Many hate executions because the emotional do not like death.  Or feel is it degrading.  Or hate it for religious reasons.  Anyone who loves or hates a death penalty, if thinking like an adult, has no emotions.  States pro or con using only facts.  Facts do not come from a limbic brain of a child.  Facts come from the adult's prefrontal cortex.  No facts with perspective identify the emotional.  Also called 'not officer material'.

Why would a wacko extremist want to televise the execution?  He has a long history of hate based only upon his emotions.  Being an extremists, he does not consider and has absolute hate of logical thought.  But then extremists routinely make strategic decisions only from personal biases - opinions and wild speculations only from the limbic brain.

What is the purpose of a death penalty?  Every answer that discusses this topic must have an answer to that question.

It is a tool provided to investigators and others who would be attempting to save a life.    The criminal is given a choice.  Confess.  State where a victim is.  Admit to a crime so as to not require massive investigations or another OJ Simpson 'drawn out forever' trial.  Define why and how it happened so that furture crimes can be averted.  Or give closure to all other 'still living' victims of that crime.  Death penalty is a useful tool. 

Of course, another problem with a death penalty are the (we have now learned) so many innocent people accused. As the Innocence Project clearly demonstrated. Because some prosecutors are not logical; are emotional.  And so a death penalty is implemented maybe a decade or more later.

Where are all the bodies?  Where is the kidnapped victim being held?  Who was also part of the conspiracy?  Why was it done?  All facts obtained only when a death penalty is held as a tool to provide closure.  That remains its most necessary function.  No emotions in reasoning based only in logic.