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Inaugural TV Deals Bring Big Bucks, Controversy

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 17, 2009 11:07 AM CST

(Newser) – Barack Obama’s inaugural organizing team has struck the most lucrative series of TV deals ever seen for its slate of inaugural events, raking in more than $5 million from various networks, the Washington Post reports. HBO landed the juiciest prize, paying $2.5 million for exclusive rights to tomorrow’s concert at the Lincoln Memorial. But criticism is flying that the inauguration team is turning into a made-for-TV cash-grab.

“I'm extremely disturbed by it,” said one advocate of media-ownership diversity. “The Lincoln Memorial has such significance, and to not make (the concert) available to the entire country just seems elitist.” HBO says it’s encouraging satellite and digital cable providers to carry the concert for free, but the roughly 40% of cable subscribers without digital service are out of luck.

Americans Aaron Pervin, left, and Kathryn Lankester, right, who supported Barak Obama, watch a TV screen during Obama's victory speech in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008.
Americans Aaron Pervin, left, and Kathryn Lankester, right, who supported Barak Obama, watch a TV screen during Obama's victory speech in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008.   (AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki)
Iraqi men watch as Democratic Sen. and presidential hopeful Barack Obama is seen on the TV screens at an electronic shop in Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 4, 2008.
Iraqi men watch as Democratic Sen. and presidential hopeful Barack Obama is seen on the TV screens at an electronic shop in Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alaa al-Marjani)
A U.S soldier watches on TV a news image of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008.
A U.S soldier watches on TV a news image of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008.   (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Large TV screens show images of U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama at an electronics shop in Tokyo, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008.
Large TV screens show images of U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama at an electronics shop in Tokyo, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008.   (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Mad
Jan 17, 2009 3:17 AM CST
Newser001 (Wolff?) said: "Obama is focused on embracing America and bringing us ALL together..." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- All of us with subscriptions to cable digital service! LOL
Newser001
Jan 17, 2009 12:18 AM CST
My understanding, it defers costs you and I ultimately pay through the Federal budget... It will be interesting to see an open accounting, when over. But consider... there's never been anything like what we're seeing... Obama is focused on embracing America and bringing us ALL together... A very unique concept and approach, no?

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