Fox, of all the networks, knows television is big business -- particularly when it comes to prime-time programming. After all, the network's American Idol telecasts almost always top Nielsen's most-watched lists. For the weeks ending March 13 and 20 in fact, that show's Wednesday broadcast was the most watched of all the network shows. American Idol's Thursday results show was the second-most watched. As well, Glee, House, and Bones also routinely make the top 10.

That's why Fox Nation's attack against President Obama deferring to another network's programming, and giving his Libya speech before the traditional start of TV prime time, makes not a bit of sense:

This is the same network after all that snubbed Obama for even its lower-rated shows. Back in April 2009, Fox's broadcasting network refused to air one of Obama's prime-time press conferences because it deemed Lie to Me more important.

So, Fox is saying that if Obama makes a speech in prime time, its broadcasting network may not air it, but if Obama makes a speech before prime time, its news operation will attack him for it?

The Fox Nation headline directed readers to a New York Times piece reporting on the White House's efforts to accommodate ABC's wishes in scheduling Obama's Libya speech. The Times reported:

[T]he Administration also recognized that some networks, like ABC, had important priorities of their own: the programs they had scheduled for prime time Monday -- like “Dancing with the Stars,” the second most-watched show on television.

After some friendly negotiations, all parties agreed to a mutually acceptable time: 7:30 Eastern, which meant the speech on the military situation in Libya could be delivered -- and analyzed -- in time for the fans of “Dancing,” as well as other scheduled network shows, to see the shows they expected to see at their regularly scheduled times.

[...]

A White House spokesman, Joshua Earnest, sent a statement by email:

“The White House routinely works with the networks, as a group, in circumstances like these to find a time that's respectful of both the networks and their audience -- while ensuring that the President has the platform he needs to deliver an important message to the American people.”

Indeed, in 2009, the White House repeatedly faced criticism for pre-empting prime time with Obama appearances. In February of that year, for example, as Obama prepared for his first presidential press conference, networks complained about the “preemptive strike.” A month later, they again were "grumbling" about another scheduled Obama news conference in prime time.

Each time it happened, the networks had to either shift everything or reschedule programming. Explained one TV industry insider: “Every time the president disrupts primetime, the networks lose another couple million dollars.” As the Washington Post reported, the first hour of prime time alone “could cost broadcasters more than $9 million in lost ad revenue.”

But Fox soon went beyond grumbling. In April 2009, the network refused to air Obama's press conference on the H1N1 virus in prime time, airing a new episode of Lie to Me instead:

The news conference comes at the start of a ratings “sweeps” months, where viewership is watched closely to set local advertising rates. Not only will Fox keep its advertising for the hour, it will offer the only broadcast entertainment program, potentially giving a boost to the new series “Lie to Me,” about a crime-fighting expert who can spot liars. “American Idol” follows “Lie to Me” on the schedule.

The Fox broadcast network was the most likely to have made this decision. Unlike ABC, CBS and NBC, Fox does not have its own news division to analyze the event. Even though the broadcast network is in more homes, cable's Fox News Channel traditionally gets more viewers for its coverage of these events than the Fox network.

After that first snub, Fox made it a habit of ignoring Obama's prime-time appearances. In July 2009, the network stuck with So You Think You Can Dance in place of the Obama presser. In September that same year, Fox again rebuffed the president for SYTYCD and Glee.

And it doesn't really matter if Obama is speaking in prime time or not. In March 2010, Fox News cut away from Obama's signing of the health care bill to cover a plane that “had no problem landing.” In the last week before the health care vote, Fox News broke away from an Obama speech on the issue to update viewers on former ESPN reporter Erin Andrews' “peephole stalker.” More recently, after spending a week attacking Obama over his Latin American “vacation” -- a trip meant to strengthen the United States' economic relationship with the region -- it didn't even bother to air his speech. Instead, Fox went with a rerun of Fox News Sunday.

As White House spokesman Joshua Earnest reiterated, the White House does indeed routinely negotiate with television execs. As the Associated Press reported in April 2009:

An executive at one of the three other broadcasters, who asked for anonymity because the conversations were private, said that network's executives had expressed concern to the White House about the frequency of prime-time news conferences and the financial sacrifice they were making in carrying the event. The executive said it was hoped the administration would show more flexibility in working with networks to find the best times to schedule the events.

For a network that has shown itself to be almost rabid in its attacks against Obama for supposedly being anti-business, this is quite a silly thing to criticize him for.