WAPO: Obama's Prime-Time Addresses Could Cost Networks Millions

[SemiCharmedQuark]

*snip*

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.

...

Of course, Obama has picked one of the biggest viewership nights of the week for his appearances.

...

But besides the economic hit, broadcasters are worried that this kind of shock-and-awe approach to prime-time preempting might be part of an Obama strategy to charm his way to a new economic-rescue plan. "As we're meeting this guy, from a network perspective, it's like, 'Is this part of the plan for him?' " the network exec said. "Is this what it's going to be: Is he going to take to the airwaves every time he has something to say?"
Such a strategy, of course, could backfire.

"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."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020503599.html


:puke:

[Beetwasher]

1. Funny, Never Heard This Complaint About Chimpy

Who never really had anything worthy to say.

[bigdarryl]

14. because he THREATENED all the pundits Randy talked about this on her show

[spanone]

62. my first thought....corporate media...they don't like democrats

[KittyWampus]

2. bastards pay nothing for use of our airwaves to begin with and pollute them with garbage

oh

:puke:

[Abq_Sarah]

61. Of course they pay.

They pay dearly. TV, Radio, they all require broadcast licenses that aren't cheap.

[quakerboy]

74. Are you kidding?

Seriously?

[JeffreyWilliamson]

3. Geez...

They're going to do everything they can to take him down. Sickening.

[janx]

26. They can't. That's what they're complaining about!

:rofl:

In terms of money, they're damned if they do and damned if they don't! I find this extremely funny!

[Cha]

50. Poetic Justice... Obama has them

between a rock and a hard place.

[bdamomma]

47. well maybe we could take them down the media deserves it.

[otohara]

4. I Never Read This During Bush Years

he did some prime time stuff....media obeys and stands silent

[Amonester]

15. Of Course, The Republics OWN them. n/t

[RamboLiberal]

30. Hell I remember Reagan also loved Prime Time

I was attending college at night and he screwed up my VCR taping quite often.

[xenussister]

76. Even Reagan getting shot screwed up prime time (the Oscars)

The night Reagan was shot, they postponed the Oscars til the next night. I missed them because I was traveling and couldn't postpone the trip. I'd only missed the Oscars one other time in my life, and cursed Chapman. Sorry, that sounds cold, but I was/am a HUGE Oscar buff, and I hated Reagan with a passion. I didn't care that he got shot, mainly because he was ok, expected to live with no lasting damage. I cared more about Brady, poor guy.

Frankly, I like having a president now I actually *want* to tune in to watch. It's refreshing.

[Skink]

5. If he was declaring war it'd be different.

[Thrill]

6. Just for those comments. He should go on once a week in Prime Time

just to piss them off

[janx]

20. Twice a week! Three times a week!

:rofl:

[wryter2000]

7. They can cry me a river

If they covered the news with any semblance of accuracy, maybe the President wouldn't have to be on TV all the time.

And on edit: If they wonder if I want to watch my President after a hard day at work...I'd sure as hell rather watch him than the blood/guts/screaming on the CSI shows. Hell, yes, I'm happy to watch him.

[Cha]

51. That's pretty much what I said in

my post down thread.

[liberal N proud]

8. This is just getting sick!

Any time the asshole bu$h wanted on the air, they all jumped. Now they are crying about the fucking cots.

This is just getting sick!

[bdamomma]

48. this is frontal assault on us and this President.

it is time, where is V when you need him.

[Wildewolfe]

9. No...

Your talking shills and the obstuctionists could lose what little good will remains to them.

You spin spin spin. Obama talks folks listen.

[Sydnie]

29. It's a good point ... he doesn't need spin doctors to do his talking for him

and he makes more sense on his worst day than blivet** did on his best. I can guarantee will we never hear "smoke them out" or "bring it on" out of his mouth during a press conference!

[Parker CA]

10. Again, it's all about money lost for the big-wigs. Nothing about the average person.

This is beginning to venture beyond ridiculous. And, yes, after a day of looking for a job, I'd be interested in hearing an informed, well-planned speech about where our nation is going, and I'd like to hear it from a competent POTUS!!

[City Lights]

11. Boofrickinhoo.

:nopity:

[Cha]

53. If they did their job Obama wouldn't

have to take his case directly to the Peeps..but most people know by now that you can't trust the media..at least the ones I know.

:hi:City Lights~

[City Lights]

58. Spot on, Cha.

:hi: Good to see you. :-)

[Cha]

59. Should have known you

would change your name! You're always mixing it up:fistbump:

[City Lights]

64. I was bored with No Surrender.

Reminded me too much of Kerry and the 2004 election. This was a change election, so out with old and in with the new. :fistbump:

[Cha]

65. Exactamente~

:fistbump:

[RepublicanElephant]

72. bingo! nt

[FrenchieCat]

12. Guess they have something to worry about....hey?

Seems like Barack Obama has made money for them........consider all that he spent in adverting during the campaign, and if remember correctly, his inauguration was the most watched on television. So they really need to STFU!

[janx]

23. I'm literally laughing out loud!

:rofl:

[Zodiak]

39. Let's not mention all of the businesses on TV buying air time...

To sell Barack Obama coins, plates, videotapes, etc.

And trust me, these businesses are buying a LOT of ad time.

[Connie_Corleone]

13. Bush did it. Why the hell are they complaining now?

This is a bunch of bullshit!

[genna]

16. How about the public networks and paid service TV start paying the government back

for the use of U.S. airwaves?


I can't imagine for those of us out of work, what would be more important than hearing news about when we can expect to eat and pay our bills again. But maybe they won't feel threatened until the hounds of hell are sitting in their living rooms with them??

[Cha]

55. Yeah, their argument is

elitist.

[ShortnFiery]

17. GOOD! I love it.

:applause:

Newsflash: The M$M, in general, has lost the Average American's "good will" after their deceitful cheerleading us into an illegal war with Iraq.

The M$M is A JOKE! :puke:

[boobooday]

18. Our airwaves -- our public interest

There's bountiful crap on other cable networks for those who just can't stand to hear a president who actually wants to talk to us.

[janx]

19. I LOVE IT!

:rofl:

If they don't want to cover it, they don't have to! If they'd rather push their mush-minded serial crap, let them!

Quote from article (incidentally, they need some copy editors): Although the broadcast networks can opt out of carrying these presidential appearances, "you don't want to incur the wrath of the White House" because "if you're on the list, you are last in line for interviews and things like that," one network exec explained.

Pauvre bebes. Broadcasting news loses money for them?

[Cha]

57. They're just whining and making up

shit as they go along. They toed the line when bushits said "JUMP"..I guess dick cheney scared them shitless.

[RichGirl]

21. Good!

I don't care how much money it costs them. It costs me money to pay for cable and get nothing but crap! When they take a cut in pay checks and bonuses they'll have plenty of money.

[janx]

22. Will this affect the cables? I hope so!

I've noticed recently how the cables are scrambling to get their commercials in. ;-)

[eShirl]

24. Obama is the first president to go on TV!

ya learn something new everyday

[jberryhill]

40. And the first to use Air Force One....

...and apparently the first one to ever be paid or allowed to live in the White House.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

63. lol...

[Seen the light]

25. As long as he isn't on during the following times I'll be fine:

Mondays at 9
Tuesdays at 9
Wednesdays at 9
Thursdays at 9

He can come on at 8 whenever he wants. Just please don't interrupt my viewings of 24/Heroes, Fringe, Lost, and The Office.

Oh and let me just post a pre-emptive "screw you" to anyone that wants to roast me on my TV viewing habits.

[TTUBatfan2008]

44. I'm a CBS man myself...

I only watch network TV shows twice a week, and that's Monday and Tuesday. I watch from 9-10 PM EDT on Mondays. That is "2 and a Half Men" as well as "Worst Week." And on Tuesday I watch from 9-10 PM EDT, which is "The Mentalist." Otherwise I really don't watch network TV very much outside of sports.

[WinkyDink]

54. Won't shows be played in their entirety once Obama is done?

[thoughtcrime1984]

27. I could give a fuck less about entitled Billionaires. Speak to us Mr. President! nt

[treestar]

28. That last paragraph -they are wrong

Why wouldn't such an unfortunate person want to hear the President talk about what he's going to do to change it? They give us too little credit as citizens.

[janx]

36. They don't care about citizens.

They care about ratings and $$$$$$$$.

[Window]

31. Now, ain't that just too bad. Cry me a fuckin' river networks.

:thumbsdown:

[demo dutch]

32. Too bad

[Arkana]

33. Too. Fucking. Bad.

The President should be open and honest and address the people as often as he can.

Fuck the networks.

[malletgirl02]

34. Youtube

Maybe he should forgo the networks and put his address on Youtube, but that would probably piss them off more.

[LiberalFighter]

35. MEDIA should had done a better job supporting the stimulus bill instead of cutting it down.

Then maybe PRESIDENT Obama wouldn't have to explain it to the American people.

[Phx_Dem]

37. Really? I guess Chimpy's prime time addresses made them money.

[Phx_Dem]

38. In that case, he should only go on Fox!

Kidding, because then I wouldn't be able to see him.

[Hutzpa]

41. FUCK EM'

If they start asking the right questions to the Republicans instead of
letting them slide we might not have to deal with this obstruction from the
Republicans.

Fuckin' bootleggers....






:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Skidmore]

42. He should tell them the flogging will continue until they stop catapaulting the RW propaganda

and start doing serious and accurate reporting.

PS. The companies should be told by us that if they don't carry him at this important time in history, they will permanently lose viewers since we consider them to have been part of the problem during the last two terms.

[nc4bo]

43. Go Obama, make 'em squirm, sweat and scream. And the whining, aha music to my ears!! nt

[MarjorieG]

45. Wouldn't have to if fairer during network news.

[WinkyDink]

56. EXACTLY! Underlying message from Obama to Big Media: Have real news, or I'll make you.

[ecstatic]

67. Yep. In the future he should target FOX to pre-empt

all their shows. :rofl:

[bdamomma]

46. oh what the hell Chimpy was on every other day, give me a break huh?

[Cha]

49. Come home from what job?! If the fucking corporate

media reported the facts instead of making up shit..then Obama wouldn't have to take to the airwaves..but, they're too god damn greedy to think of that.

[WinkyDink]

52. People who want "to veg out" AND need to "put food on the table" have their priorities askew.

[HOLOS]

60. We Are Peering into the Abyss-Time to Hear from Our Pro American President!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

66. Boy, he REALLY touched a raw nerve

with his call for caps on executive compensation for companies receiving taxpayer-funded *bailout* money.

These new "complaints" are getting so transparent they're laughable. It's actually kind of hard to believe that these stories are NOT actually being published by The Onion.

:rofl:

[Withywindle]

68. I'd rather listen to my President talking to me like an adult than 90% of the shite on TV.

(And that last 10% - LOST and BSG - I can see on On Demand 'cause I have cable. :D)

[ecstatic]

69. oh noez! Obama to pre-empt World Series... The fallout will hand McCain

the presidency. Series!!!111 :cry: :sarcasm:

[pmorlan1]

70. Check this out

Results in on Obama's grassroots appeal: It's a bust

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/61724.html

[snowbear]

71. It's because the idea of a "stimulus party gathering" was kinda lame..

.
.

I'm surprised that many people actually participated.

It's not like a debate night.. or an election results night. It's just too strange of a reason to gather..

[FrenchieCat]

73. That's cause folks are not sure what it is that they should do there.

But still, it could have been worse!

Despite the tight time frame, LaVera said the effort would yield about 3,000 economic stimulus sessions nationwide.

[Baikonour]

75. So much for that "liberal media" eh?

Yet another repuke lie.

This country is on the brink of destruction and our president wants to tell us how he's going to save us from that almost certain destruction, and even still, the corporate media fatcats only care about ratings and profit. On OUR airwaves, to-boot.

Sickening.

[democracy1st]

77. Well they've made millions off of him !

[windbreeze]

78. However....it was perfectly OK for me to have to see McCain/Palin's faces 400 times a day...

From August to November....when they actually said NOTHING I was interested in hearing....amazing, the double standards...let's face it, they are just afraid, he'll upstage them all...wb