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.

[floriduh voter]

Sportsfans will switch to espn, etc instead of keeping it on Fox, etc.

THE SEPARATION OF SPORTS AND STATE IS SACRED!

[stylecouncilor]

He’ll probably get rid of baseball all together once elected.

[codder too]

If Sarah Palin can sing perhaps she could do the 7th inning “God Bless America” that night!!!!!Just a thought.

[floriduh voter]

I don’t have hdtv. I can’t imagine having a huge flat screen and Senator Government interrupting my entertainment time. He’s so Mao.

[windcliff]

That and bowling.

[floriduh voter]

foreign money which is why he reneged on the public funds only.

[stylecouncilor]

I hope its a rain-out!

[floriduh voter]

Fox's email address: special@foxnews.com

(their debate propaganda last night including but not limited to Frank Putz's Focus group.)

[jersey117]

People of earth, let me share your success with the wino in the gutter behind you.” Cheap wine is the next civil right.

Obama to the Joe Six Pack baseball fans: hey out there -- you're supposed to be hurting from the economy. Are you sure you could afford that high priced ticket for a sporting event? Why, I thought you couldn't even afford the gas to get here. Did you really spend $5 for that hot dog? I thought you couldn't put food on the table. Anyway..... all of you poor unfortunate folks out there - please watch my million dollar infomercial......

[floriduh voter]

I’m the one you have been waiting for, not these players clinging to their bats and gloves. BHO, girly man

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

Baseball fans tend to be moderates and conservatives.

Imagine a guy in Ohio getting home from work, grabbing a beer, turning on the ballgame..and seeing Obama jaw his talking points for a half an hour.

I feel like this is overkill for the Obama campaign. After a long primary season, a convention and 3 debates, havent we seen enough of this guy to make a decision ?

[floriduh voter]

Joe Biden, a heartbeat away from a spelling bee:

JOBS = 3 letters.

[arrogantsob]

I agree that this will backfire and shows the complete disconnect between Zero and normal Americans. Sports fans will not accept this kind of crap. It would be interesting if he tried this before an NFL game. McCain would be ahead in a flash.

[arrogantsob]

Uh, this isn’t Fox NEWS. That channel will carry on as usual a moderate voice among the shrill Leftist hysterics.

I am no fan of any of them but only the Left believes Fox is “conservative”. It has a few conservative voices but the content of the news is slanted the same way as the rest if not as steeply.

[DaltonNC]

“Totally creepy.”

If Obama is not paying Fox for the time, then McCain should get equal time and let Palin do the talking. Lets email Fox and request equal time. Fair and Balanced

[arrogantsob]

The World Series is NOT on Fox NEWS but on the other Fox. You know the one with the Simpsons, Family Guy, and whatever else passes for entertainment. Geez.

[arrogantsob]

Oh, he probably has attended a baseball game as a campaign event like all the rest of the phonies but I doubt he ever played the game.

[arrogantsob]

You should watch the most compelling baseball team in some time, the Rays. Very interesting team which plays the game the way it should be played. Real baseball fans can appreciate this as worth watching in itself. Of course, I love the game and watching the kids in the park league play as much as the bigs.

Tampa stomped my White Sox and seems about ready to do the same to the Red Sox.

What is best is that it is getting done with a team of young guys not making hundreds of millions.

[lado]

I kept saying that if there was a Cubs-White Sox World Series, I would’ve bet my bottom dollar that they would’ve made sure that Obama threw out the first pitch. Thank god we won’t have to see that at least.

[arrogantsob]

Whatever you might think about Chicago or its jack@$$es the baseball teams are rarely seen in playoffs what with the Billy Goat Curse and the Black Sox Curse and all.

I didn’t think it was possibly for anyone to hate the Cubs other than White Sox fans and vice versa.