Susan Boyle gets prime-time TV, while Obama doesn’t
By ANIWednesday, July 22, 2009
LONDON - Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle has proven to be much bigger than US President Barack Obama, especially after a TV channel decided to air her show instead of the commander-in-chief’s during the prime-time slot.
Boyle, 48, will be making an appearance on TV channel NBC on July 22, even though Obama had asked producers for the prime-time slot to broadcast a press conference.
The President was told by American TV chiefs that he would have to wait, as Boyle came first for their millions of viewers.
Obama had announced on July 17 that he planned to hold a press conference at 9 p.m. US time on July 22, to explain his plans for reforming America’s private-sector health care system.
“The television networks normally comply, even if it is in prime viewing time. It can lose them ratings and millions of dollars in advertising revenue,” the Daily Express quoted a US TV insider as saying.
“But NBC dug its heels in and refused to push Susan out of the prime-time slot, so the White House just had to blink,” the insider added.
The President has now moved his press conference to the earlier time of 8pm, with three US networks, including NBC, agreeing to broadcast it live.
But afterwards Boyle’s pre-recorded interview will air in the main slot. (ANI)
