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."
Per # 32—Oops I posted first, read article after. Truth is stranger than fiction
He picks Tuesday nights so it won't interfere with his Wednesday night parties at the White House.
Obama and his teleprompter every other night coming to city near you!....What a damn ego gas bag!
I would love to see millions of complaints from the followers of these shows sent into the networks.
Especially when it’s all platitudes all the time!
My boys watch some reading shows on PBS, and sometimes we see “Antiques Roadshow.”
After that Global Warming PSA during 24 last week...I’d say FOX as a network can pound sand...I wish I didn’t enjoy a number of the shows...! LOL
Get a Simon Cowell style review of his speech.
"Worst economic policy since Stalin."
"Your policies make me wish this was Romanian Idol."
"I came to this country to get away from socialism."
"You're one of those packages at Christmastime where you say 'Can I give it back?' " (actual Simon insult)
"Atrocious... confused..." (actual Simon insult)
"I don't know how you can speak with all that crap in your head."
"This isn't karaoke. Dump the teleprompter and learn the words to your speech."
The night of his inaguration speech, I watched The Searchers with John Wayne. I was tired of Irkels voice and face.
I do Netflix, plus have a DVR. Plus, I download British programs from a UK website. I've always got something more interesting to watch instead of the One.
Why aren’t they simply running these on their cable news channels? Isn’t that what they did to President Bush?
Paint drying, ice melting, the dog sleeping ...
Tough luck. Even Fox was in the tank for Obama toward the end.
If it were Dubya, they would never consider it.
Cool, I’ll be in lodge and so will not even have to dodge it.
Of course, I don’t actually watch TV on Tuesdays anyway, but still, he can talk all he wants. I’m only watching what he does.
Geez. Another Hussein speech? He’s been talking to Castro’s ghost too much.
We choose what we watch and we won’t be watching this.
We choose what we watch and we won’t be watching this.
Imagine if the terrorists targeted zero’s teleprompter! Now THAT would be war!!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.