Posted on 02/06/2009 12:38:38 PM PST by Zakeet
Washington Post TV writer Lisa de Moraes reported Friday that Team Obama is demanding a lot of free TV space in prime time in the next few weeks: a Monday night press conference, a "stimulus" push on the Monday night after that, the 16th, and the State of the Union on Tuesday, February 24. (What about House, and The Bachelor?) Network suits are already whining, but are too afraid of pulling out the Just Say No card:
President Obama's desire to talk -- and talk, and talk -- to the American public could cost broadcast networks millions, and millions, and millions of prime-time TV dollars.Broadcasters are bracing themselves for the likelihood of three prime-time interruptions in three weeks, totaling at least three hours of prime time -- and ad breaks -- yanked.
"His economic stimulus package apparently does not extend to the TV networks," one network exec noted.
Obama's reps have alerted broadcasters that the president will hold a news conference Monday, according to network execs. It's expected to eat up the first hour of prime time; that alone could cost broadcasters more than $9 million in lost ad revenue....
"Notice they're not going on Friday or Saturday," one network exec complained. "They're . . . preempting our better shows. You're not happy to lose a 'House' if you are Fox, or two of the better comedies at CBS, or 'The Bachelor' at ABC -- we're all going to take a bath."
So skip them? The networks were not afraid to tell President Bush that his political salesmanship wasn't worth pre-empting in prime time. But none want to "incur the wrath" of Obama (and unlike Bush, it's not so easy to stiff the president unanimously in an act of ideological solidarity)
(Excerpt) Read more at newsbusters.org ...
I would confiscate air time from Rush, but none of his stupid listeners would tune in to my propaganda.
Therefore, because I own you MSM nitworks anyway, it's for the greater good that I steal your air time.
And as my predecessor, Bubba Clinton, once said, "If you don't like it, you can put some ice on it."
A republican representative should get an equal amount of air time to rebut or put forth the republican position, just like the democrats did when Bush gave any kind of speech on the air.
Let’s all remember how often the TV networks refused President Bush’s requests for airtime.
ABCNNBCBS is suffering from Slut Syndrome.
When you give it away for free, it’s amazing how the demands on your time increase...
Good - they will then have to offer equal time for the rebuttal. Like they did last night. Oh, wait...
Yep. Even his primetime address after Katrina had to have a Democrat response.
GE/NBC are owned by the Govt. so they must supply the time.
I wonder if they will allow a GOP response?
He better not bump “24”
Probably why they pushed back the digital tv transition.
Right, what happened to that TV fiarness "rule?"
Do the anchors talk over the last parts of O's speeches?
Call call call. Senators DC and state offices.
Just in the past day:
1. USS Cole bomber pardonded.
2. Obama wants refugee plan for Palestinians (Hamas) and we will get one for Muslims and Africa - millions of people.
3. Fairness Doctrine - coming soon.
The GOP has been so spineless with this usurper.
State of the Union speech?! Already. Did this happen before that a President gave a state of the Union speech in his first month as President?
Anyone care to place a wager on who gets the better ratings on any Monday night??...
The One or 24..??
I was just thinking that I would have been happier if Bush had used just a BIT of the airtime to defend and teach conservative principles.
Actually, I’m seeing more spine since January than I saw in them since 1994.
Yep, either the networks comply or they will be assimilated into the nationalized collective.
Yes. Every four to eight years...
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