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

[mjc]

The networks want juicy news, not a speech which everyone thinks is going to be a replay of lets get behind the President's recovery plan. It might not be quite as bad if they had some really charismatic Repug available to come on and take the speech apart afterwards, but then......­, which Repug could really be considered charismatic?

[meede]

If his speech is 10 mins, I'll be surprised. It's the networks expanding it to an hour as they hire their best (p.u.k.e.) mouth pieces to debate it. After the 10 mins they throw in ads.

Dear Networks: Mainstreet Americans are not the id iots you so think we are. You continue to say "we know what the public wants". Talk to me -- I'll tell you and it isn't the cra p you continue to peddle. If ever a bailout appears on behalf of the networks, bet your pit bull Palin, who is an appetizer to me, I'll prot est in the streets against it.

[IowaKid]

Oh boo-hoo.

[Grannysue]

Are you kidding me, they didn't seem to mind when Bush Boy ran out and spoke about NOTHING!

[scorpioleidy]

Exactly - he spoke about nothing ... while mangling the English language in the process! But that was okay with the networks?!

[Joethepauper]

My favorite Bush quote: "The enemies of freedom are cunning and resourceful, and so are we. They will never stop thinking of new ways to harm our country and our people....­.and neither will we." Read it again if you didn't catch it. That's the only truthful thing he said in 8 years!

[rasit]

Internet will replace the useless TV networks soon enough...D­id the Networks b*tch when GWB wanted to speak in Prime time....

You don't want to show it, fine,,,WE will watch it on PBS or C-SPAN....­.

[ConservativeTim]

Why listen to him.......­.It will be one hour of: Hope, Change, poor me, Republicans are evil.

[texmike]

Is your salary over 100K? If not, do you truly believe the Republicans standing in Obama's way - no matter what he proposes - care about YOU and are working for YOU? If you do, I've got a really swell bridge over here.

[Joethepauper]

Look at the economy on Jan. 19, 2001, and then look at the economy on Jan. 19, 2009. Notice anything? Look at the world's perception of the United States on those same dates. Republicans ARE inherently evil. I don't claim a party affiliation, but I know which party most represents good foreign and domestic policy. The Republican party is a Frankenstein creation of incompatible parts: Conservatives (social conservatives, but fiscal liberals. If you don't believe me, see the first sentence), Evangelicals (People who believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible. {a book of fiction, written by many people, translated and mistranslated by people who didn't know the earth revolved around the sun {among other things},in which they claim to have written the exact words of Jesus from memory 75-300 years AFTER he died.} A book that has no mention of dinosaurs, although they existed for hundreds of millions of years BEFORE man. And there are fossils to prove it, unlike Jesus' bones), and rednecks (Inbred, neanderthals, who would gladly vote for anybody they'd like to have a beer with, but won't vote for someone who would improve their economic situation because they're afraid he might take their guns away.) If they lose their rich friends (Conservatives and corporate swindlers) fund their campaigns, and they rely on the dumbest, most gullable people for votes. Keep listening to Rush.....P­lease!

[Ouroboros]

Wife Swap is much more important for the American Public than information about their future. Got it, media. Thanks for justifying your eventual nationalization.

[bichn]

Its the least they can do in return for all the bad information, spin and straight up lies they have peddled for the last eight years. They have been shoving the right wing talking points down our throats. EFF THEM.

[IowaKid]

Amen

[ApolloniaCreed]

I thought this deserved a repost:

http://www.openleft.com/showComment.do?commentId=146670


Short and interesting read.

[rasit]

An eye opener for me, thanks for the link....

[scorpioleidy]

That's effed up! Thanks for the post.

[jcwtts1]

Hey, you guys don't own the airwaves you rent them. Suck it up and stop whining.

J

[Travis bdboy]

And your point is?

Broadcasters will be looking for a bailout next. Blaming it on Obama.

[salsmom]

And where was the outrage of the exec when he failed to do his job in exposing the lies behind the Iraq war, demanding that the coffins of US soldiers be shown to the American public so we would understand the ongoing cost to us as a nation, and reporting on the full casualties and costs of the war for the Iraqi people. Hypocrite!

[PlaceboStudman]

Networks have been losing money for YEARS, due to the rise of Cable, and the horrendous crap define as "programming". If the advertisers business back, they need to start airing better programming, so that mmany of us don't switch to cable networks to see the same decent...a­nd it was only decent, not good programming the Networks aired 10 years ago or more.

This is no one's fault but the networks, and they should be thanking President Obama for giving them viewership for a few hours that they would otherwise lose to better programming

[saxmaniac]

Just remember that the networks are run by gopers, and that the bottom line is all they care about. The irony is that the networks belong to the people, "regulated " by FCC. When their advertisers really cut back, networks will be glad they can air anything -- even POTUS.

[Rich Hosking]

Oh, I get it, another slanted piece with the subtext,

"Why does Obama hate America?!".

Give me a break.