TV networks tiring of primetime Obama news conferences

Executives at the big four US broadcast television networks are seething behind the scenes that President Barack Obama has cost them about $30 million in cumulative ad revenue this year with his three prime-time news conferences. Now top network executives quietly are hoping that Fox's decision not to air Obama's April 29 news conference will serve as precedent for denying future White House requests for prime airtime. "We will continue to make our decisions on White House requests on a case-by-case basis, but the Fox decision gives us cover to reject a request if we feel that there is no urgent breaking news that is going to be discussed," said one network executive, who, like all, would not go on the record fearing repercussions from the Obama administration. Another network executive confided, "Nobody wants to take on the White House, so we'll have to tiptoe through this." Although Obama's post-election visits to "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and "60 Minutes" were major ratings boosts, the love affair between the networks and Obama might be cooling: There are too many demands, and too much money is at stake. Even more irksome, the White House is bailing out bankers, insurers and carmakers, but nary a nickel has gone to the media industry which has cut costs and lay off staff.