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]

I guess the over-iconization/market saturation of the Dear Leader before he even has the spot has me a little edgy. All I can think of is how Hussein (as in Saddam) was on the front page of the paper every day. The ubiquitous posters and frescoes of Mao... no one's picture allowed to approach his in size. Communist propaganda posters (which served as the inspiration for Obama's). Castro.

Re: Curbing the FNC worship... their post-debate talk last night may have done that already, LOL.

[NRA2BFree]

absolutely .. if Fox didn’t have the World Series, there’s no way in hell the Obama campaign would have bought time on that network.

Yes, as a matter of fact, they also bought that same time slot on the alphabet channels too. He knows that a lot of people won't tune into the Fox channel until < after > the ad is over and he's hoping that they will go to the alphabet channels so he's prepared to catch them there too.

[mass55th]

"Mark my words, THAT WILL NOT SIT WELL with most viewers."

I agree with you. His speech in Germany was seen by many here as "overboard." And let's not forget his acceptance speech at the Greek Temple in Colorado. Everything this guy has done is excessive, and over the top. The average American recognizes it and can't relate to it.

[Texas4ever]

We really need to get this out now

WORLD SERIES VS OBAMA !

Obama moves World Series.

[RichInOC]

Fortunately, both the Dodgers and the Angels are out of the playoffs now, so I have absolutely no compelling reason whatever to watch.

[Texas4ever]

This will not sit welll with the Joe the Plumbers of America!

[Chicos_Bail_Bonds]

Maybe he can throw out the first pitch and bounce it like Kerry.

[CodeToad]

I think sportsfans are not going to like his arrogance.

[supremedoctrine]

I think you are absolutely WRONG. See my # 5.
His “last word” will be seen as just that, and resented by anyone who just wanted to see the World Series at the scheduled time. McCain should let it go, and NOT think it necessary to “answer” with another expensive block of TV time.For the McCain campaign to rush to create their own TV infomercial would be equivalent to legitimizing this kind of tactic, like sitting down with Ahmedinejad “without preconditions” .Obama is toast. This is a sneaky stealth move which will only create resentment, since it LOOKS like it a blatant attempt to steal the ‘last word’ away from the entire process. Let him hang himself. Let him pay FOX for the rope he uses to hang himself, to reverse the old Lenin adage about capitalists.

[2CAVTrooper]

“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.”

He probably still pays for them....Far below market value, but still pays for them none the less.

[LakeLady]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[supremedoctrine]

wHOOPS. I meant see my # 57. NOT #5.

[woodbutcher1963]

If the Rays play the Phillys in the World Series it will be one of the lowest watched World Series anyway.

It would have been great if it had been the Red Sox & Cubs or Red Sox & Dodgers(Manny being Manny).

Rays and Phillies, who cares.

[mass55th]

Moses parted the Red Sea...Obama moves World Series.

[windcliff]

Grrrrrrrrr.

[14erClimb]

I agree that it probably won't get the ratings but that is because the jack a**es in Boston, LA, and Chicago won't be watching.

Which is precisely why I'll be watching every game. Two teams that I don't hate are playing.

[Crystal Cove]

There are big charity fundraisers, with celebrities, and to raise money for children related causes all the time. I’ve never seen one shown on television, though.

[C210N]

In other news, the Atlantic Ocean has made plans to part on Jan 20. All McCain voters will be urged to cross over to Europe.

[windcliff]

Classic!!

[ladyvet]

They’re not the FOX I used to know.......