Seeing Is Bellieving

ABCNews aired a 90-minute special on UFOs last night. Hosted by David Muir, it followed a pattern that seems to be favored by network news divisions when they deal with UFOs-- which is rarely. Instead of looking at the details of a few cases-- a network news division might have the resources and clout to break new ground, if there's any new ground to be broken-- the program presented quick summaries of various cases. It also put the question of alien visitation of Earth in the broad context of life in the universe, which is its proper home. Overall, though skeptics were presented, the program dealt with UFOs as a legitimate subject worthy of serious inquiry.

The timing of the special raises an interesting question: Smack in the middle of a hotly contested presidential election campaign, in a dangerous world, in a worrying economic situation, why did ABC choose to devote 90 minutes in prime time to UFOs? The program as aired could have been broadcast just as easily in November, after the election, for example. One answer to that question is simply that UFOs get good ratings, which is, after all, what television networks are in business to do. Another possible answer may be that some ABC executives think the subject is truly important. In that case, we may see more frequent specials on UFOs from ABCNews.