It's Bam TV: Barack Obama Buys a Half Hour of Prime Time on CBS, NBC

By Richard Huff and Michael Saul
Daily News Staff Writers

Barack Obama is about to be must-see TV.

The Democratic presidential nominee has purchased 30 minutes of primetime TV on CBS and NBC for a massive infomercial that will be broadcast six days before Election Day, sources familiar with the deal told the Daily News. A spokesman for the two networks declined comment.

The primetime special will air Oct. 29, a Wednesday, at 8 p.m. According to sources, the campaign is also in discussions with FOX and ABC. There are complications with finalizing the FOX deal, a source said, because the Obama show could conflict with Game Six of the World Series.

The Obama campaign confirmed the purchase of the primetime slot, but aides refused to provide any information about the cost or the content of the show.

The ad buy on the two networks would cost an estimated $2 million, industry insiders say.

Obama has already purchased national commercial time on CBS, currently running day and night on all of the network's shows, including sports programs. In the past, the Obama campaign's ad buy on CBS was targeted exclusively to news programs.

A presidential candidate buying national airtime is not unprecedented. In 1992, billionaire Ross Perot, who ran for the White House as an independent, famously bought a 30-minute infomercial as part of his failed bid.

The primetime purchase offers Obama a high-profile venue to deliver his closing argument to voters. The McCain campaign did not have an immediate comment.

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