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

[Rudyabdul]

I am so glad that he is giving press conferences on the major networks, where he can reach the majority of Americans about the stimulus bill. I just hope that he do more than give a speech. I hope that he EDUCATE us about the bill: what's in it, how will it benefit Americans, how much it will cost, where the money is coming from and importantly, why it's taking so long getting the bill passed.

[avocats]

If it's such a serious problem, don't show Obama's speeches. We can watch on C-Span. Or take turns. Honestly, it's not like there's so much good programming around going to waste. You can just start re-runs later this year.

[vjoseph]

GOOD, you deserve to lose money. No more propaganda from the MSM

[placeyourvote]

after the comment President Obama made yesterday about all the cable chatter, I am surprise they hit back so soon

[JZ735]

Obama is playing with fire...cou­ld end up where he is relegated to C-Span alone...an­d that might not be such a bad thing...

Still, stay OFF prime time...any President needs to learn that people care less about anything they have to say than watching TV to relax...we don't want to be lectured to at 8PM...save it for your daughters or Michelle..­.

[AZ AF VET]

With a ratio of 2 to 1, conservatives have been on the various media outlets spewing their hatred of the Obama stimulus plan. This is the only way that he can get parity since Reagan canceled the Fairness Doctrine.

[JZ735]

If I were the networks, I would say...NOTH­ING DOING...yo­u will get air time on C-Span, and on time delay...

[hopepad08]

The networks have a choice, they don't have to all show the same thing. If they choose to do so. Do it and stop the whining. it would be better if everyone had C-Span, that way you can listen to the speech without all the talking heads given the take on it

[payos]

well you're not the networks, in fact, you are NOTHING, so buzz off, nobody is asking your opinion, or who you wish you were but are not

[breakingpoint]

HEY NETWORKS, THE AIR WAVES BELONG TO US - WE THE PEOPLE -

Networks PAY NOTHING for the privilege to broadcast.

This doesn't cost them a cent, in fact they should be paying us for the honor to use them.

The free use they have enjoyed is nothing short of corporate welfare
Where are the anti welfare republicans crying foul?

This reporter is either ignorant herself or is promoting ignorance.
Shame on the Washington Post

[placeyourvote]

Slow down now, I agree with you, but we who pay cable will suddenly find our cable bill going up. LOL
I wonder why. hummmmm

[breakingpoint]

We own the cable wires too...

Certain access should be free to all Americans
i.e. state, city, CSPAN, public access.

The only thing stopping this is responsibility as a citizen first and greedy corporate profits. It's our money, our wires, our air waves - WE OWN THEM!

Profits are being made off your tax paying back and inherited rights as an American citizen.

We can have ANYTHING we want.
We just gotta want it.

[notbuyit]

I think the American people watch way Too Much TV anyway. Another Clue as to who runs this Country and it is not the President or Congress. We are to busy playing patsy to Corporate Greed.

[Cynth]

The networks broadcast using public airwaves. Shall we starting putting a price on this? They and de Moraes might start thinking differently about the true value of what the networks have and begin forming a more realistic perspective on Obama's prime time addresses to the nation (BTW, they aren't mere "appearances" -- it's not entertainment or casual events. Also, how much have the networks gained from Obama interviews and coverage over the past couple of years, if we want to start tallying costs & profit?)

Moreover, I agree with the points other posters have been making about this being of vital national (and global) importance, so the sacrifice isn't hardly one at all. We all need to suck it up for economic recovery, starting with cry babies who are likely the worse contributors to the lack of forward momentum and implementation of solutions.

[imsosure]

Now were talking priorities. You know networks you still have the freedom to complain, consider yourselves fortunate.

[Joethepauper]

"President Obama's desire to talk -- and talk, and talk". IMHO, he hasn't had enough airtime. One of our biggest problems is the fact that the American people would rather watch "House" than pay attention to the economic tsunami. They like to vote for the person they would like to have a beer with instead of the one who has solutions to problems. I'd much rather watch C-SPAN than American Idol. I don't even read fiction anymore because there is too much real world crap piling-up. Let's try to collectively move toward a reality-based reality, instead of a fictitious one. Unfortunately for the Republicans, some of the economists, and the religious people out there, that would mean re-assessing their entire existence. If rational and sane people have to forge ahead of you, that's fine, we've been way ahead of you for years. You'll catch-up eventually. The three groups are only in those groups because they don't really know what's going-on, but they're stubborn. They can live in the 19th and 20th centuries while thinking people carry the torch. As for the so-called "journalist" who wrote this article: Where did you get your journalism degree? Fox News University, or the GOP school of journalism? How much did those Super Bowl commercials cost per second, again? Not enough, yeah, right!

[tigerakabj]

Oh jeez, cry me a river.

All that faux crap about the media being pro-Obama was bull. They ran Rev. Wright 2 months straight, bitter comment, flag-pins, etc. And I also remember that ABC debate lynch mob back in May where they asked gotcha questions for about 45 minutes before they got to a single issue.

They are getting more scared of him than they were before b/c now it is clear that he is going after Wall Street hard, which is just the start. As long as Obama keeps speaking truth to power about the GOP and the media's inability to check them, he can give a speech every day for all I care.

[placeyourvote]

yes now I second that. The MSM has been dominated by repthugs for at least the last 10 years. They use reverse psychology to make us believe it is the dems who have been running things. I hope they all go down, with the exception of Keith O. and Maddow

[Donde]

The corporate media $luts don’t want an informed populous.
There is an easy solution to their invented problem –
run the entire regular line up of drivel after the President speaks.

[macracan]

I'd rather listen to the president fixing our country than to the networks attempt to brainwash. Sorry networks, some things are more important than yourselves!

[tigerakabj]

I heard that. They can't spin what he says when everybody is watching and then assessing it for themselves. They purposely put the GOP on 2 to 1 Dem and now they're mad. Especially after the speech he gave last night squashing all of the GOP talking points (i.e. tax cuts, current debt), they are even more scared.

Obama's not dumb, he knows who owns the media and what agenda they have. Why do they think he called out Fox Noise during the last presidential debate?

[placeyourvote]

Yes, wasn't that a speech. wow, it was like after the beautiful speech he gave at the prayer breakfast, in the morning, he must have gotten anointed, because he came out swinging. Don't mess with the anointed one.

[BUTCHER111]

Funny how they never complained when Bush took up prime time.

[placeyourvote]

No Bush was so crazy, many of my local station would not air it.

[raaf]

Here's the corporate media trying to scare people again, like Obama is some kind of Castro. And you all know how evil Castro is, because the corporate media told you so!

[wrenny]

As long as those people still share a planet with the rest of us, they have everything to gain by providing a way of this being broadcast.