Fox rejects Obama's request for airtime

[NYCGirl]

http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/04/fox-rejects-obamas-request-for-airtime.html

For the first time since Barack Obama took office, a major broadcast network is refusing to grant the president's request for primetime coverage.

Fox has issued a statement saying it will air regular programming (Lie to Me) Wednesday night instead of Obama's 100-day news conference.

"The Fox Broadcasting Company will not air the Presidential News Conference on Wednesday, April 29 at 8:00 PM (ET)," Fox said in a statement. "Fox's sister networks, Fox News Channel and the Fox Business Network, will air the press conference in its entirety. Fox will be alerting viewers with an onscreen graphic at the top of the 8:00 PM (ET) hour that the press conference is available on Fox News Channel and the Fox Business Network."

ABC, CBS and NBC have issued statements saying they will carry the president's telecast.

-snipped-

Obama's request falls inconveniently the middle of sweeps, though the choice of time periods has improved from prior requests. Aside from Fox, the other major broadcasters have low-rated programming in the hour. Fox won 8 p.m. with Lie to Me last week, and the show might see a bump Wednesday since competitors will not air their usual entertainment programming. (Also, with a live Idol results show airing after Lie, there's a chance Obama could have run over into 9 p.m. hour, though Fox could have elected to cut its news coverage short if that had happened).

[babylonsister]

1. Lie to Me? Never ever heard of that, and I surely won't be watching now. nt

[HopeOverFear]

2. it's a good show

very entertaining. Having said that, I will be taping it. :)

[Skidmore]

14. Lord, I don't give FOX any business, cable news or entertainment channels.

They are all blocked on my television.

[Drunken Irishman]

5. It's a ripoff of CBS' The Mentalist.

[Political Heretic]

3. That sounds fine to me, honestly.

[DrToast]

4. No biggie...

It's not like people won't be able to watch it. Plus, this is his third press conference this year.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. "Lie to me" - How appropriate is that for Faux News?

Even they do something right now and then.

[siligut]

9. Only they aren't talking about themselves.

I hadn't heard of the show, so I went to the website to check it out. I clicked on “faces in the news” because the face shown was Obama’s. As it turns out, most of the faces caught making “micro-expressions” were Democrats. Micro-expressions can indicate a person is lying or has an underlying emotion. Fox is sooo subtle.


http://fox.com/blogs/faces_in_the_news/

[Cha]

7. So they're worried about American Idol more

than the state of our progress and challenges marking the first 100 days of the Obama admin. You betcha.

[defendandprotect]

8. Olbermann is called it "Fixed News" . . . I think we should all complain LOUDLY . .. !!!

Not that I've ever watched Fox . . . who does?

[jberryhill]

10. They can do what they want on their entertainment channel

This isn't about the news channel.

[onenote]

11. note: the press conference will be on Fox News. It won't be on the Fox broadcast network

It will however, apparently be on the other big three broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS)

[Ilsa]

12. "Lie to Me" is what Fixed News regulars tell them. This is good, though.

Anyone wanting to hear Obama will have to hear the non-Fox commentators.

[democrattotheend]

13. If it were 24, I'd understand

If Obama's press conference were on Monday night I'm not sure what I'd want Fox to do...I'd want to see Obama's press conference but waiting an extra week for 24 would be torture.