Networks pissed that Obama's "prime time"

Who knew? Networks are livid that Obama is, yet again, demanding prime time air for his latest address.

Next Tuesday Obama will interrupt regular programming on the Big Four broadcast networks, much to their chagrin.

"At a time when we're struggling not only financially but to build audiences, this doesn't help on either front," one network executive said. "These repeated interruptions -- and the rumor of even more to come -- really make it difficult to build audience flow and loyalty. We will all lose one or two million dollars for this."

This speech comes during sweeps and after a week of new lows in the ratings.

"I believe in the president and his policies, and as broadcasters we have a responsibility to provide the airtime," said another network insider. "But these frequent primetime requests are wreaking serious havoc with our schedule and our advertisers. Ratings are down everywhere and the airtime is costing us all significant dollars when we can least afford it."

>> Fox will move Tuesday's two-hour performance episode of "Idol" to Wednesday, and the Wednesday episode to Thursday at 8 p.m. That puts "Idol" against the mega-rated NCAA finals.
>> NBC will move Tuesday's two-hour "Biggest Loser" to 9 p.m., preempting "Law & Order: SVU."
>> CBS is dumping "Without a Trace" and moving "NCIS" and "The Mentalist" forward an hour.
>> ABC will cancel previously planned back-to-back episodes of "According to Jim."