When, where Convention junkies can get their fix

Television coverage of the Democratic National Convention begins today.

The major broadcast networks will air major speeches live during the 9 p.m. hour today through Thursday. Locally, that's CBS' WBBM Channel 2, NBC's WMAQ Channel 5 and ABC's WLS Channel 7. That's when the major keynote and nomination acceptance speeches figure to take place.

Otherwise, the major networks will farm out comprehensive coverage to their cable news siblings, such as MSNBC and the Fox News Channel, which along with CNN will boast gavel-to-gavel coverage. But that will come with an abundance of news talk and analysis while the actual tedious business of the conventions is being conducted.

PBS will cover the conventions gavel-to-gavel in prime time starting at 7 p.m. each day on WTTW Channel 11, which also will air a local "Chicago Tonight" wrap-up and analysis program nightly at 10.