For the last day or so, I’ve been providing roundup coverage for Current about things related to SOPA. But one of the things I found most interesting, was how the networks’ nightly news programs approached coverage:

While the story did have play today on the cable news networks (CNN has a whole bunch of segments up on its website), each major network devoted at least 30 seconds to it. Actually, 32 seconds. CBS spent 32 seconds on its evening broadcast (CBS doesn’t post segments online, but this segment runs at 9:41 until 10:13 — you’re welcome), with anchor Scott Pelley succinctly explaining the two sides: how studios believe SOPA prevents piracy of movies and music and how Internet companies say SOPA limits free speech. Interestingly, he added that CBS News’s parent company, CBS Corporation, is a part of a coalition supporting the bill. The other two network anchors spent more time on the piece, however, ABC News, which is owned by Disney, did not mention its parent company. NBC News, owned by Comcast and General Electric, 51 percent and 49 percent respectively, briefly mentioned it.

ABC World News with Diane Sawyer’s piece is a minute and forty-three seconds, also gives the two-side story a look, but then brings in a whiz-kid to explain how someone can get illegal content if they really wanted. Yes, they really got a 15-year-old to find Mission Impossible (in movie theaters now!) and of course he does. End: “Finding a way to stop that (getting illegal content) will please everyone? May well be mission impossible.”

NBC News with Brian Williams talks about old versus new media and adroitly mentions the company he works for (though not actually naming the company) is one of the old media folk. The piece gives ample time to both arguments and spends two minutes and twenty three minutes on the story, talking to not only proponents of both sides, but also explains the effect of the blackout on Congress from one of its reporters.

Just remember that this is not over, and studios/labels/cable providers (owners of the very networks where millions get their information) have very, very deep pockets to influence our representatives.