader.com.

WMUR-TV is the leading source of television news in New Hampshire, reaching more than one million people, and is the largest commercial television station in the state. WMUR.com is the most viewed New Hampshire web site for local news. An ABC affiliate, WMUR is owned by Hearst Television, Inc.

Hearst Television Inc. owns 29 television stations and two radio stations, in geographically diverse U.S. markets. The Company’s television stations reach approximately 18% of U.S. TV households, making it one of the largest U.S. television station groups. Hearst owns 13 ABC affiliated stations, and is the largest ABC affiliate group. The Company owns 10 NBC affiliates, and is the second-largest NBC affiliate owner, and also owns two CBS affiliates.

Hearst’s stations are recognized news leaders. The station group has been honored with five consecutive Walter Cronkite Awards, presented by the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication, for excellence in television political journalism, and is the only TV news provider to have received a Cronkite Award every year since its inception. Hearst stations also are the recipients of many of television’s other highest awards for excellence in journalism, programming and community service, including the Peabody, the du Pont- Columbia Journalism Award, the Sigma Delta Chi Award, the Gabriel, the Ad Council Silver Bell, the National Headliner Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award and the EMMY.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.