CNN - The Situation Room

CNN International is currently showing the CNN US coverage of the Jordan explosions (which is surely a bit ironic, but never mind that for now...).

The programme on air at the moment is quite interesting. It's called 'The Situation Room', and I'd heard about it before, but didn't really know how it worked until now.

Basically, Wolf Blitzer is the presenter, and he has a big oval desk with a videowall that's currently showing various feeds from Arabic channels, as well as maps and live guests. The camera often cuts to a shot of just the videowall, so you can see all the different feeds at once.

Quite an innovative way of presenting things.

Fox News has a similar multi split screen thing going right now as well. Though it seems that it's in the studio itself.

It must look bad when CNN International have to hand to CNN US to cover an international story. Its crazy. I have seen The Situation Room before when they have dipped into CNN US, its a good programme, i think that programme is one of the key programmes for live news, i guess like Sky News Today.

From CNN.com
"The Situation Room," anchored by Wolf Blitzer, assembles top CNN correspondents, analysts, contributors and guests for complete, up-to-the minute coverage of the day's events. Modeled on the concept of the White House Situation Room, the program combines traditional reporting methods with the newest innovative online resources, making the entire process of newsgathering more transparent and placing the latest news and information at the viewers' fingertips. "The Situation Room" airs weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. and from 7 to 8 p.m. ET.

It's not really at their fingertips though, because it's controlled by CNN. It's sort of like a non-interactive Sky News Active.

And any show with Wolf Blitzer on is just dreadful by default.

First time I watched, and indeed first time I heard of The Situation Room was when I was in Rome a few weeks back, and was watching CNN coverage of "Scooter" Libby's indictment. Fairly interesting concept, but was a little too American for me. It came across as more entertainment, than informing. But I admit that I was only half watching it, and only the once.

I thought Anderson Cooper 360 aired between 7 and 8 ET?
Oh, and viewers of The Daily Show With John Stewart know this particular show as 'The Hypothetical Situation Room'

There weekday schedule is :

5AM - 7AM : DayBreak w/ Carol Costello
7AM - 10AM : American Morning w/ Miles O'Brien and Soledad O'Brien
10AM - 12PM : Live Today w/ Daryn Kagan
12PM - 1PM : Your World Today - CNN International
1PM - 4PM : Live From, w/ Kyra Phillips
4PM - 6PM : The Situation Room w/ Wolf Blitzer
6PM - 7PM : Lou Dobbs Tonight
7PM - 8PM : The Situation Room w/ Wolf
8PM - 9PM : Paula Zahn NOW
9PM - 10PM : Larry King Live
10PM - 12AM : Anderson Cooper 360

Anderson Cooper used to be on between 7 and 8, but he was moved up to the 10-12 slot after Aaron Brown, er... parted company with the station.

Aaron Brown was that guy who was on the roof anchroing CNNs coverage on 9/11 wasent he. He has a weird speaking voice

Indeed, if you think James Rubin is bad, try watching Wolf Blitzer.

If you had the choice would u ditch CNN International for CNN US

I'd like the option to watch both. CNN US would be a welcome alternative to Fox News!