CNN Declines to Run Obama Commercial

TVNewser has obtained an internal CNN memo about tonight’s airing of the Barack Obama Political Message at 8pm. The special is airing on the four broadcast networks and one cable news channel, in addition to Univision & BET.

Unlike the broadcast networks CBS, NBC, FOX — and MSNBC and other cable networks — CNN declined to accept the Obama program length commercial. In response to press inquiries this is the CNN statement that was given. And so this can be used as well on our air and websites when reporting about tonight’s Obama program. We were approached by the Obama campaign and declined their request. We did not want to preempt our programming lineup with a 30-minute paid commercial program. We would rather use our air to continue to cover the campaign, candidates and issues like we always do from all points of view with the best political team on television.

But you can bet CNN will be recording the special and airing portions in its news broadcasts. The official statement from the CNN public relations department is after the jump…

CNN was approached by the Obama campaign and declined their request. We did not want to pre-empt our programming lineup with a 30-minute campaign commercial. We prefer to use our air to continue to cover the campaign, candidates and issues like we always do from all points of view with the best political team on television.

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