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
Butt Out of Primetime, Prez: Networks
President Barack Obama speaks at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Calif., Wednesday, March 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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.
(More Barack Obama stories.)

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