(DURHAM, August 21, 2008) - New Hampshire Public Television, New England Cable News, New Hampshire Public Radio and PolitickerNH.com will co-sponsor a key debate between U.S. Senate candidates Jeanne Shaheen and John Sununu on Tuesday, October 21st at New England College in Henniker, NH. The one-hour debate will begin at 8 p.m. in the Simon Center and will air simultaneously on television stations NHPTV and NECN and on public radio network NHPR. It will be streamed live on nhptv.org, necn.com, politickerNH.com, and nhpr.org. The debate moderator will be Laura Knoy, host of NHPR's flagship daily call-in show "The Exchange," the only statewide news and public affairs radio show in New Hampshire. The race between Shaheen, the former governor of New Hampshire, and Sununu, a first-term incumbent, is one of the most hotly contested in the nation and a re-match between two of the region's most prominent politicians. Shaheen lost to Sununu by a narrow margin in a 2002 open Senate seat battle. The outcome of the race will define which party controls the Senate. "Providing timely coverage of these debates is part of NHPTV's mission," noted Peter A. Frid, CEO and General Manager of New Hampshire Public Television. "We're pleased to partner with NECN, NHPR and PolitickerNH.com to present these debates and election coverage to viewers as broadcasts and webstreaming at nhptv.org/nhvotes." "NECN is pleased to continue its longstanding commitment to in-depth coverage of New Hampshire politics with this historic debate,'' said NECN President and General Manager Charles J. Kravetz. "This is one of the key Senate races in the country and its outcome is of intense interest to the people of New Hampshire. NECN has established itself as the leading source for political news on television in New England and the Sununu/Shaheen debate marks another milestone in our ongoing coverage of key political contests.'' "Spearheading these debates is an extension of NHPR's daily coverage of the issues that matter to New Hampshire voters,'' added Betsy Gardella, President and CEO of New Hampshire Public Radio. "As we approach this critical election, NHPR listeners will have the opportunity to engage the candidates directly submitting questions on-line in advance of the debates. These forums will help inform our listeners prior to going to the polls in November." Added Politicker.com national managing editor James Pindell: "In one of the most high-profile Senate races in the country we aim to provide a forum where we can get away from sound bites and move toward a richer conversation about the direction of the state and nation." Said New England College President Michele Perkins: "We are most pleased to provide a venue for the Senate debate at New England College. Events of this nature inspire greater commitment to civic engagement and social responsibility among our students, the NEC community, and the citizens of this state." For more information on press credentialing for the debate, media should contact Kathleen Williams at New England College at kwilliams@nec.edu. The Simon Center at New England College is at 98 Bridge Street, Henniker.================ NHPTV engages minds, connects communities, and celebrates New Hampshire with programs that entertain, educate and enrich. Beyond its award-winning local and national television programs, New Hampshire Public Television is a leader in education and community outreach. NHPTV provides instructional services for 206,000 students from kindergarten through high school; offers Ready to Learn programs and services for children preschool to age 8, parents, and early education professionals; and provides professional development programs and advanced technology training for educators in New Hampshire and neighboring states. www.nhptv.org. NECN is the largest, most honored 24-hour regional news network in the country, with 3.6 million subscribers in more than 1,080 communities across New England. It is a partnership of Comcast and the Hearst Corporation. The station specializes in long-form journalism, producing documentaries and extensive local and national political coverage. For more information on NECN, go to www.necn.com. PolitickerNH.com is one of 15 state based non-partisan political news websites in the Politicker.com network. The New Hampshire site, based in Manchester, launched in January and already has been called the "it website" for New Hampshire political news that is updated several times a day. NHPR serves more than 150,000 listeners each week through a network of eleven full power stations and low power translators. NHPR is the only statewide source of radio news, information, and entertainment for the Granite State, offering in-depth reporting of the issues facing New Hampshire residents. NHPR's staff sees the importance of providing a comprehensive information source for New Hampshire as one of the station's highest priorities. Contributions from listeners and businesses in New Hampshire make up more than 90 percent of the revenue necessary to operate NHPR. New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire was founded in 1946. The College now offers 29 on-campus undergraduate programs and seven masters degree programs that are delivered online, through residencies, and in cohort groups. A member of Project Pericles, the college is committed to education that promotes civic engagement and social responsibility. At New England College, our students find a creative and supportive learning environment that challenges them to transform themselves and their world. More information may be found at www.nec.edu.
About New Hampshire PBS: New Hampshire PBS inspires one million Granite Staters each month with engaging and trusted local and national programs and services on-air, online, via mobile, in classrooms and in communities. Beyond its award-winning television programs, New Hampshire PBS is a leader in education and community engagement. www.nhpbs.org
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