Why aren't Netflix and Hulu preempting all streaming video with Obama's speech?

[Nye Bevan]

Wouldn't this encourage those who have "cut the cord" to watch this important speech?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

1. I like the way you think! n/t

[NaturalHigh]

2. Probably because their subscribers would be pissed.

[KamaAina]

3. Because Netflix and Hulu are not broadcasters.

Unlike network affiliate stations, they are not licensed by the FCC to operate in the public interest.

Nice jab, though!

[Cha]

4. Really? I think it's an ignorant "jab".

[KamaAina]

5. True, hence my reply.

But it did give me a chuckle.

[rudolph the red]

39. It's more of a satirical jab, not everything has to be a hair fire

[Nye Bevan]

10. Does this FCC license have a provision that requires them to preempt regular programming

whenever the president wants them to?

If so, it's appalling that they are violating the terms of their licenses.

If not, what's the problem? If you want to argue that in future broadcast licenses should have a provision for this, go ahead. But if not, they are free to show their regular programming secure in the knowledge that there are many ways for people to view the speech live.

[KamaAina]

11. The sum total of their public affairs programming is evaluated every seven years.

Carrying such a speech would earn them points. It is not required, but recommended.

[Nye Bevan]

13. Ah, suck up to the president or risk losing your broadcast license.

Yes, I understand that is how it works in quite a few countries.

[LawDeeDah]

41. It's not about sucking up to the Pres. It's about important information

for the people, but then, you are right, when the hell have the networks done That lately?

[Jenoch]

27. The public affairs programming requirements

to which you refer are for licensed broadcast stations, not television networks.

[KamaAina]

35. All the networks own many licensed broadcast stations

especially since the ownership limits have been relaxed in recent years.

[Jenoch]

37. Of course the networks still have O & O stations.

That does not usually reflect on the network operations.

The ownership relaxations happenened in 1996 and was the worst thing to happen in the history of radio bradcasting.

[Jenoch]

40. Yep.

The O&O stations are subject to the same regulations of all the other regulations. I don't know what your point is here.

[KamaAina]

48. My point is that broadcast outlets are fundamentally different than streaming websites

which renders the OP a false equivalency.

[Travis_0004]

24. The public wants to watch big bang theory and Grays anatomy.

Just wait until the ratings come out.

[Nye Bevan]

26. Apparently it's not so much a question of what the public *want* to watch

as it is what the public should watch.

[dsc]

6. because they aren't given, literally given, the right to print money that a broadcast licence is

[Nye Bevan]

12. But there is no formal requirement in the license requiring preemption for presidential speeches,

right? So this is some kind of unwritten rule, a moral obligation if you will?

[dsc]

14. they are given that licence because they are supposed to educate the public and serve the public

interest. And yes, covering Presidential speeches should fall into that.

[Nye Bevan]

19. That would be a very reasonable argument in 1972.

But in 2014, anyone who wants to watch the speech live can do so. Without every network preempting their programming.

[dsc]

22. not everyone has cable

Yes, many of us do but many others do not. The fact is tv stations suck at the government teat and should do something in return. Covering the rather rare prime time addresses of the President hardly seems like a big ask for such a valuable property.

[Nye Bevan]

25. PBS (nt)

[VanillaRhapsody]

34. wow I see ODS is still not curable....

[dsc]

45. I can only assume you are referring to my relatively rare characterization

what I meant is that Presidential primetime address, no matter who the President is, are relatively rare. It isn't as if networks are being asked to give up a half hour of primetime on a regular basis. I have had this position on Presidential coverage consistently. I think that the networks owe us for their free license coverage of news events.

[VanillaRhapsody]

46. I totally oppose their position.....but even a President Bernie Sanders or President E. Warren or

even President Hillary Clinton would get the same treatment I am afraid....

[dsc]

47. heck even Bush got this treatment

they have been equal opportunity greedy bastards. I agree this has pretty much nothing at all to do with who the President is.

[Doctor_J]

28. do you also believe that every radio station in the country should be required to

preempt their programming for the address?

[dsc]

30. frankly yes

[Doctor_J]

31. wow

That's all

[dsc]

33. again they get a humungously valuable licence for free, absolutely free

and they are asked to do one thing, only little thing, in return. Operate in the public interest and educate the public. His speech was maybe 15 minutes add in a 15 minute response and you have a half hour. Let's say this happened once a week. That would be a 1 in 336 ratio. Not exactly alot.

[Ykcutnek]

7. Keep toeing the line for the networks.

It will be nice to have some extra spending money during the holidays.

[RedstDem]

8. that would be because people are paying for that service

a lot of people could give a fuck about politics, actually more people don't care than do, so why force them to pay to watch it?

[Nye Bevan]

15. Well, many DUers just can't stand the thought of folks watching legacy network shows

during the president's speech. So they want not just one, but all 4 such networks to preempt such programming.

[Rex]

9. My guess would be because anyone that has used the internet for 5 seconds

notices a difference between their TV and a PC connected to the WWW.

[Nye Bevan]

17. Wow, with the 3 all-powerful TV networks, and my poll on the printed Yellow Pages,

DU is certainly showing its average age today.

[Rex]

20. Yes that is exactly what I thought when I read your OP.

But please do continue.

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. Go big or stay home! I want speakers at the top of each light post in America.

OR, better yet...

Stick some better graphics on this, and have Beyoncé or Kanye narrate it. The federal government SHOULD be able to control TV content When the President decides there is an important message He or She needs to get out.

[Nye Bevan]

18. And anyone who knows for a fact that their neighbor did not watch it

should turn them in for a whistleblower's reward.

[cherokeeprogressive]

21. What about cochlear implants? Beam it right to ya rather than turn neighbor against neighbor.

I'm also thinking that traffic lights should all turn red for the duration of the message, and that cash registers should go dark until The President is done speaking.

[DrDan]

23. Univision is preempting the Latin Grammys with the speech

darn

my brother is nominated and I wanted to watch the Grammys

[KamaAina]

36. I thought the speech came on right before the Latin Grammys

and what is tu hermano nominated for?

[DrDan]

42. producer for one of the entries - winner of the category!

(wish I could be more specific - but that would jeopardize anonymity)

proud of him for his win

[Android3.14]

29. Perhaps because we don't yet live in a dictatorship?

I'm putting this one in the box labelled "Questions to ask a grumpy nun".

[vi5]

32. Yes, and loyalty oaths while we are at it!

Force everyone to watch with their eyes preys open Clockwork Orange style!

[onenote]

38. Did Fox News carry it?

And if not carrying the speech means that the networks are showing their anti-Obama, pro-Republican bias, does it mean that if Fox carried it, they are "fair and balanced" now?

For what it's worth, my local CBS affiliate, owned by Gannett, showed the speech.

The decision not to show the speech was a business decision not a political one. If the networks had shown the speech, it would have been incumbent, based on common practice over the past several decades, to also allow the republicans to give a response. And that would have eaten up more time than the networks were willing to give.

[RockaFowler]

43. The NBC and ABC stations aired it in West Palm Beach, FL

[magical thyme]

44. I pay netflix xyz dollars/month for entertainment. If I rented videos at the video store

would you expect them to "pre-empt" rental videos by handing out videos of the speech instead of whatever I thought I was renting?

[ReverendDeuce]

49. Is this a joke? Are you serious?

"When dear leader speaks, all devices and smartphones and all content streaming services MUST carry his IMPORTANT MESSAGE!"

Imagine how outraged you'd be if it were Bush...