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Butt Out of Primetime, Prez: Networks

Execs complain Obama's addresses cost them money

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 19, 2009 10:10 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama is addressing the nation during primetime—again—and networks aren’t happy about it, notes the Hollywood Reporter. When Obama hits the airwaves Tuesday, he’ll bump American Idol's results show to Thursday, causing it to compete with the NCAA finals, and force the Big Four to cancel or move other programs. “These frequent primetime requests are wreaking serious havoc with our schedule and our advertisers,” said one insider.

“At a time when we’re struggling not only financially but to build audiences, this doesn’t help on either front,” said another exec. “These repeated interruptions—and the rumor of even more to come—really make it difficult to build audience flow and loyalty. We will all lose one or two million dollars for this.” Click the link below to read up on specific schedule adjustments.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

President Barack Obama speaks at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Calif., Wednesday, March 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

President Barack Obama speaks at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Calif., Wednesday, March 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

President Barack Obama speaks about earmark reform on March 11, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

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I believe in the president and his policies, and as broadcasters we have a responsibility to provide the airtime. But ratings are down everywhere and it is costing us all significant dollars when we can least afford it. - A network insider

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

Caps

Mar 20, 2009 6:46 AM CDT

These people needs to get a life.

cornelison

Mar 19, 2009 9:50 AM CDT

It sounds like "an inconvenient truth" to the media. The media controls so much of what we see and what's going on with the economy is a little more important than "American Idol" or a basketball game. When JFK died people were angry that the assassination bumped a soap opera called, "The Edge of Night." The episode that was to air was about whether someone was going to the gas chamber.The episode was moved to the following week.

Mad

Mar 19, 2009 6:51 AM CDT

Rarely, clroger is amusing, like when he said he thought Oprah's sick puppy was about Obama, but mostly, he is just sad, ranting about guns, and spewing nonsense, like the above

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Butt Out of Primetime, Prez: Networks