| Topic Name: |
Networks and The President's Speech |
| Message Name: |
RE: White House Strategy |
| Date Posted: |
04/29/2005 |
| In Reply To: |
I think this whole thing was orchestrated by the White House to protect Bush and make the networks look bad. They scheduled it at 8:30pm initially hoping the networks would balk and that it would only be available on cable. That way fewer people see "Dub" and they can bash the networks. I think the nets put a lot of pressure on the White House to make the switch to 8pm so they can salvage their schedules. May is the last major ratings period until November so it's critical for the networks and for the local stations. Bush's strategists made a major miscalculation. |
| Message: |
They pulled it back to 8pm because, initially, ABC was the only broadcast network that planned on covering it.
FOX, NBC, and CBS all had competetive and fresh programming scheduled in the 8pm and 9pm hours and weren't going to cut-in to show just half of each hours' programming. NBC and FOX also have cable channels that also offered coverage.
ABC, on the other hand, had "Sweet Home Alabama" scheduled. They chose to cut the movie and cover the president not out of respect for his request but because it's the first night of sweeps and doing so allows them to throw the night out.
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