ABC Jumps Too Late On Obama's 'Buy'

ABC finally offered Sen Barack Obama's camp the 8 p.m. half-hour in its Wednesday lineup for his campaign-related program -- which will air at that time on the other major broadcast networks. But, in an ironic twist, the Democratic presidential candidate's campaign passed on ABC's offer, saying it has allocated the funds elsewhere. ABC, which has spent the gross national product of a Third World country trying to relaunch its three struggling Wednesday sophomore dramas, originally offered to sell Obama's campaign other time slots on other nights. That way it wouldn't have to preempt one of its hour-long shows to make room for Obama's 30-minute telecast. But the Obama camp passed, hoping to create what's called a "roadblock" across broadcast TV. A viewing roadblock occurs when all the broadcast networks air the same program simultaneously.