Posted on 03/19/2009 7:45:38 AM PDT by Dr. Zzyzx
Networks reluctantly shuffle for Obama speech
Networks are pulling their shows over to the side of the road to make room for the lights and sirens of president Barack Obama's latest primetime address.
Obama will take to the air next Tuesday evening on four broadcast networks and bump the most popular series on television, Fox's "American Idol."
Fulfilling their scheduling civic duty is starting to seem increasingly cumbersome to broadcasters, however. Between a struggling economy and ratings sagging in midseason, every interruption costs networks advertising dollars and momentum.
"At a time when we're struggling not only financially but to build audiences, this doesn't help on either front," one network executive said. "These repeated interruptions -- and the rumor of even more to come -- really make it difficult to build audience flow and loyalty. We will all lose one or two million dollars for this."
The presidential election resulted in a fall season regularly interrupted by political news coverage, followed by primetime inauguration coverage, then two primetime speeches about the economy. The White House requesting yet another primetime slot, during sweeps and right after several shows dropped to new lows in last night's ratings, has some executives exasperated.
"I believe in the president and his policies, and as broadcasters we have a responsibility to provide the airtime," said another network insider. "But these frequent primetime requests are wreaking serious havoc with our schedule and our advertisers. Ratings are down everywhere and the airtime is costing us all significant dollars when we can least afford it."
Here's how the Big Four will juggle the speech:
>> Fox is arguably the most impacted network and took the longest to agree to airing the speech. The network will move Tuesday's two-hour performance episode of "Idol" to Wednesday, and the Wednesday episode to Thursday at 8 p.m. That preempts "Lie to Me" and "Bones" and puts mega-rated "Idol" against the mega-rated NCAA finals (which neither Fox nor CBS are all that thrilled about).
>> NBC will move Tuesday's two-hour "Biggest Loser" to 9 p.m., preempting "Law & Order: SVU."
>> CBS likewise is dumping its 10 p.m. procedural ("Without a Trace") and moving its two earlier dramas, "NCIS" and "The Mentalist," forward an hour.
>> ABC will cancel previously planned back-to-back episodes of "According to Jim."
Isn’t it better if he *doesn’t* “run the country”?
“When is this hack going to stop campaigning and start running the country?”
Never!!
“How’s this for a novel idea. How about the big four networks take turns broadcasting the Dear Leader’s latest Inspiring Address. It would still be available to everybody in the country, but they would not be losing all this money.”
Plus it would be that much easier for people to avoid watching him...
Watching Balack Obammy is sort of like watching grass grow without all the lying.
“Too much Obama all the time”.....
Stopped watching the so called “news” a long time ago. Now when Obozo comes on the radio or tv he gets muted. I can’t stand the sound of his lies.....
Actually, the world's biggest loser will still be appearing at 8.
We need to shift the “language” when talking about 0bama, just as you have.
Rush started it yesterday with “the teleprompter told 0bama to say...” instead of “0bama said...”
What’s 0bama good at?
Nothing except saying what the teleprompter tells him to say.
So, he’s sticking with what he’s good at.
That's why he's speaking at night. He's trying to stop the Dow index being shown plumeting on a split screen while he's speaking.
Yep. I don't watch any of those channels anyway, so it will be no loss for me.
Isn’t it better if he *doesn’t* “run the country”?
Come to think of it...he probably thinks he’s done running the country....He ruined that now on to other things, It’s going to be King Obama making a townhall speech every other day in a different city. Like a tin pot dictator in a turd world country.
They can just call it :
“The Biggest Loser”.....
This is the second time he’s addressed the nation on Idol night...the enthralled masses will not be so thrilled now that the show is in full swing.
We have DVDs, if we want to watch anything.
I wonder what the teleprompter will tell him to say this time?
At least “House” is safe. It comes on Mondays. If THE ONE had done that to “House”, there would be he!! to pay, at least in my, umm, house.
Just because they broadcast him doesn’t mean I have to watch (at least not yet). The bright side of this is that the more he pushes his way into people’s living room the sooner the American people will become sick of looking at him. He’s like a neighbor or relative who continuously drops by. The more they do it the sooner they wear out their welcome. You end up hiding when they ring the door bell.
Good observation.
Haven’t turned on “airwave” TV for months...
Fox ought to precede the speech with an announcement telling the drones that “you will not be able to enjoy American Idol tonight because Pres__ent Obama has decided to read a teleprompter to you instead.”
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