White House hits TV networks for skipping immigration address

The White House is exasperated with the major broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC -- for skipping out on President Barack Obama’s primetime address on his executive actions on immigration.

“In 2006, Bush gave a 17 minute speech that was televised by all three networks that was about deploying 6000 national guard troops to the border. Obama is making a 10 minute speech that will have a vastly greater impact on the issue. And none of the networks are doing it,” a senior administration official said. None of the major networks want to take time away from their primetime programming for Obama’s 8p.m. speech. So the Administration did not send out a formal request to the networks and took to Facebook to publicize the speech with a special video message from President Obama along with a link to the livestream. To be sure, the media landscape is a much different place now than it was in 2006. Smartphones and tablets that could play a livestream were nearly nonexistent. Facebook was barely a few years old. Nevertheless, the White House resents the networks' new calculus. Univision and Telemundo will broadcast the speech live. Univision is even delaying the Latin Grammys broadcast for the speech. CNN, MSNBC and Fox News will also air the speech live.