# The Obama Show faces cancellation **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 8, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802 "2009-05-08T23:07:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802/81 "2009-05-11T22:57:39Z")
It was a Wednesday, right? I don’t watch TV at all on Wednesdays unless I’m on MSNBC or Comedy Central or maybe sports. There’s definitely nothing I want to see on the networks. I am actually more likely to watch an Obama press conference than any give thing on TV, although I missed the last one. There has to be some people like me who might not have watched TV at all and still tuned in for the President. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802/82 "2009-05-11T23:28:43Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > IMO, the viewership declined sharply because the last two didn’t have a focused message. This was the second time the President came on TV with nothing to talk about. While the President has made a brief opening statement during each of his press conferences, they are exactly that – press conferences, an opportunity for the news media, on behalf of the American people, to ask questions of the President and get answers. The President is not asking for a primetime slot to make a pre-written and rehearsed speech from the Oval Office. That would be more appropriate for impending war or space aliens. He is simply putting himself in front of the press and the people, and allowing them to determine the agenda (with the understanding that he calls on specific, pre-selected news organizations). If the networks aren’t getting the interest they require, they should try asking better questions. I seem to recall three of the four major networks being called on during the most recent press conference. Of course the networks have the right to choose not to cover the press conferences – Fox has already made that decision. But I appreciate the opportunity to hear the President answer questions on a variety of topics. It’s the next best thing to sitting down with him and asking him questions myself. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802/83 "2009-05-12T03:26:18Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > But regular television programs don’t air on multiple networks simultaneously, either. Yeah, but this isn’t 1963, when airing on two or three channels simultaneously would cover most of the nation. He’s competing successfully, as is shown by his numbers against the ratings powerhouse that is FREAKING _AMERICAN IDOL!_ [aside]Really? That many people watch _The Mentalist?_[/aside] ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802/84 "2009-05-12T04:06:01Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > It was a Wednesday, right? I don’t watch TV at all on Wednesdays unless I’m on MSNBC or Comedy Central or maybe sports. There’s definitely nothing I want to see on the networks. I am actually more likely to watch an Obama press conference than any give thing on TV, although I missed the last one. There has to be some people like me who might not have watched TV at all and still tuned in for the President. - raises hand \* ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802/85 "2009-05-12T04:30:15Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > If the networks aren’t getting the interest they require, they should try asking better questions. I seem to recall three of the four major networks being called on during the most recent press conference. > . They aren’t getting paid for the air time so there is nothing in it for the networks. That’s why it’s traditionally been limited to the State of the Union and major events. There are plenty of paying outlets the President can use. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802/86 "2009-05-12T05:13:17Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > They aren’t getting paid for the air time so there is nothing in it for the networks. That’s why it’s traditionally been limited to the State of the Union and major events. There are plenty of paying outlets the President can use. Let’s try this again: they’re not getting paid for the air time, but _they’re not required to show the press conference!_ Someone upthread mentioned that a network may not want to seem the only “unserious” one that doesn’t cover the PC, but that’s simply another factor in a given network’s cost/benefit analysis. The networks have, up until this point, decided that they _do_ benefit from showing the PCs. If at some point they decide to stop showing them, it’ll be because they reevaluated the costs and benefits, and that’s their prerogative. No one is forcing them to do anything. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802/87 "2009-05-12T11:51:44Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > They aren’t getting paid for the air time so there is nothing in it for the networks. That’s why it’s traditionally been limited to the State of the Union and major events. There are plenty of paying outlets the President can use. And this is the problem with network news (including cable) today. The news isn’t supposed to be profitable. The news is a public service. The media aren’t supposed to be chummy with the politicians. The relationship there is supposed to be adversary…the media is supposed to be keeping an eye on them for us. The whole news “industry” has become a vacuous sac of shallow ratings-grabbery in the last 30 years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802.md?page=4)