Obama's Prime-Time Addresses Could Cost Networks Millions In Lost Ad Dollars

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

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[baddadd47]

celebrities like obama dont care about people they care about power, do any of you really think he cares how much of Americas money he spends trying to make it look as if he knows what he is doing, warm up the telepromter the newbie is coming.

[notthistime]

stop being silly. You are too old for that.

[blingbling65943]

Maybe we (the American people) should start talking about the revenue we "loose" by giving away the public airways for free?

[payos]

"Do people really want to come home after looking for a job, or after being at a job they hate, sit down to veg out in front of their favorite show -- and he's on again?" said one TV suit, who suspects/hopes the Average Joe's reaction to too much Obamavision might be "nothing he's going to say is going to help me get a job, or put food on the table."

Said the TV suit: "He could lose a lot of goodwill doing this."

* * *

Sounds like that empty TV suit is hoping that O will "lose the goodwill" so that they can go back to showing their du.mb and dum.ber "favorite shows."

Religion used to be the opiate of the masses, now it's the dumb shows. The suits are bemoaning that someone is stepping in and heaven forbid - we won't be able to keep them subdued, and not only that - we're losing money!

whaaa...

[Jetling]

And how much mindless George W did we tolerate the last eight years?

[Tulka2]

Actually not enough. Bush didn't want to be accountable. He only spoke drivel. He did not make himself available.

[KeepMeLearning]

I don't know what business they will be losing over this. I'm in ad sales, and I guarantee that they have already lost the business--so what's the problem?

[Peaceisnecessary]

It will be great if CNN and FOX carries his speech as well. Those cable networks and their pundits are the pits and could use some enlightement.

[Jetling]

They'll only find it on the unemployment line.

[RGKahn]

""His economic stimulus package apparently does not extend to the TV networks," one network exec noted." Your right it does NOT. The networks are using the public airwaves on frequencies that are allocated to them by the FCC and/or using satellites using frequecies allocated to them by the Federal Government. The President needs to bypass the republican talking heads, who dominate the media and tell the American People what is happening and what he and the Congress will do about it. The President should be given an appropriate time and amount of time to do this. The President has to use "the bloody pulpit" to get his message across to the american People and this is the best and quickest way to do that.

[paulalex]

When GW held the White House he had the same access to the airwaves and barely used them, primarily because he had nothing to say, now here we are barely three weeks into the new administration and the Republicans are getting almost twice as much face time than the Democrats to push their Pork, Pork and more Pork arguments onto the simple minded.

[uberlefty]

They have always seemed to not get that the government owns the airwaves and the networks only rent them. Maybe its time to raise the rent and get them to clean up the yard a little.

[herrick]

The world economy is in crisis and you are concerned about a few million dollars of lost ad revenue? Are you serious? You actually wrote this column? Your editor didn't suggest you pursue something relevant to the tough times so many people are facing in their lives right now? Networks - who used to be required to give "equal time" on all political issues since they get the airwaves for free - are making snide remarks about the President because he is trying to solve the nation's most urgent crisis? And you are enabling their narcissism? First, your column is poorly written. Second, stop your whining.

[Graywolf48]

Ah, hello there. The airwaves belong to the people, not the broadcast networks. This is not an everyday event we're talking about. The nation is in crises and the President has a responsibility to keep the people informed. Maybe if the Republicans weren't being obstructionist jerks and doing all they can to undermine the President and hamper passage of the stimulus bill, Mr. Obama wouldn't need to "talk and talk and talk and talk". Besides, when Obama talks, he has something cogent to say and the world listens, unlike that babbling chimp that stuttered and stammered incoherently for the past 8 years. Oh, and just for good measure, I hope the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated so you guys cannot continue to spew right wing, neo-con propaganda without an equal opportunity for the opposing side to give a rebuttal. We've been getting only one side of the story for much too long now. It's time that changed. After all, analog or digital, they are our airwaves and broadcasters are obligated to provide necessary local and public broadcast service in return for your extended broadcast profiteering.

[fass]

boo hoo

[SmolderingRuin]

I don't remember hearing them whine when bush was commandeering the airways. Boo effing hoo. We're in a republican-caused crisis here, and we need to hear from our president whenever he feels like talking to us.

[Joy101]

Ditto.

[SmolderingRuin]

"airwaves". sorry.

[barackobama4prez]

BINGO

[JoeBlough]

Typical Republican Media. Got to make a profit even when supporting America.

[Halter]

What's with the halo?

[amkhussein]

Eat your heart out.

[katielady]

Frankly, Obama's speeches letting us know firsthand what he plans is a lot better than any of the current programming on any of the networks... TMC anyone!!!! Netflix!!!!!!

[JZ735]

Don't interrupt my shows ...don't care what you have to say!