CNN rejected 30-minute Obama ad; Fox News not asked (but will air on MSNBC)

[TeamJordan23]

CNN rejected Obama ad; Fox News not asked

Make of this what you will: CNN says the Barack Obama campaign tried to purchase airtime tomorrow night on the network to run its 30-minute primetime ad. The news network says it rejected the request.

From a CNN spokesperson:

We were approached by the Obama campaign and declined their request. We did not want to pre-empt our programming lineup with a 30-minute spot. We rather use our air to continue to cover the campaign, candidates and issues like we always do from all points of view with the best political team on television.

Fox News, sources say, was not approached by the Obama campaign. Sources point out that the ad is already airing on the Fox broadcast network. MSNBC, however, is airing the ad despite it running on its broadcast partner NBC.

Both news networks say they plan to cover the ad as part of their usual nightly news programming.

"CNN will cover it as a news story just like we do with all the other campaign ads," the statement read.

The Obama ad was first reported by The Live Feed. Yesterday the blog broke that ABC would not air the ad along with broadcasters CBS, NBC and Fox.

Unlike the news networks, ABC's reasoning was more influenced by long-term programming goals -- executives were initially hesitant to air an ad that pre-empted struggling show "Pushing Daisies." The network eventually changed its mind, but by then the offer was off the table.

http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/10/cnn-rejected-ob.html

[high density]

1. Campaign ad = news story

That says everything we need to know about CNN.

[depakid]

2. Wouldn't have mattered to me (or a bunch of my friends)- CNN's programmed off of our TV's

[FrenchieCat]

5. They only want to show us what they want us to see....

Kind of like when they promise to air Obama speeches, then say they will air it if something he says is news.....then they show two minutes of him speaking.....and then go back to regularily scheduled programming that shows full hour of McCain rally followed by Palin Rally.

[Cha]

16. It makes me wonder about who owns cnn and what their agenda

is..part of the Change we need is bringing our corporatemedia down and getting a Free Press..not bought and paid for like cnn.

[eshfemme]

3. Yay, now I know that I can tune in on MSNBC and watch the ad followed by the lineup

But WTF at CNN-- it's kinda dumb of them to not take the opportunity to be part of the newsmaking cycle AND making money from it, isn't it?

[Cha]

4. cnn can be left out

of history as far as I'm concerned..

[blueclown]

6. Glad to see that Faux News wasn't approched.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come and they are banned from the Obama White House.

[Apollo11]

7. I respect CNN's decision

In most Democracies it would be illegal for one candidate to buy TV airtime in a way that would give them an unfair advantage over their opponents.

If the situation were reversed, and it was McCain who had more money than our candidate, most of us here would be applauding CNN's stand.

[Apollo11]

8. I respect CNN's decision

In most Democracies it would be illegal for one candidate to buy TV airtime in a way that would give them an unfair advantage over their opponents.

If the situation were reversed, and it was McCain who had more money than our candidate, most of us here would be applauding CNN's stand.

[stillcool]

17. in most democracies a candidate..

wouldn't feel it necessary to buy air time to get fair coverage. FOX gives free air time to John McCain 24/7, CNN not far behind.

[FailureToCommunicate]

9. Except for a REALLY COOL interactive US map, CNN

has nuttin. Well, okay, maybe David Gergen on occasion...

[AzNick]

10. And Campbell Brown. She's nice to look at.

Otherwise that's it, I am done with this network.

CNN is going bye bye.

I am calling Dish tonight to ask them how I can remove them.

[Mike 03]

14. I can't stand that woman. I miss Paula Zahn. NT

[leeno]

11. now the west coasters don't have to wait 3 hours to watch!

great news about msnbc

[Politics_Guy25]

13. Hmmmm

So John Mccain gets a full hour of softball "what did you have for supper last night" questions on Larry King Live for the full hour and CNN refuses to air Obama the hour before???

OUTRAGEOUS. I'm so sick of this.

[MarjorieG]

12. Was CNN giving McCain rebuttal time, or since disproven.

[JamesA1102]

15. Yet CNN is giving McCain an hour on Larry King to rebutt

the ad that they are not airing. Really fair!