Networks Grumbling About Another Obama Primetime Speech By Josef Adalian
President Obama’s decision to hold another primetime news conference is playing havoc with the networks’ sweeps schedules—and causing some in the industry to grumble about the financial impact.
The president has slated a news conference for Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT, his second since taking office two months ago. CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox all have confirmed they plan to carry it.
The networks won't be happy about it, however.
Fox, which normally airs the performance episode of "American Idol" on Tuesdays, has just decided to shift that episode to Wednesday, March 25, from 8-10 p.m. The usual Wednesday results show will air on Thursday, March 26, at 8 p.m.
The move means Fox will have to preempt the planned March 25 episode of "Lie to Me," as well as the March 26 episode of "Bones." A repeat of "House" will follow the president's news conference on Tuesday.
The changes mean "Idol" now will face off against CBS' March 26 coverage of NCAA basketball. And "Survivor," which airs a special Wednesday edition on March 25, will battle "Idol" that night.
As for the other networks, NBC plans to shift "The Biggest Loser" into the 9-11 p.m. timeslot, bumping "Law & Order: SVU" for a week. CBS, meanwhile, will shift "NCIS" and "The Mentalist" to 9 and 10 p.m., respectively, preempting "Without a Trace" for a week.
Of even more concern to network executives, however, is the financial impact to broadcasters.
“Every time the president disrupts primetime, the networks lose another couple million dollars,” one TV industry insider said. “In this economy, that’s the last thing we need.”
Networks lose money because presidential appearances are commercial- free, meaning any time the networks cover the president, they lose advertising availabilities that can never be replaced.
The same insider conceded the economic crisis makes these “unusual times,” and that networks understand the president’s desire to communicate to Americans. “If there’s news, they’ll cover it,” the executive said.
President Obama had talked to the networks about a primetime speech following the signing of the economic stimulus bill, but opted against it, in part, perhaps, because the networks indicated their displeasure in a Washington Post article published Feb. 6.
“His economic stimulus package apparently does not extend to the TV networks,” the Post quoted one network executive as complaining.
In addition to his first primetime press conference last month, the president delivered an address to both houses of Congress.
Slate.com is reporting that President Obama is mulling the idea of shorter, 10-minute “fireside chats” to keep Americans up to date on the economy.<
Maybe...but I don't like American Idol against Survivor
> Networks Grumbling About Another Obama Primetime Speech > By Josef Adalian
> President Obama’s decision to hold another primetime news conference > is playing havoc with the networks’ sweeps schedules—and causing some > in the industry to grumble about the financial impact.
> The president has slated a news conference for Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT, > his second since taking office two months ago. CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox > all have confirmed they plan to carry it.
> The networks won't be happy about it, however.
> Fox, which normally airs the performance episode of "American Idol" on > Tuesdays, has just decided to shift that episode to Wednesday, March > 25, from 8-10 p.m. The usual Wednesday results show will air on > Thursday, March 26, at 8 p.m.
> The move means Fox will have to preempt the planned March 25 episode > of "Lie to Me," as well as the March 26 episode of "Bones." A repeat > of "House" will follow the president's news conference on Tuesday.
> The changes mean "Idol" now will face off against CBS' March 26 > coverage of NCAA basketball. And "Survivor," which airs a special > Wednesday edition on March 25, will battle "Idol" that night.
> As for the other networks, NBC plans to shift "The Biggest Loser" into > the 9-11 p.m. timeslot, bumping "Law & Order: SVU" for a week. CBS, > meanwhile, will shift "NCIS" and "The Mentalist" to 9 and 10 p.m., > respectively, preempting "Without a Trace" for a week.
> Of even more concern to network executives, however, is the financial > impact to broadcasters.
> “Every time the president disrupts primetime, the networks lose > another couple million dollars,” one TV industry insider said. “In > this economy, that’s the last thing we need.”
> Networks lose money because presidential appearances are commercial- > free, meaning any time the networks cover the president, they lose > advertising availabilities that can never be replaced.
> The same insider conceded the economic crisis makes these “unusual > times,” and that networks understand the president’s desire to > communicate to Americans. “If there’s news, they’ll cover it,” the > executive said.
> President Obama had talked to the networks about a primetime speech > following the signing of the economic stimulus bill, but opted against > it, in part, perhaps, because the networks indicated their displeasure > in a Washington Post article published Feb. 6.
> “His economic stimulus package apparently does not extend to the TV > networks,” the Post quoted one network executive as complaining.
> In addition to his first primetime press conference last month, the > president delivered an address to both houses of Congress.
> Slate.com is reporting that President Obama is mulling the idea of > shorter, 10-minute “fireside chats” to keep Americans up to date on > the economy.<
> Maybe...but I don't like American Idol against Survivor
Me neither. I sure am glad Survivor is On Demand with my Verizon Fios package.
In article <30c6efc8-bc23-4b3a-8e2b-a891f2eea038 @t3g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>, lag...@msn.com says...
> Me neither. I sure am glad Survivor is On Demand with my Verizon Fios > package.
I was surprised at that when we got Fios a couple of weeks ago. Too bad there are no Fox shows. I was hoping for 24. -- I hope we can all be good neighbors online!
On Mar 18, 11:37 pm, Bob Rudd <bobr...@verizon.net> wrote:
> In article <30c6efc8-bc23-4b3a-8e2b-a891f2eea038 > @t3g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>, lag...@msn.com says...
> > Me neither. I sure am glad Survivor is On Demand with my Verizon Fios > > package.
> I was surprised at that when we got Fios a couple of weeks ago. Too bad > there are no Fox shows. I was hoping for 24. > -- > I hope we can all be good neighbors online!
Why does Every. Single. Network. have to cover these press conferences?
On Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:33:00 -0700 (PDT), Randy <randy.rok...@gmail.com> wrote:
| On Mar 18, 11:37 pm, Bob Rudd <bobr...@verizon.net> wrote: | > In article <30c6efc8-bc23-4b3a-8e2b-a891f2eea038 | > @t3g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>, lag...@msn.com says... | > | > > Me neither. I sure am glad Survivor is On Demand with my Verizon Fios | > > package. | > | > I was surprised at that when we got Fios a couple of weeks ago. Too bad | > there are no Fox shows. I was hoping for 24. | > -- | > I hope we can all be good neighbors online! | | Why does Every. Single. Network. have to cover these press conferences?
Good question. Seems just one network could do it or maybe even just PBS. After all, PBS does get some federal money.
It galls me anytime regular network shows are preempted in the evening, whether it's for Presidential press conferences, sports or anything else.
On Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:08:18 -0400, sa...@dog.com wrote:
| On Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:38:54 -0400, Larc <l...@notmyaddress.com>
| wrote:
| | >On Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:33:00 -0700 (PDT), Randy <randy.rok...@gmail.com> wrote: | > | >| On Mar 18, 11:37 pm, Bob Rudd <bobr...@verizon.net> wrote: | >| > In article <30c6efc8-bc23-4b3a-8e2b-a891f2eea038 | >| > @t3g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>, lag...@msn.com says... | >| > | >| > > Me neither. I sure am glad Survivor is On Demand with my Verizon Fios | >| > > package. | >| > | >| > I was surprised at that when we got Fios a couple of weeks ago. Too bad | >| > there are no Fox shows. I was hoping for 24. | >| > -- | >| > I hope we can all be good neighbors online! | >| | >| Why does Every. Single. Network. have to cover these press conferences? | > | >Good question. Seems just one network could do it or maybe even just PBS. After | >all, PBS does get some federal money. | > | >It galls me anytime regular network shows are preempted in the evening, whether | >it's for Presidential press conferences, sports or anything else. | > | >Larc | | They all have federal licenses, and are required to do a ceration | amount of broadcasting that is "in the public interest". They have to | be able to document that at renewal time.
I'm part of the public and it's in my interest to see the usual programs I watch on TV. ;)
> In article <gptmb90...@news2.newsguy.com>, cher...@newsguy.com says... >> "Randy" <randy.rok...@gmail.com> wrote in message >> news:d9429da7-4c75-4a0d-bbf0-
>> Why does Every. Single. Network. have to cover these press conferences?
>> ==========
>> Good question.
> Because it's the President of the U.S. and in the case of the major, > non-cable networks, the airwaves are the public's.
It still doesn't answer why? Is the public watching all of them at the same time? If you don't have cable, you have networks. Nobody gets just one network, unless they have a coat hanger for an antenna, in which case they're probably not watching a POTUS speak anyway.
> Networks Grumbling About Another Obama Primetime Speech > By Josef Adalian
> President Obama’s decision to hold another primetime news conference > is playing havoc with the networks’ sweeps schedules—and causing some > in the industry to grumble about the financial impact.
> The president has slated a news conference for Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT, > his second since taking office two months ago. CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox > all have confirmed they plan to carry it.
> The networks won't be happy about it, however.
> Fox, which normally airs the performance episode of "American Idol" on > Tuesdays, has just decided to shift that episode to Wednesday, March > 25, from 8-10 p.m. The usual Wednesday results show will air on > Thursday, March 26, at 8 p.m.
> The move means Fox will have to preempt the planned March 25 episode > of "Lie to Me," as well as the March 26 episode of "Bones." A repeat > of "House" will follow the president's news conference on Tuesday.
> The changes mean "Idol" now will face off against CBS' March 26 > coverage of NCAA basketball. And "Survivor," which airs a special > Wednesday edition on March 25, will battle "Idol" that night.
> As for the other networks, NBC plans to shift "The Biggest Loser" into > the 9-11 p.m. timeslot, bumping "Law & Order: SVU" for a week. CBS, > meanwhile, will shift "NCIS" and "The Mentalist" to 9 and 10 p.m., > respectively, preempting "Without a Trace" for a week.
> Of even more concern to network executives, however, is the financial > impact to broadcasters.
> “Every time the president disrupts primetime, the networks lose > another couple million dollars,” one TV industry insider said. “In > this economy, that’s the last thing we need.”
> Networks lose money because presidential appearances are commercial- > free, meaning any time the networks cover the president, they lose > advertising availabilities that can never be replaced.
> The same insider conceded the economic crisis makes these “unusual > times,” and that networks understand the president’s desire to > communicate to Americans. “If there’s news, they’ll cover it,” the > executive said.
> President Obama had talked to the networks about a primetime speech > following the signing of the economic stimulus bill, but opted against > it, in part, perhaps, because the networks indicated their displeasure > in a Washington Post article published Feb. 6.
> “His economic stimulus package apparently does not extend to the TV > networks,” the Post quoted one network executive as complaining.
> In addition to his first primetime press conference last month, the > president delivered an address to both houses of Congress.
> Slate.com is reporting that President Obama is mulling the idea of > shorter, 10-minute “fireside chats” to keep Americans up to date on > the economy.<
> Maybe...but I don't like American Idol against Survivor
And I don't like it against LOST. Someone else will have to finish up my "West Coast Spoiler" thread, because I'll only be watching the first half of the show live.
And why can't presidents talk at 6 pm, when nothing interesting is on tv? =D
> "Bob Rudd" <bobr...@verizon.net> wrote in message > news:MPG.242c470c8593f5e1989757@news.albasani.net... > > In article <gptmb90...@news2.newsguy.com>, cher...@newsguy.com says... > >> "Randy" <randy.rok...@gmail.com> wrote in message > >> news:d9429da7-4c75-4a0d-bbf0-
> >> Why does Every. Single. Network. have to cover these press conferences?
> >> ==========
> >> Good question.
> > Because it's the President of the U.S. and in the case of the major, > > non-cable networks, the airwaves are the public's.
> It still doesn't answer why? Is the public watching all of them at the same > time? If you don't have cable, you have networks. Nobody gets just one > network, unless they have a coat hanger for an antenna, in which case > they're probably not watching a POTUS speak anyway.
Commercial stations utilizing public airwaves have a legal obligation to present public service broadcasting which includes going beyond the junk on weekends at 5:30 AM. A POTUS address or presser being a key way they can fulfill their obligations. -- I hope we can all be good neighbors online!
> Commercial stations utilizing public airwaves have a legal obligation to > present public service broadcasting which includes going beyond the junk > on weekends at 5:30 AM. A POTUS address or presser being a key way they > can fulfill their obligations.
I know all that, but there still is no real good reason why, other than somebody said so long ago. Times have changed since there were one or two channels available. If I was Fox, I would decline except for the FNC, and use my public service broadcasting to show those people how to use those damned converter boxes before June. LOL
> > Networks Grumbling About Another Obama Primetime Speech > > By Josef Adalian
> > President Obama’s decision to hold another primetime news conference > > is playing havoc with the networks’ sweeps schedules—and causing some > > in the industry to grumble about the financial impact.
> > The president has slated a news conference for Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT, > > his second since taking office two months ago. CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox > > all have confirmed they plan to carry it.
> > The networks won't be happy about it, however.
> > Fox, which normally airs the performance episode of "American Idol" on > > Tuesdays, has just decided to shift that episode to Wednesday, March > > 25, from 8-10 p.m. The usual Wednesday results show will air on > > Thursday, March 26, at 8 p.m.
> > The move means Fox will have to preempt the planned March 25 episode > > of "Lie to Me," as well as the March 26 episode of "Bones." A repeat > > of "House" will follow the president's news conference on Tuesday.
> > The changes mean "Idol" now will face off against CBS' March 26 > > coverage of NCAA basketball. And "Survivor," which airs a special > > Wednesday edition on March 25, will battle "Idol" that night.
> > As for the other networks, NBC plans to shift "The Biggest Loser" into > > the 9-11 p.m. timeslot, bumping "Law & Order: SVU" for a week. CBS, > > meanwhile, will shift "NCIS" and "The Mentalist" to 9 and 10 p.m., > > respectively, preempting "Without a Trace" for a week.
> > Of even more concern to network executives, however, is the financial > > impact to broadcasters.
> > “Every time the president disrupts primetime, the networks lose > > another couple million dollars,” one TV industry insider said. “In > > this economy, that’s the last thing we need.”
> > Networks lose money because presidential appearances are commercial- > > free, meaning any time the networks cover the president, they lose > > advertising availabilities that can never be replaced.
> > The same insider conceded the economic crisis makes these “unusual > > times,” and that networks understand the president’s desire to > > communicate to Americans. “If there’s news, they’ll cover it,” the > > executive said.
> > President Obama had talked to the networks about a primetime speech > > following the signing of the economic stimulus bill, but opted against > > it, in part, perhaps, because the networks indicated their displeasure > > in a Washington Post article published Feb. 6.
> > “His economic stimulus package apparently does not extend to the TV > > networks,” the Post quoted one network executive as complaining.
> > In addition to his first primetime press conference last month, the > > president delivered an address to both houses of Congress.
> > Slate.com is reporting that President Obama is mulling the idea of > > shorter, 10-minute “fireside chats” to keep Americans up to date on > > the economy.<
> > Maybe...but I don't like American Idol against Survivor
> And I don't like it against LOST. Someone else will have to finish up > my "West Coast Spoiler" thread, because I'll only be watching the > first half of the show live.
> And why can't presidents talk at 6 pm, when nothing interesting is on > tv? =D
> -Aaron- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -
He does, here on the Best Coast. 5 or 6. It's you whiners that mess everything up, complaining about missing your shows and all. :)
> And why can't presidents talk at 6 pm, when nothing interesting is on > tv? =D
> -Aaron- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -
He does, here on the Best Coast. 5 or 6. It's you whiners that mess everything up, complaining about missing your shows and all. :) =========== Well, he's going to be on Jay Leno tonight, so get it all said there and leave prime time shows alone ;-)
> > Commercial stations utilizing public airwaves have a legal obligation to > > present public service broadcasting which includes going beyond the junk > > on weekends at 5:30 AM. A POTUS address or presser being a key way they > > can fulfill their obligations.
> I know all that, but there still is no real good reason why, other than > somebody said so long ago. Times have changed since there were one or two > channels available. If I was Fox, I would decline except for the FNC, and > use my public service broadcasting to show those people how to use those > damned converter boxes before June. LOL
> Cheri
They would have the option of using their additional digital channels like 4.1, 4.2 etc. but I would think the Administration would scream bloody murder about people not knowing how to receive them or poor signal strength. -- I hope we can all be good neighbors online!
