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.

[keepitreal]

So the regular Joe tunes into the game at the regular time as all other games, only to be lectured by Perrier-drinking Barack. He wants to forget his day and enjoy the game, and as a kick off he gets to hear how bad we all have it and how America isn’t living up to its promises. That ought to sit really well.

[RedEyeJack]

What if everybody boycotts the game because of this? That would be an interesting message.

[a real Sheila]

I’m sure we will have the “Obama News Network” once “Dear Leader” has been inaugurated.

Actually, it will be the Obama News Hour on EVERY freaking channel.

Truth be known, he probably doesn’t REALLY have to pay for the television ads he’s running, keeping cash available for his other ad blitzes.

[gotribe]

I hope the McCain camp readies a response ad for the first inning.

[jersey117]

This will backfire just like the Greek columns.

[Rational Thought]

Actually...It’s not a bad idea. As a means of protest...don’t watch the game. Listen to it on the radio.

[DemonDeac]

Guess i’ll have to miss the World Series. As I have for each of the last 35 years.

[nobamanada]

Make way for HIM!

[14erClimb]

FYI... Phillies just beat the Dodgers to win the NL pennant. If the Rays beat the Red Sox tonight they will win the AL pennant and face the Phillies in the World Series.

Here's hoping the Rays make it to the WS and sweep the Phillies in four.

[cherry]

I am not into the baseball season at all but sending angry emails to the networks and baseball and their stinking sponsors might set the tone..

[dilvish]

More like they don’t want to take the ratings hit. A Philly-Tampa WS will have bad enough ratings without going up against a major political event.

[Madame Dufarge]

Very creepy.

On the upside, maybe it'll curb the Fox News worship.

[BlueStateBlues]

Major League Baseball is falling over for Obama? Say it ain’t so Joe (the plumber)

[gathersnomoss]

The Messiah has spoken.

BTW, Fox is just right of CNN. FOX SUX.

I rarely watch anymore.

[nutmeg]

This is just despicable. Just imagine what life will be like in our United States if Chairman Maobama gets more power...

[BlueStateBlues]

Caption for Post 28:

Obama measures the drapes in the Oval Office.

[jellybean]

If my Brewers were playing in the WS and it got to game six, I’d be pretty pi$$ed if some creepy politician delayed the game for even 1 minute to spout his self-agrandizing pap! He would have lost my vote at that point.

[henkster]

The people who tune in will be pi$$ed they got a political infomercial and not the game.

[dforest]

No one at my home will watch Fox that evening, even the World Series.

[webrover]

I wonder if McCain tries to by the same amount of time, he would be rejected for some previous programming commitment? BTW McCain needs to purchase such time.