CN8, The Comcast Network and Roll Call, The Newspaper of Capitol Hill, Announce a Unique Television Partnership and the Launch of 'Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham'

CN8, The Comcast Network and Roll Call, The Newspaper of Capitol Hill, Announce a Unique Television Partnership and the Launch of 'Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham'

CN8 Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief, Robert Traynham, to Host Political Roundtable Program With Featured Panelist and Editor of Roll Call, Charlie Mitchell

Show Premieres Sunday, Feb. 10 at 10 p.m. on CN8

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- CN8, The Comcast Network, the nation's preeminent regional cable network, and Roll Call, the must-read news source of Capitol Hill, today announced a unique partnership to launch "Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham," a first-of-its-kind television program covering the Congressional landscape.

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"Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham" is not a talking-head show. It goes beyond anything available from traditional political programming, taking a deeper look at legislative issues that impact both inside and outside the Beltway. Unique in its approach, the show looks past the faces and figures on the Hill to bring CN8 viewers an inside look at the issues and policies shaping the campaigns, politics and ever-changing landscape of our nation's and region's government.

CN8's Washington, D.C. bureau chief, Robert Traynham, will lead the half- hour political roundtable discussion each week, featuring a panel of political pundits and noted journalists. The show airs every Sunday at 10 p.m. from the network's Capitol Hill studio, featuring a Roll Call panelist as well as political experts, lawmakers and other newsmakers.

"This groundbreaking partnership demonstrates CN8's continued commitment to provide our regional viewers with the highest standards of exclusive, relevant programming that cannot be seen elsewhere," said Jon Gorchow, vice president and general manager of CN8, The Comcast Network. "Robert's political expertise coupled with Roll Call's unparalleled reputation as the foremost source for news and analysis on Capitol Hill will add great value to our lineup, offering our viewers the kind of comprehensive, smart political programming that has become a hallmark of our network."

In addition to policy analysis and Congressional news, the show includes special on-air weekly reports including: "Heard on the Hill," a healthy dose of political gossip featuring movers and shakers on the Hill; "This Week in Roll Call History," a look back at political milestones; and "In the Hopper," a segment highlighting key bills, policies and hot topics slated to hit Capitol Hill in the week ahead.

"At a time when most media are only skimming the surface of the political issues affecting our nation, this innovative partnership allows us to provide more meaningful information to our viewers and readers," said Charlie Mitchell, editor of Roll Call. "Roll Call provides expert political news, issues and analysis in print and online. We are delighted that we can extend this expertise on-air with the same level of quality journalism to the 9 million homes CN8 reaches."

"Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham" marks CN8's first show to originate from the network's new state-of-the-art Capitol Hill studio. CN8 launched in the Washington, D.C. market in September 2006 and opened its D.C. studio in January 2007, joining five other major East Coast studios in the Boston, Baltimore, Delaware, New York and Philadelphia areas. Since opening, the D.C. hub has been a hotbed of activity, hosting local and nationally renowned elected officials, organizations and other regional experts eager to share their views with CN8's viewers.

The premiere will feature a panel of political discussion and analysis, as well as an extensive recap of Super Tuesday and its impact on the 2008 presidential election. Traynham will be joined in studio by Roll Call editor, Charlie Mitchell and Wall Street Journal reporter, Susan Davis.

Traynham, a former political staffer and communications strategist, joined CN8 in October 2007 as Washington, D.C. bureau chief. In this role, he supports CN8's political director, Lynn Doyle, in the network's coverage of Campaign '08 and other political events. A seasoned communicator, Traynham brings his political acumen and industry expertise to the network, reporting on breaking news and events and conducting insider interviews for CN8's original morning and issues-oriented programming.

Veteran news and political programming producer Kristy Schantz will oversee production for the show. Schantz was formerly an executive producer for Channel One Network and CNN Crossfire and a producer for C-SPAN.

"Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham" will air Sundays at 10 p.m. exclusively on CN8, The Comcast Network. The show repeats Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. and is also available online at CN8.tv. Comcast Digital Cable customers may watch the show ON DEMAND at no additional cost by selecting "Get Local," "CN8 Originals" and "Roll Call TV."

About CN8, The Comcast Network

CN8, The Comcast Network is owned and operated by Comcast Cable Communications, Inc., a division of Comcast Corporation and the country's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. CN8, The Comcast Network provides more than 9 million Comcast cable viewers with a unique brand of live, interactive television delivered over its own fiber-optic network to 12 states and 20 television markets stretching from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. CN8 was founded in 1996 and has quickly grown to become the nation's leading regional cable network, airing more than 90 hours a week of original programming from its six studios in the Baltimore, Boston, Delaware, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. areas. CN8 provides in-depth coverage and analysis of special events and important news that broadcast networks often ignore. Since its inception, CN8 has delivered on its mission to continually reshape and revolutionize regional television and its relevance to local, regional and national viewers. CN8 is a member of The White House Correspondents' Association and its programming and hosts have been honored by the industry with more than 370 regional Emmy Award nominations.

About Roll Call Group

Roll Call Group is the leading news source for coverage of the people, politics and process that shape the legislative landscape. From our daily Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call, to our legislative wire service, CongressNow and our bill and document-tracking service, Gallery Watch, Roll Group's products are essential resources for thought and opinion leaders in Washington and beyond.

With accurate, unbiased reporting Roll Call has earned a level of credibility unparalleled in Washington and remains true to its original mission: delivering superior coverage of the people, politics, process and policy in Congress. The publication was founded in 1955 by Sid Yudain and is now a member of The Economist Group.

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