XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX TUE NOV 28, 2000 21:04:29 ET XXXXX

REVEALED: NBC ORDERED AFFILIATES NOT TO CARRY BUSH SPEECH IN MEMO

The DRUDGE REPORT has obtained a written order issued by NBC to all of its broadcast affiliates which directed stations not to carry George W. Bush's speech -- delivered just hours after certification of the Florida Election results!

MORE

NBC ordered affiliates not to interrupt entertainment programming for Bush, the document shows.

The order caused complete controversy inside of NBC, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. Less than 24 hours later, NBC did break into its prime time entertainment programming for a speech by AL Gore.

"We blew it on Sunday night," said one senior NBC NEWS source in Washington. "We will not make that mistake again... sure, the perception is we favor Gore, we carried his speech, but not Governor Bush's speech. This was not a decision from NBC NEWS. This came from the network president. TITANIC cost a pretty penny, the feeling was that carrying Bush would distract from the impact of the movie."

NBC NEWS CHANNEL ADVISORY

---------ADVISORY----------ADVISORY----------ADVISORY------

Attn ALL stns:

(as of 9:19pm ET, 11/26)

Re: Bush statement anticipated between apx 9:30 - 10pm ET........

East, Centrl & Mtn stns:

will receive covg. w/in yr feed of Titanic ----- Stay there, do NOT fluke, ....you will be updated.....possibly on short tape delay.

Pac stns: must fluke (prior to 7pm PT) to K-2, trans 15 for MSNBC logo-less feed -----animation/graphic. (Coordinates/conditions likely to change post-7pm PT.)

Continue to monitor SkyRock and fluke terminals.

NBC NEWS WASHINGTON: 202- 885-4200

NBC NEWS CHANNEL ADVISORY

---------ADVISORY----------ADVISORY----------ADVISORY------

We expect certification of the Florida Election results sometime after 7:20 pm EST in Tallahassee.

If you are taking Nightly News at that time, you'll receive the certification ceremony as part of Nightly News.

If you are carrying the movie Titanic, please do NOT dump out of the movie, you will get an update from NBC News as part of the show later.

If you are not in Titanic or Nightly News, you can tune in to K2-15 for an optional anchored special report with Tom Brokaw.

News Channel is offering a separate clean feed of the ceremony no K2-16A for your use.

* * *

Developing...

----------------------------------------------------------- Filed By Matt Drudge

REVEALED: NBC ORDERED AFFILIATES NOT TO CARRY BUSH SPEECH IN MEMO

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), November 28, 2000

Answers

Oh my! I almost forgot my annoying 'siren'! :-)

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), November 28, 2000.

You mean the American Public was denied their "legal right" to watch him pretend he had been chosen president? Geeze, and all these people with only one station on their TV got to watch a blockbuster movie instead of being interrupted.

It had been broadcast all day that he was going to read the monitors for us, sweating as he was, blinking his eyes constantly as he told that lie to the nation. I am sure if anyone wanted to see it they would have turned the channel. Is there some law or something that people were required to see it? Reminds me of the book, 1984. But then Bush reminds me of the book "The Ugly American".

Even the REAL sitting president, Bill Clinton doesn't have the right to interrupt the normal transmission of television whenever he gets the urge.

After all, the show Bush put on came no where close to that in the movie.

-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), November 29, 2000.

In this case, I will agree...there was no need for them to interrupt the movie for the speech. Those of us who had any interest in it whatsoever were watching for it elsewhere.

I remember as a child having Presidents with thier boring speechs cut into cartons even. Is nothing sacred?

-- k. (k@a.n), November 29, 2000.