News & Politics - Networks Pull Plug on Bush Speech

migamoo · 05-25-2004, 10:37 AM

From Cnn.com

Quote:

Networds pull plug on Bush speech

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 Posted: 1:25 PM EDT (1725 GMT)

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."

Personally, I find it ammusing. Even the networks are tired of Bush.

Timeo · 05-25-2004, 10:57 AM

I just find it hilarious that Bush got shafted for Fear Factor.

The Happy Psycho · 05-25-2004, 11:05 AM

I can't remember which network, maybe my CBS affiliate, but one of them carried it. I know it was on of those networks because those are the only channels I get.

relaxi_cab · 05-25-2004, 09:27 PM

ha i was watching CTV newsnet (Canada) and they were showing it , but they cut it off kinda. It was amusing. I don't think anyone really cared anyways, or watched for that matter.

ros2nz · 05-26-2004, 06:36 AM

relaxi cab - hi. Btw, what's the Evanascence song you quoted in your sig? Sounds cool.

***Raonaild*** · 05-26-2004, 07:04 AM

It's funny, I normally don't watch Bush's speeches, but CBC Newsworld ran the entire thing and I was too lazy to change the channel. I don't think it would've been worth the networks' time to air that particular speech in the middle of prime time. It's not like there was anything particularly new or noteworthy that couldn't be said in a 30 second news blurb, rather than a live nationally-televised speech.


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