As this excerpt notes, I had also read that the press conference originally would be at 9pm Eastern, but now it’s scheduled for 8pm. That takes NBC off the hook from pre-empting a new America’s Got Talent. I wonder how and why the time was set and then changed. NBC (and perhaps ABC) balked at the 9pm time, so the White House moved the time to 8pm.
CBS, NBC and ABC say they will televise the press conference from president Obama Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET. Fox will not be airing the conference and will be sticking to its previously scheduled episode of So You Think You Can Dance. That is the same plan the networks had for President Obama’s last primetime presser in April. Fox’s cable news outlets, Fox News Channel and the Fox Business Network, will air the press conference in its entirety.
The conference was originally scheduled for 9 p.m., which would have preempted the most popular summer programs on both NBC (America’s Got Talent) and Fox (So You Think You Can Dance).
via Broadcasting & Cable.
For some background here are the aggregate average viewership numbers from the president’s last 3 prime-time news conferences:
Feb: 9: 49.5 million
March 24: 40.4 million
April 29: 28.8 million
This press conference, being in mid-summer, is likely to cost the broadcasters a lot less than the $21.5 million ad revenue estimated for the April one.
I am going to take a chance and keep commenting open. If I have to spend a lot of time moderating the comments though, I will turn it off.
Fox is showing it on a number of other channels. I like the idea. They are in the business to make money, so why not. If I recall, last time they showed an episode of Lie To Me which did really well. They have news channels for a reason and this is one of them.
doug, Fox did in fact go with Lie to Me vs. the April press conference. It had a 2.4 18-49 demo rating vs. a 2.3 the prior week (which was not against its typical competition), so it’s hard to say the show got a big benefit, but it certainly didn’t suffer. More importantly for Fox in April, was preserving the lead in that night for American Idol.
This is a non-story. 3 other broadcast networks are airing it, 4 if you count PBS which will likely air the news conference. Fox will carry it on it’s 2 cable channels; as will CNN, MSNBC, etc. There is no need for a Presidential news conference to be carried by 97 different networks. 1 would suffice, even 2 or 3 is excessive.
Is the press conference going to last an hour or should I plan to add a lot more time since I’m taping a lot of shows that night? Mainly AGT, I don’t want to miss anything. I work nights so I’ve to judge so I’m looking for advice if you kept the lenght of President Obama’s previous conferences.
Josh: Best to add more time, just in case. I think it is supposed to be an hour but, on the off chance of over-run, good rule to just tag onto the back if you can.
As for time shift of conference, well, this link might have some helpful fill-in-the-blank info about that.
http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/07/cbs-obama-news-conference.html
As for me, I’ll just do what I usually do — skip it. I’ll read the transcript, if I think it is important, sans talking heads and self-important, ego-inflated alleged reporters and knowledgeable pundits, and make up my own mind.
Nightstar, thanks for the heads up, I missed that earlier today. I will link it in the main post.
@nightstar
“….and self-important, ego-inflated alleged reporters and knowledgeable pundits….”
I think you meant to say “self absorbed pundits”?
Perhaps the only irony that compares to the reams of nonsense espoused, on air and in print, by self absorbed pundits dissecting every nuance of style and syllable uttered is the fact that even when showing identical programming NBC will still get the worst ratings.
When are those two muppets at the top of that Network going to be made to walk to plank?
Bill
Can we start a topic called Cramer Conflicts?
Pointing out times that Jim Cramer has contradicted himself, perhaps points could be awarded for the time difference between the original statement and the conflicting statement as well as the scale of the error.
i.e. “Nails is a financial Genius”….”Nails files for bankruptcy” 3 weeks conflict 200 points, scale of error 300 points.
or “Keep your money in Bear Sterns”…..”Bear Sterns shares collapse 92% in 10 days”. 2 weeks conflict 400 points, scale of error 1000 points.
You get the idea
I realise it’s not mainstream to the site but could be seen as a fun diversion that is kind of TV related!!
>>> Is the press conference going to last an hour or should I plan to add a lot more time since I’m taping a lot of shows that night?
Given the reluctance of the networks to carry this press conference (and the ensuing time change), I can’t see it overrunning much.
The networks would have a fit if it did considering their programming, and the White House would likely have an even tougher time getting coverage the next time.
The press conference will probably last 56 minutes, and he’ll answer 13 hand picked
questions from the fawning press. Somehow I imagine that fox will not be called on.
Pretty standard pitch for socialized medicine, and I’m certain he’ll mention some
personal story of a desperate individual suffering under private health care.
The shtick will be predictable, with a desperate call for immediate action, to stave
off impending disaster. What the man will not say, is that Americans categorically
reject Socialism, and future projections are astronomical, with the burden falling
on the states, who will in turn have to raise taxes, or face huge penalties imposed
by the federal bureaucracy. Government participation will drive private insurers
out of business, leaving government the single payer. He will not mention that the
bill will have no public input, and republicans were left out of the process.
What exactly is he going to be giving a press conference about? If it’s just health care, I don’t think very many people will watch.
Just Health Care? Really? You don’t think people care a lot about restructuring our health care system.
Kevin, might want to get a little news outside the republican echo chamber. Republicans have obstructed every step of the way, and didn’t even bother to come up with a real plan of their own.
Don’t forget about the CBO reversing most of their pronouncements about the cost of the Congressional bill later Friday night.
Seems reasonable to me. Only one network actually needs to show it, that three are is a bonus. This also seems to be an area the industry could look at in terms of use of their digital subchannel services.
Kevin – I suggest you look up the term “socialized”, it doesn’t mean what you think it means. The Obama proposals are a rather limited extension of what we already have: it’s still going to be the awful employer-mandate based system we already have, with a few tweaks around the edges to deal with some of the more extreme problems to deal with the presently uninsured and the issues with pre-existing conditions. It’s not only not the extremist proposal Republicans are pretending to be, it’s barely qualifies as reform to begin with.
These press conferences don’t have the same pull they used to it seems…
How about only show the press conference on one channel? Then the next time another channel will cover and so on and so forth. That will ensure fair play since at the current rate of 7-8 per year and 24-32 per term should equal out so shows won’t get lost and money can be saved so that networks can plan ahead. A majority do have cable shows are the internet so they can still catch President Obama somewhere if they wish.
That was Easy!!
need to edit A majority do have cable shows are the internet so they can still catch President Obama somewhere if they wish.
A majority of people do have cable so they can watch it there and they have the internet so they can still catch President Obama somewhere if they wish.
hopefully a good edit..its bedtime
Does anyone doubt the obvious reason why FOX isn’t airing this press conference? I’ll give ‘em a pass on some previous conferences. But healthcare? In this economic climate that Conservative deregulatory policies created? Even Faux News can no longer spin the truth. Empty slogans like “fair and balanced” and waving American flags in the lower corner no longer work in the real world. President Obama tells it like it is and Fox is too scared to man up and play with the big boys. Wanna good laugh this summer? Turn on Faux News. It’s funnier than anything on Fox, Nbc Cbs or Abc. Cowards.
gbd, I suggest you read this: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/who_caused_the_economic_crisis.html
It seems that no one party is to blame. And please, don’t act like the other news channels don’t spin either.
On topic, I’m glad Fox declines (although I wish they would air something other than Dance). We don’t need this on every channel. I like the suggestion someone else made, the networks should take turns airing these press conferences.
Will ABC air Wipeout @ 9 tomorrow or are they going to stick with Japanese Game Show?
yea Wipeout will be on at 9 and Japanese Game Show will be on at 10.
As soon as support for the immediate overhaul of the health care system went south last week, I knew Obama would call for a prime time chat with the American people. He is becoming way too predictable.
My question is this, will there be equal coverage on this issue? Say, Obama talks for one hour on Wednesday night and on Thursday night at the same time doctors and nurses etc give their assessment of the situation. Such hasty action is imprudent and one should look at both arguments for and against it. For some reason I doubt there will be such a dialogue with the American people.
I am starting to think of these conferences as bully pulpits.
I have about $3-4k credit card debt.
No savings.
I support my taxes being raised for the good of the community.
I watch more TV than anyone I know.
None of that is Reality TV.
I love that Obama calls press conferences like this routinely. I think every president SHOULD. So one hour of one week of TV gets interrupted. Cry me a river.
If anyone works in an office, they understand how even if the schpeels are predictable, a quarterly meeting saying how the company is doing is always beneficial to the moral of the workers. A little hurrah, a little ‘hears where we’re at: problems and plusses’. It helps.
I think it’s sort of dumb that no president before him let the people know what’s going on routinely like this.
FOX News will be airing it. What difference does it make anyway? 3 channels or 4? Who cares? From a business stand point FOX is smart. Press conferences dont generate much in the way of ad dollars, because there arent any while its going on.
Its just another dog and pony show by Obama with hand picked people to ask questions friendly to Obama. With support for the plan and Obamas overall approval dropping he is desperate to ram a healthcare bill through before its too late.
Ad Dollars schmad dollars.
FOX declining is just a deliberate slap in the face to the country. FOX News clearly is against Obama, and their main television station declining to air his conferences backs that up completely.
Seriously: So You Think You Can Dance season umpteen episode umptyseven is more important than the state of the country?
For shame, FOX. For shame.
why do they hate me so?!?!?! it’s a vast socialist-right-wing conspiracy i tell ya!
Oh please, FOX is airing the whole thing on FOX NEWS, God, some people are dense. And if you count all the cable news outlets this thing will be on several stations all at once.
So Eric, what difference does having the same thing on 4 broadcast networks (AT THE SAME TIME) make vs. only 3? None.
Besides, anyone who needs to find out about the proposed sham healthcare plan via this press conference must be too dumb to read a newspaper or turn on the tv news.
Where is the opposite side of this issue? Why is only President Osama’s views that get multi network coverage? Networks should be required to give equal time to the plans opponents. Then again, dissent is only favored when a Democrat isnt in the Whitehouse.
It’s funny how many people are quick to slam Fox News as “blatantly against Obama” when in fact FOX NEWS IS STILL AIRING THE NEWS CONFERENCE. How hard is that to understand? Fox and Fox News work independently of each other. “Fox” is a network broadcast station designed to provide entertainment programming supported by ad generated revenue. “Fox News” is a cable station designed to provide 24/7 news coverage supported by ad generated revenue. For the love of God, please tell me you all are able to see the difference?
My DVD Players will be working as usual on Wednesday Evening. Haven’t watched an evening of either Broadcast or Cable TV since October of 2006.
Fox News is a cable channel not a broadcast channel so there is a difference. Those who do not have cable and are limited to broadcast signals, especially in rural areas, are having their opportunity to watch the conference lessened.
Sorry for interjecting some sense to a senseless discussion.
“So Eric, what difference does having the same thing on 4 broadcast networks (AT THE SAME TIME) make vs. only 3? None.”
Principle.
FOX is stating they don’t care, they care more about themselves and their precious $ad revenue$ than they do about the state of the country. They should give the president the respect he deserves.
God forbid So You Think You Can Dance get’s pushed back an hour, or a week, or they air two in a row next week, or any number of things that could happen to ensure their crummy, moronic, reality tv shows still are viewable by the public.
The whole question of why so many networks have to air the same press conference is nothing new. I’ve wondered about this since I was a kid watching Ronald Reagan. There are 4 major networks, right? Have them draw straws or some other way of randomly selecting the network that shows it. Next time, the three remaining networks that didn’t air it do the same thing, and so on. Repeat once all networks have aired it. I doubt they would ever agree to such a plan but logically speaking this makes the most sense.
As far as the Cable News Networks go, all of them should air it. To not would be to defeat the purpose of what they’re designed to do- cover the news on a 24 hour cycle. To ignore a President’s primetime news conference (regardless of how many he has given in the past) would damage their creditability.
>> FOX is stating they don’t care, they care more about themselves and their precious $ad revenue$ than they do about the state of the country.
If the press conference hadn’t been moved, it’s quite likely only CBS would have carried it, so *NEWSFLASH* the other nets were just as concerned about their revenues. Without the time change, it’s quite likely that all the networks running new programming were going to tell the White House to stuff it.
FOX has one less hour of primetime, and a two-hour show to fit in Wednesday, so their options were a bit more limited than the other networks.
>>> There are 4 major networks, right?
There’s also PBS, as well, which does coverage.
I think it’s sort of dumb that no president before him let the people know what’s going on routinely like this.
Eric, they do. For instance, every Saturday, the POTUS addresses people on the radio. Additionally every day the WH has press conferences, and something is occurring that has the president speaking to reporters etc. To suggest that the only time the POTUS speaks to the people is on prime time television is naive.
I love that Obama calls [prime time TV] press conferences like this routinely. I think every president SHOULD. I disagree. It is actually pretty foolhardy and unnecessary. If one overuses a curtain form of communication it loses a) its novelty b) its sense of importance. Furthermore, one runs the risk of overexposure, which in turn makes the overexposed person the poster boy owner of the issues at hand. Finally, the POTUS may face the wrath of the American people who would rather watch a more obvious mode of entertainment.
Oh and of course it is not good for the networks either. They need money in order to continue their broadcasting and keep people employed you know…
Anyone want to guess the numbers for the latest Presidential address? The trend seems to be going down. I’ll guess 25 million or less.
I’ll be interesting to see if So Think You Can Dance gets a ratings bump or not.
25 million???!?! LOL wow!!
I think the networks will be lucky to get 4-ish million a piece, with cable rounding up the remainder.
I agree, no chance does it does 25 million when April’s did 28.8. I’ll guess 18 million average viewers with all networks combined.
How about a quick contest, closest without going over, on combined viewers from the networks, kind of like the Burn Notice fun a while back? Not sure what the winner could get… maybe 3 cheers? An NBC frisbee? CBS hat? ABC toy microphone?
I will guess… 13.6 million total from the aforementioned nets.
Oh, and Bill, glad to help out
@craiguk, in regards to –> I think you meant to say “self absorbed pundits”?
Actually, I meant to put “knowledgeable” in quotes as sarcasm but my fingers failed to get the orders from the brain. Still, your suggestion/correction fits my thoughts quite accurately, thank you very much.
Just looking for information, does anybody have any stats on how many of George W.’s press conferences Fox declined to air in order to show whatever their regularly scheduled program was?
My guess would be none. Especially since George W. didn’t do that many prime time presidential adresses.
All news conferences should be broadcast on PBS ONLY. Every single television in America receives at least 1 PBS station. PBS stations will be used in the event of a national disaster, and that is why almost any TV set can receive some sort of PBS broadcast with a wet noodle for an antenna.
Actually, that is not quite true, ScottSanders. It is supposed to be that way but in the area I live PBS does not cover it with anything approaching consistency or quality either in television or radio. At best it has come across as grainy color, at worst… nothing but snow. More often the latter than former. Like cell phone coverage, there are gaps. Over-the-air channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.) have the same problem in this area. Cable or satellite is the only way to get it where I live and I don’t watch enough television of any kind to justify the cost of that.