NEW YORK: The second anniversary of the events of 9/11 is expected to be a quiet affair for American television networks.
While there will be news stories, broadcasters do not plan to interrupt their regular schedules unless something else should happen. The scenario was completely different last year when broadcasters used the day to air round the clock specials.
An AP report indicates that while NBC, ABC and CBS have not yet finalised things, they do not anticipate having any 9/11 specials in the prime time band. The networks are waiting to see if New York City will announce any commemorations that they feel are worth covering. ABC indicated that its regular news programmes will examine whether or not Americans are safer than before 9/11.
The network will assess the level of damage done to Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, whether the money used to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks was well-spent and the balance between civil liberties and domestic security.
That the second anniversary is not high on the priority list can be gauged from the fact that CBS plans to rerun Scott Pelley's interview with President Bush conducted last year on 8 September. The terrorist attacks have become more of an ongoing story and will be treated as such.