We speculated it was just a matter of time before one or more of the broadcast networks rejected the President's request for broadcast airtime and instead telecast it only on their cable networks. That time has come.
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 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."
via -The Live Feed.
Oooh, it’s on.
I can’t decide if this is a good thing or bad thing for Lie to Me. I guess we’ll see, but I definitely don’t see it coming in first this week.
Good Julia, we all know the on/off showing of Lie to Me caused its ratings slump.
Good on FOX, I guess they had the most to lose with Lie to Me dipping in ratings and it will give new viewers a chance to sample it. I wonder if it will affect ABC, CBS, NBC and The CW who will airing ANTM.
I liked LIE TO ME at first….but now I just think it’s ridiculous. So many of the scenes where the so-called “experts” figure out who’s lying are just too obvious, I could tell myself the person was lying. It just makes all the characters look like idiots.
I guess Fox was finally pushed over the edge. In retrospect, the last time Obama spoke was far more disruptive for them considering they had to shove both Idol shows back a day.
They are putting their foot down for Lie To Me? Hmmm… I dunno if that’s a real strong reason.
They always get decent ratings with Obama, why not just save an extra episode of Lie To Me for another week?
It makes no difference if they get “decent ratings” for Obama since they’re not generating any ad revenue from his speeches and his speeches are very poor lead-ins for the shows at 9.
‘Bout time. I thought this guy was a politician, not a celebrity wannabe. I don’t say this often, but good job Fox.
I’d be uber pissed if I had to miss LTM because of this media whore.
This can make a difference in the May Sweep race…
Are you being sarcastic, cool?
Chief, very true, but the audience will still be there for Idol. If Obama creates a good enough audience (maybe even better) than what Lie To Me generates, you have that much better a boost to Idol. Then save a new Lie To Me for another week.
I dunno, maybe my logic is off a little on this one, but I just don’t know why they went along with it last time with far greater consequences, but this time its somehow not worth it.
128boy, I agree about the rejection timing, but perhaps it was a matter of this being the straw that broke the camel’s back.
I’m glad Fox turned him down. How many press conferences does he need?
Bill, I think that has to be the only explanation. It doesn’t make sense any other way.
NBC, CBS, and ABC however have got to like this move simply because its on a Wednesday. CW is the only other net besides FOX that has something to lose in the 8pm hour.
Didn’t the last presidential address do about 4m on FOX, I guess Lie to Me is a stronger lead in for Idol than Obama although Idol doesn’t need a lead in strictly speaking.
Whew, I was really worried about missing those simpsons re-runs.
YES. I’m sick of his press conferences and maybe everbody else that is sick of them will give Lie to me a chance.
I for one respect him for being truthful and honest with America…Seriously guys chill out. Lie To Me is a good show though, and I actually respect FOX’s decision. I, actually, agree with the decision. IF viewers want to watch, they can tune in to one of the three other networks.
Not really Julia
I think this is good. While I support the idea of the President broadcasting these updates to us, I like the idea of limiting the # of stations he’s on. We don’t NEED to see it on EVERY SINGLE STATION every time he has an announcement. If it was something of dire importance or was important to national security or something then sure…put it on EVERY station. Otherwise, if it’s something we choose to watch or decide to wait to read in the paper/online the next day then we don’t need to be overtaken by the same annoucement on every station. That’s my opinion anyways…
We are still in the midst of the biggest financial crisis since the great depression and we are on the verge of world pandemic with the emergence of the swine flu, yet Fox thinks it’s a good idea to air “Lie to Me” and American Idol, instead of airing a presidential address to keep the nation informed…say what you about political loyalties and Fox’s insistence to show new episodes of “lie to me” to prevent viewership erosion, but there has to be a sense of civic duty to show the presidential address, when we have an emerging pandemic that could spread quickly and affect millions of people