WELCOME WORN OUT - AT 7:44 A.M. ET:  The president will address the nation on the evening of the 24th, which is next Tuesday.  The TV networks are not pleased:

Networks are pulling their shows over to the side of the road to make room for the lights and sirens of president Barack Obama's latest primetime address.

Obama will take to the air next Tuesday evening on four broadcast networks and bump the most popular series on television, Fox's "American Idol"...

..."At a time when we're struggling not only financially but to build audiences, this doesn't help on either front," one network executive said. "These repeated interruptions -- and the rumor of even more to come -- really make it difficult to build audience flow and loyalty. We will all lose one or two million dollars for this"...

..."I believe in the president and his policies, and as broadcasters we have a responsibility to provide the airtime," said another network insider. "But these frequent primetime requests are wreaking serious havoc with our schedule and our advertisers. Ratings are down everywhere and the airtime is costing us all significant dollars when we can least afford it."

COMMENT:  Note the obligatory, "I believe in the president and his policies..."  Nothing quite like a network insider fearful that his name might get out.

If I recall correctly, when President Bush addressed the nation, some of his speeches were carried only on the cable systems.  He did not get automatic network time.  But, of course, he wasn't The One.

March 19, 2009