Fox has made it perfectly clear that it's not going to cover any of Obama's primetime press conferences. Ever. Fox TV (not Fox News) has walked away from that traditional obligation. And if you believe the Village chatter, lots of self-centered execs s at the other nets would love to follow Murdoch's lead.

Press conferences are so boring, the suits complain, as they huddle over their primetime entertainment lineups which have lost tens of millions of viewers in recent years.

But now, with Obama set to address the full session of Congress on Sept. 9, to discuss the hugely controversial topic of health care, how will Murdoch defend his (possible) choice to stiff the White House again? How will Murdoch's 'network' justify turning its back on a plainly newsworthy event?

Question for the historians: Has a U.S. television network ever refused to carry a presidential address to Congress?