Thread: Fox Not Airing Obama Press Conference

Fox Not Airing Obama Press Conference


DAVID BAUDER | April 27, 2009 06:26 PM EST | AP



NEW YORK — Fox became the first broadcast network to turn down a request by President Barack Obama for time, opting to show its drama "Lie to Me" on Wednesday instead of the president's prime-time news conference.

Fox will direct viewers interested in the news conference to Fox News Channel and the Fox Business Network, which will both carry it. ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and CNBC are all carrying the 8 p.m. EDT event, on Obama's 100th day in office.

This will be Obama's third prime-time news conference as president, a schedule that has caused some private grumbling among network executives. Carrying a news conference costs the four broadcast networks an estimated $10 million-plus in lost advertising revenue.

Yet with an economy in distress, two wars and now a swine flu outbreak, the pressure on networks to agree to Obama's request as a public service is enormous.

Executives at Fox, owned by News Corp., would not comment on the decision Monday. It's not without precedent for the network; Fox didn't carry a prime-time speech by President George W. Bush in November 2001 despite a request from the White House.

"I can't imagine it was politically motivated," said Shelly Palmer, industry analyst and host of "MediaBytes," a daily show about technology and the media. "I'm assuming it was financially motivated."

The news conference comes at the start of a ratings "sweeps" months, where viewership is watched closely to set local advertising rates. Not only will Fox keep its advertising for the hour, it will offer the only broadcast entertainment program, potentially giving a boost to the new series "Lie to Me," about a crime-fighting expert who can spot liars. "American Idol" follows "Lie to Me" on the schedule.

The Fox broadcast network was the most likely to have made this decision. Unlike ABC, CBS and NBC, Fox does not have its own news division to analyze the event. Even though the broadcast network is in more homes, cable's Fox News Channel traditionally gets more viewers for its coverage of these events than the Fox network.

An executive at one of the three other broadcasters, who asked for anonymity because the conversations were private, said that network's executives had expressed concern to the White House about the frequency of prime-time news conferences and the financial sacrifice they were making in carrying the event. The executive said it was hoped the administration would show more flexibility in working with networks to find the best times to schedule the events.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/2 ... 91954.html

Thank GOD!

Originally Posted by crazybird

Thank GOD!

GOOD! There will be a station to watch.
I refuse to watch him or the little lady.
They make my stomach upset.

"I can't imagine it was politically motivated," said Shelly Palmer, industry analyst and host of "MediaBytes," a daily show about technology and the media. "I'm assuming it was financially motivated."




LOL......I can imagine that it was politically motivated but either way, it just HAD to be a huge blow to that super infalted ego of obama's and you know it's just driving him nuts to know HE was rejected.

Common sense should dictate that we don't HAVE to see Dumbo Ears on every single channel available.
I won't be watching it - why sit there and listen to him brag about all his "accomplishments" in destroying our America?

Originally Posted by SicNTiredInSoCal

Common sense should dictate that we don't HAVE to see Dumbo Ears on every single channel available.
I won't be watching it - why sit there and listen to him brag about all his "accomplishments" in destroying our America?

Every time the TV shows are interrupted by this egomaniac,
I say, "Why doesn't someone carry good TV I bet people will go there."
I hope it works.
What's on FOX at that time? Anyone know?

Is he interrupting American Idol AGAIN?

It has always bothered me that the speeches are aired on every darn channel. I would rather watch something else.

Thank God for cable. I refuse to watch that idiot turning his head back and forth spewing out crap nobody wants to hear.l

Originally Posted by butterbean

Thank God for cable. I refuse to watch that idiot turning his head back and forth spewing out crap nobody wants to hear.l

I get fixated on that too. That's why I HAVE to switch channels.

Originally Posted by WorriedAmerican

Originally Posted by butterbean

Thank God for cable. I refuse to watch that idiot turning his head back and forth spewing out crap nobody wants to hear.l

I get fixated on that too. That's why I HAVE to switch channels.

When I read your posts the picture of Linda Blair in The Exorcist came into my mind.