Fox to change World Series time for Obama

The Hollywood Reporter ^ | Oct 15, 2008 | Paul J. Gough

[AnnaZ]

Fox to change World Series time for Obama

Presidential candidate's ad buy interfering with game

By Paul J. Gough

Oct 15, 2008, 03:15 PM ET

Updated: Oct 15, 2008, 10:06 PM ET

NEW YORK -- Barack Obama might have the power to move the World Series by a few minutes.

To accommodate a half-hour Obama time buy on Fox on Oct. 29, Major League Baseball has agreed to move the start time of World Series Game 6 by about 15 minutes. That would move the start of the game from 8:20 p.m. ET or so to 8:35 p.m.

"Fox will accommodate Senator Obama's desire to communicate with voters in this longform format," Fox Sports said in a statement. "We are pleased that Major League Baseball has agreed to delay the first pitch of World Series Game 6 for a few minutes in order for Fox to carry his program on Oct. 29. If requested, the network would be willing to make similar time available to Senator McCain's campaign."

Along with CBS and NBC, Fox was approached by the Obama campaign last week to purchase the 8-8:30 p.m. time slot Oct. 29. If a Game 6 is needed, Fox is obligated to carry the game. That prevented the network from agreeing outright to carry the commercial, which was cleared by CBS and NBC last Thursday.

The blessing from MLB clears the way for Fox to air the promo and collect upward of $1 million in ad revenue for the half hour, more than what either CBS or NBC was charging.

While a big network ad buy from a presidential candidate is rare, it's not unprecedented for a network and sports league to move the start time of a sports event to accommodate a political broadcast. In early September, the National Football League moved up the kickoff time of the opening-night game -- which aired on NBC -- to 7 p.m. to make sure that the game would be over before Sen. John McCain stepped up to the podium to accept the nomination of the Republican party during the RNC.

[AnnaZ]

Totally creepy.

That said... the comments at the site are pretty great (as in reassuring... Our Dear Leader has an uphill battle).

[UCFRoadWarrior]

More proof Rupert Murdoch and his companies are closet liberals....should have suspected it years ago when Murdoch pandered to the Commie Chinese to get his NewsCorp channel on in Commie China...and even married a ChiCom gal...

[b4its2late]

Anything for money.

[rdax]

If it wasn’t for Fox he’d be up by 2 to 3 more points /s

[babydubya1981]

Good grief.

The cowtowing of Obama continues.

Unbelievable.

[jersey117]

Gee Obama, how many underprivileged kids could you send to community college with all the money you are throwing around to buy the election?

[jrooney]

Mark my words, THAT WILL NOT SIT WELL with most viewers. This will be his second European tour. He is not the POTUS and there is no vital emergency message he needs to convey. Obama’s message is one of self importance to propel him for his own ego. Most viewers will not want the game delayed for the false messiah. They are tuning in to watch baseball, not Obama.

[sten]

done to get a maximum number of viewers to tune in and see the commerical

[lmc12]

Are the Fox All-Stars playing? No, their season is over.

[cherry]

we have to root for there NOT to be a game 6, whoever is playing, which I am not sure....I understand the Phillies are playing and the Rays...but who else?...I've watched not one iota of any of it this year.....

NO GAME SIX!....

I actually think this is going to backfire big time....

now, McCain has to get on the stick and buy up tons of tv ads, done almost live, to counter act that arrogant jerk.

[AnnaZ]

Anything for money.

Only a million for the half hour. Which doesn't seem like a lot. But then again, I only hear about Super Bowl ad buys, which have a larger audience.

I really think this will creep people out quite a bit... very dictator-like behavior.

Again I say... creepy.

[1Old Pro]

Obama’s “Heidi” moment.

[nascarnation]

look at the bright side
I figured on a White Sox - Cubs series with Baraq and Michelle on camera every inning for 7 games.

[N. Theknow]

Don't watch!

It's a Jedi Mind Trick!

[Red Badger]

Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

[AnnaZ]

Obama’s “Heidi” moment.

LOL.

[jersey117]

His entire campaign has been scripted. He’s looking pretty desperate if he has to buy a half hour to reach Joe Six Pack.

[Question Liberal Authority]

Instead of a 7th inning stretch, they should have a moment of silent prayer for the Obama campaign.

[beethoven]

Too bad Sarah Palin isn’t scheduled to throw out the first pitch! That’d take the hype out of Obama’s prime time BS.

[housedeep]

I almost dont want to post this here, because of lefty lurkers and trolls...but I have an idea that would work masterfully on oct 29:

if someone would have a fundraiser that nite...for a charity...a cash drive for children...on television with lots of press...it would be a BLAST!