WASHINGTON: President Obama has scheduled a news conference that could cost broadcasters upwards of $10 million, according to Lisa de Moraes of the Washington Post. The president wants an hour of TV time starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, his 100th day in office. The time period is also included in the ratings for May sweeps. Most broadcast networks had planned to put up new original scripted series and were sent scrambling to change the schedule.
The press conference will make the president’s fourth one in three months. He’s appeared in prime time on Feb. 9 and 24, and on March 24.
As de Moraes notes, broadcasters aren’t obliged to carry the president’s press conference, but are reluctant not to given their public interest charter.President Schedules Prime-Time News Conference. Her coverage is posted at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/23/AR2009042304605.html.
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