CNN says no thanks to Obama half-hour

By James Hibberd

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - CNN has rejected an attempt by the Barack Obama campaign to purchase airtime for its primetime ad Wednesday night.

"We did not want to pre-empt our programing lineup with a 30-minute spot," a CNN spokesman said Tuesday. "We'd 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."

MSNBC is planning to air the ad along with its broadcast partner NBC. Sources said Fox News was not approached by the Obama campaign.

CNN and Fox News said they plan to cover the ad as part of their usual nightly news programing. "CNN will cover it as a news story, just like we do with all the other campaign ads," it said.

The Obama campaign's unusual purchase of a half-hour of primetime has generated considerable curiosity about the ad's content. "Saturday Night Live" mocked the ad last week, sight unseen.

NBC, Fox, CBS, Univision and MSNBC will carry the ad in full. Fox will air the ad as lead-in to the disrupted conclusion of Monday night's World Series game, which was halted after six innings because of rain.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter