Fox says, 'No we can't' to Obama

  

Fox Broadcasting is taking a pass on President Obama's Wednesday news conference, opting instead to run a new episode of its crime drama "Lie to Me," starring Tim Roth. 

Although there won't be a lack of Obama outlets for viewers -- including Fox's cable channels Fox News and Fox Business Network -- when a broadcast network says no to a president it generates attention. Journalists are hyping that this is the first time in the Obama presidency that a broadcast network has turned down a request for airtime.

Of course, Obama's presidency is all of 100 days old and this is already his fourth request for airtime. Fox and other networks have been quietly complaining that all these requests for "free airtime" are doing little to stimulate their bottom line -- which, given the recession, appears to be a lower bottom all the time.

Still, there is a school of thought -- or used to be anyway -- that says since Fox Broadcasting has government licenses to operate its television stations, it should not be so stingy when the nation's leader wants a little time to speak, even if the press conference will be available on at least 10 other outlets. Although the press conference will be on Fox News, it will still give the left ammunition that Fox parent Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is against the current administration.

Getting a free pass from carrying the Obama press conference is the CW. But hey, that would mean preempting "America's Top Model," and no one should have to make that sacrifice for their country.

--Joe Flint

Photos: President Obama by Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune; Tim Roth asDr. Cal Lightman, "the foremost deception expert in the country," on "Lie to Me," by Frank Ockenfels / Fox

Comments

[Tim]

Gee... good thing the LA Times is so unbiased...nice article ending.

[brad]

I'm no fan of Fox News, but Fox Broadcasting is free to do as it likes in respect to its own broadcasting, I'd say. No real controversy here. Whatever.

[Brent]

Lie to Me, isn't that was he's doing anyway?

[John]

Let's try to keep the news article all in the same font next time shall we?

[someone]

what a shame on FOX! Let's not watch fox news any more. I think you should change the name to Republican news only instead of FOX. Please do that.

[Nancy A. Rudd]

What a bunch of partisan poor losers!

[Lisa]

Funny how many leftists out there either simply do NOT read the story or can't read...

FOX NEWS IS AIRING THE TELEPROMPTER READING.

not that any of you would be watching it on Fox. You'd much rather watch Chris Matthews get a tingle down his leg afterwards wouldn't you?

Thought so.

[jrincali]

Good its about time a station stood up to obummer and his goons spreading lies on the tv. There has been no positive Change at all. I was a fool for voting for this clown. If I could I would takemy vote back.

[Jack]

A pathetic attempt to stir up a controversy by Joe Flint.

[George]

Let me see if I got this straight...on Wednesday night all four major broadcasting networks will be showing something that has to do with lying to me...so why single out Fox?

[cp3]

Fair and Balanced?
Broadcasting... Pubic Service?

Hey Fox, here is a news flash for ya... This is America
To all Fox employees, to all republican Fox employees, have some guts and stand up to your boss.

Murdoch, you are a knucklehead, a billionaire knucklehead... it's concerning

[Sandman]

I find it truly entertaining that Faux Network, and all of its sleepwalking followers, never have anything positive to say about President Obama, and yet, let two murdering crooks leave office without a peep. Bush was no good from day one with Cheating the first election, Ooops I'm sorry.. The first and the second time he ran. But yet you sleepy heads don't get it... THEY T BAGGED THE UNITED STATES!!! And yet you sleepy heads just stand around in your PJs and scratch your butts..... The time to get mad and do all of this crap was for the past 8 years, RESET YOUR ALARM CLOCKS.... YOU'RE LATE AGAIN.

[Deo9res]

All of 100 days and people are sorry they voted for Bam. Too left for ya, huh?

[xoites]

Time for Fox News to have its White House Press Passes pulled. It does not report the news anyway so no harm done.

[Jack Silver]

I like how this is not news but rather literally the lack of news. I bet there will be a lot more articles that say what Fox covers that CNN does not, what MSNBC covers that CBS does not. I mean hey, why stop at one editorial- ahem- I mean news article about a lack of coverage when there's so much more to cover about networks not covering what other networks have. This could be interesting, like a kind of network cold war. I can't wait to not see how it ends.

[bgoeke]

I don't care for politics but I must say Democrats are bunch of whiny little things seriously 10 other networks are covering the stupid thing why should everyone suffer to listen to a bunch of people who live in a bubble talk about making policy for everybody else who live in the real world. I didn't vote for Obama but I support him in what he does but why does he need a National audience to validate himself if he does his job properly he shouldn't need to keep spewing his empty promises of change and false hope. I get it but he just the same as every other politician the only people who believe he is any different are people who want to be fooled. But back to my point I shouldn't be forced to listen to something I don't care hear. I will still have my life to live long after this era of politicians have come and gone. So please everyone let's act a little more mature and show each other some respect and first and foremost respect yourselves.

[sattlerreader]

Spreading lies? Really? You're complaining about Obama spreading lies? Where have you been for the last 8 years? Obama's news conferences actually give us information about what's going on in Washington, have you seen any of the Bush's news conferences?Almost every one is a crash course on political spin and downright "that's classified" evasion. Fox complaining about a "bottom line" is BS. They're just trying to make a political point. Providing hard core conservatives with something else to watch because god forbid the conservatives see past their myopic interests and actually try to listen to what Obama has to say. All the same, FOX will always be FOX, they'll continue to do things that seem to piss off everyone but their fan base. Who cares. Let them be. Obama's our president and nothing they say will change that. And all you neo-cons, suck it up, we did, for eight horrible years.

[james]

Way to go fox. You are braking away from the oboma tyranny. Free at last, free at last. This is why fox will always be number one in my book. Free enterprise and capitalism is what made us great, and in 100 days Oboma is working to destroy what you still represent. Thank you for doing what is right

James

[Pearl]

HOORAY FOR FOX!

[Anthony]

They have every right to pass on airing the press confernce, not to mention, they're airing it on their news channel. It's a non-issue, but I'm sure the left will blow this out of proportion.

[billy]

Fox is now officially my favorite channel!

[Wondering]

Does anybody know what "CW" stands for?
Thanks. LATimes assumes we know ~

Lie to Me is GREAT television and on hulu.com too.

[Kipper Mathews]

Nothing they do surprises me anymore.
Faux news not a news station...It's entertainment, just like Pro wrestling.
My life long boycott of faux news will never waiver.
The farther they fall, the better I feel.

[db]

The speech is at 8pm Eastern time. Fox's decision to stay with its 8pm show impacts only the east coast.

[carrie larkin]

I'll be watching Fox because I actually like American Idol and am very gratful its not being delayed.