Three networks delay decision about Bush Iraq talk (As of 4PM, NBC and Fox NOT Airing Speech)

Reuters ^ | 6/28/05 | Paul J. Gough

[nj26]

Three of the four broadcast networks had yet to decide late Monday whether they would carry President Bush's speech on Iraq Tuesday in front of soldiers in Fort Bragg, N.C. By then, only ABC had said it would carry the address.

The White House formally requested an hour of primetime at 8 p.m. ET for Bush's speech at a time when public opinion polls show the tide turning against the war in Iraq. While there was no question that the cable news channels would cover the president's address, the broadcast networks were a tougher sell.

CBS, NBC and Fox all said they would decide sometime Tuesday whether to carry the speech. Concerns centered on the potential newsworthiness of the speech and the fact that it was being given not in the Oval Office but far from Washington.

"You want to be certain you are broadcasting something that is newsworthy and vitally important to the American people," said one network executive who asked not to be identified.

The networks, unconvinced in initial talks with the White House late last week that the speech would be newsworthy, asked for more information. Sources said a conference call was held at 12:30 p.m. ET with officials from the Bush administration and the networks' Washington bureau chiefs.

[Lokibob]

Pet peeve time:

Why, after a major speach by the president, do I have to have somebody come on TV and interpret what the president said?

I listen real good, Mom taught me to listen, Mom never chewed her cud twice (her words, not mine), so I had to listen AND UNDERSTAND what she was saying the first time. with TV, the President speaks, then a talking head repeats.

[Lokibob]

[rlmorel]

That is Awesome! (How DO you do that?)

[Lokibob]

freepmail reply in your mail box.

[tobyhill]

ABC plans on showing, just minutes prior to the speech, their ABC/WP Poll that shows President Bush's approval rating for the war below 50%. The last time the MSM just threw all these "polls" around Kerry lost. The MSM may even try to skew the polls more after the Presidents speech in order to claim he was unconvincing and it was counterproductive for him to have a speech. It's a liberal game.

[Rummyfan]

Prediction: none of the broadcast networks will carry the speech live. Then, this weekend, the talking heads will complain about how secretive the Administration is and that they keep the press at arm's length!

[LGS]

"Why, after a major speach by the president, do I have to have somebody come on TV and interpret what the president said?"

Maybe everybody else isn't as smart as you are.

[Lokibob]

I'd bet 90% of them are just as smart!!!!

[rwfromkansas]

Well, Fox network is not Fox cable, and they have always been reluctant to run things like this, but gradually have begun covering things more and more since 2000 or so.

They usually just stick on the FNC feed, though sometimes they actually have a separate broadcast.

It sounds like they are going to run it now if the other posts are correct.

[nj26]

"The MSM may even try to skew the polls more after the Presidents speech in order to claim he was unconvincing and it was counterproductive for him to have a speech. It's a liberal game."

The internals of yesterday's ABC/WaPo poll showed an improvement in support for the war from the prior poll in early June. Watch that "improvement" to reverse after the speech as they "resample" in the next poll.

[tobyhill]

They'll have to re-sample to include more moveon.org members. I can't believe this MSM's attempt to revive polls after the election fiasco.

[La Enchiladita]

I'm nervous about the FR poll showing the President's approval rating at 66.6% most of the day today.... Nervous, I tell you!

[yield 2 the right]

I have XM Radio and FNC is on CH 121..plan to listen to the speech if it not on FOX over-the-air in my TV Market.