I think the news is bunk.

[Writer]

I think we're getting set up. If this terror plot was real I think it's been held back until a good release time. Bush's smarmy little address to us, reminding us why we need him, is well timed on a Thursday. It's the most disgraceful elements of fascism - of a man and a party trying to maintain control.

I think this is bunk. But it will be very difficult to verify whether it is truth or the manipulation of truth.

[KurtNYC]

1. Thursday is a crappy news day

the best timing for a fake terror alert would be 7am Monday morning -- that give you the whole week to dominate the news with it. A Thursday during August is weak. People are on vacation, watching less TV, kids out of school, almost the weekend, etc.

I think this is every bit as real as Richard Reid. Being exploited yes, but real all the same.

[Writer]

3. Actually Thursday is a preferable PR day. Because...

you not only dominate the news cycle all day Thursday, but your opponents can't counter on Friday when fewer are paying attention. Then they have the talk of the weekend on all the political talk shows.

Another tidbit: Nielsen releases its diaries to television viewers, and schedules sweeps weeks starting on Thursday, because it's the night when most people are paying attention. It is the perfect day to market a product and create buzz.

Add to edit: As people are travelling like hell they will be paying attention to news that affects their travel!

[KurtNYC]

5. Thursday night is when the nets put their best primetime shows on

but even that applies only during the regular broadcast season. The TV nets capitalize on the demaand for advertising on Thursday nights -- mostly ads for movies which open on Friday. Movie ad budgets are huge these days, they often exceed the budget of the movie being promoted. Neilsen helps advertisers know exactly how much exposure they are paying for.

There are no news magazines shows on Saturday. They are all on Sunday so that they can plan for them, arrange guests and re-cover the whole week which begins on Monday. It is their last chance to use the footage and issues before a new news cycle begins Monday morning.

If the timing of this was adjustable then this Monday - before the Lamont/Lieberman primary - would have been absolutely ideal.

[Writer]

6. I can tell you from my five years of experience working with Nielsen ...

ratings, that Friday traditionally has the lowest households viewing television. Sunday has the highest, and all day.

And I really don't think Lamont/Lieberman was as big of a watershed as some are making it to be.

[KurtNYC]

7. Some advertisers need certain timing for their ads and they

pay a premium eg. movie premieres want Thursday night ads to drive weekend box office $$s. Brand ads can run any time. Offer ads do well early in the week. Sunday and Thursday are big in the ad cycle but Monday is the key to the news cycle.

[Writer]

8. Well - are they trying to sell something?

I think they are.

Also, if you are travelling this weekend, I think you will be paying close attention to the news today. Especially now.

[Iwasthere]

2. difficult yes

But we must keep trying... they will make mistakes.. THEY WILL BE EXPOSED!

[partylessinOhio]

4. Of course this terror plot/alert is bunk! The Pakistanis were looking at

airline schedules. DUH! Do you know anything about Pakistanis? They love to travel. They travel all the time as often as they can.

So some idiots thought that was unusual and watched them looking at airline schedules. The Brits have watched them for months and then decided over last night that the plot was moving along - perhaps a few Pakistanis had saved enough and bought a few tickets for a summer getaway - and bingo, now Bush and Blair have a terror alert that will make their detractors forget about how unpopular they have become.