The deluge of reporters who have poured into Islamabad, Pakistan awaiting the outbreak of war has given the Pakistani capital a significant economic boost, the Toronto Globe & Mail reported today, noting that ABC News alone is paying $50,000 a week to house its reporters and crew at a local Marriott. But the cost of waiting for the action to begin has also been draining news budgets, the newspaper observed.
An unnamed CNN employee told the G&M: “There’s no question we thought the U.S. would attack faster than this. … This is costing a fortune to sit and wait. The suits in Atlanta are worried about the profit margins. But there’s no question this has been good for our ratings. We’re still at the top of the game.”
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