The most newsworthy story related to the incredible shrinking _resident's speech last night is that the three major networks didn't televise it live. It was billed as a very important speech, it was a prime-time speech, it was being positioned as one that would be carried by the networks -- just as the incredible shrinking _resident's recent embarrassing press conference was broadcast live. So what happened? Were they doing the White House a favor by NOT broadcasting it? Did Rove get second-thoughts? Or has the US electorate distrust, disapproval and disappointment in the incredible shrinking _resident soared so high that the networks are thinking about their own damaged credibility or more like their ratings? It was, afterall, one of the last "sweep" nights. It's the Media, Stupid.
CNN: When the White House requests the networks set aside time for a presidential address, it's unusual for them to refuse. But it's a difficult decision for the networks, forced to weigh the newsworthiness of the event, when it is left up to them. In that case, the three networks often take their cues from one another. Monday was one of the last nights of the May "sweeps" period, when television ratings are used to set local advertising rates.
Break the Bush Stranglehold on the "US Mainstream News Media," Show Up for Democracy in 2004: Defeat Bush (again!)
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/05/24/speech.tv.ap/
Networks pull plug on Bush speech
NEW YORK (AP) -- ABC, CBS and NBC decided not to offer live coverage of President Bush's speech about Iraq Monday, although the cable news networks planned to pre-empt their regular programming for the address.
Bush is to deliver the first in a series of speeches about the future of Iraq at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC all said they would carry the speech live.
The broadcast networks took an unusual amount of time to tell viewers their plans for Bush's speech -- ABC did not decide until Monday afternoon -- because the Bush administration did not formally request the time.
When the White House requests the networks set aside time for a presidential address, it's unusual for them to refuse.
But it's a difficult decision for the networks, forced to weigh the newsworthiness of the event, when it is left up to them. In that case, the three networks often take their cues from one another.
Monday was one of the last nights of the May "sweeps" period, when television ratings are used to set local advertising rates.
NBC had two editions of "Fear Factor" scheduled on Monday. CBS had season finales of its popular Monday-night comedies and ABC was showing the theatrical release "A Beautiful Mind."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Find this article at:
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/05/24/speech.tv.ap
SAVE THIS | EMAIL THIS | Close
Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article.