Donald Trump to interrupt major TV networks for ‘important’ announcement

Donald Trump is poised to interrupt primetime TV schedules to make an ‘important’ announcement regarding conflict in the Middle East, as per reports.

It’s been almost five weeks since the United States and Israel launched joint air strikes on Iran as part of ‘Operation Epic Fury’ on 28 February.

According to US President Trump, US military action could continue for another ‘two or three weeks’, with the 79-year-old confirming there ‘could be a deal’ between Washington and Tehran before then, as per the BBC.

“We've set them back 15-20 years. They have no navy, no military, no air force,” he alleged.

Trump’s comments were made ahead of a scheduled address to the nation, which is set to impact the East Coast’s evening TV schedules on Wednesday evening (1 April).

US President Donald Trump is set to address the nation on 1 April (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)

The interruption, set for 21:00 ET (02:00 BST on Thursday), will see the Republican providing US denizens with an ‘important update on Iran’, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Deadline reported that this 20-minute address will be carried live by all four major broadcast networks in the United States, including Fox, CBS, NBC and ABC.

The outlet said that the networks were given no more than 24 hours’ notice.

East Coast TV interruptions

The businessman’s broadcast will interrupt the two-hour season finale of The Masked Singer on Fox, with the winner being crowned 20 minutes later than originally planned.

The two-hour Survivor special, which begins at 8pm ET on CBS, will pause for the address and resume immediately after. It will complete at 10.20pm ET.

A new episode of America’s Culinary Cup will then air from 10.20pm to 11.20pm on CBS. Both channels will then cut to local news.

Meanwhile, Trump’s address will delay the start of Chicago Fire on NBC by 20 minutes.

As a result, Chicago P.D. and local news have been pushed back to start times of 10.20pm and 11.20pm, respectively.

CBS and NBC’s late-night slate will also be shaken up, with The Late Show and The Tonight Show starting at 11:50 PM ET.

Broadcasters have pushed back show start times and relaced episodes entirely as a result of the scheduled address (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)

Deadline added that ABC will run repeats of The Greatest Average American and Shark Tank at 9pm ET and 10.01pm ET, respectively.

The first 20 minutes of The Greatest Average American will be cut for the address, with viewers able to join the episode once Trump has finished speaking.

This will allow local news and reruns of Jimmy Kimmel Live to stay on schedule, the outlet wrote.

If you’re on the West Coast, then there will be no primetime or late-night disruption, as Trump’s address goes to air at 6pm PT.