A top liberal advocacy group is lambasting ABC , NBC and CBS for deciding to not air President Barack Obama 's primetime address on immigration Thursday despite running a 2006 primetime address by President George W. Bush on the same issue . MoveOn.org blasted the networks ' phone numbers and Twitter handles Thursday in an email to supporters , urging them to lobby for a live broadcast . Obama is expected to announce sweeping executive actions to reform the immigration system and shield millions of illegal immigrants from deportation . `` [ People ] should make the choice whether they want to tune in or not and not have it preempted by network executives , '' said Justin Krebs , one of the group 's campaigners who organized Thursday 's push . And while Obama 's speech will announce policies that will affect millions , Krebs said Bush 's speech was `` much less sweeping . '' Bush laid out his vision for immigration reform in a May 2006 Oval Office address that the three networks carried live in primetime . He called for mobilizing 6,000 National Guard troops to the southern border and offered a series of proposals that he urged Congress to put into legislation . `` While President Bush 's discussion was important , it was ultimately a pitch , '' Krebs said . `` This is actually something that 's really directly affecting millions of people . '' Krebs added that he `` absolutely '' believes MoveOn.org 's efforts to mobilize supporters could prompt network executives to change their minds on airing Obama 's speech . A CBS News spokesman declined to comment , citing a policy not to discuss editorial decisions . ABC and NBC did not respond to requests for comment . READ : What to watch for in speech . Univision and Telemundo , the two Spanish-language networks , announced they will air the President 's address live . Administration officials informally indicated to the networks that they would like to get prime airtime for Obama 's roughly 10-minute address . The White House did not make a formal request after the networks appeared unwilling to air the President 's speech live . While the Bush speech aired on a Monday night in May 2006 , Obama 's speech comes at 8 p.m. on a Thursday night -- one of the most-watch TV nights of the week . CBS will be airing the Big Bang Theory , ABC will be airing the Grey 's Anatomy 's mid-season finale and NBC will air The Biggest Loser during Obama 's 8 p.m. speech from the East Room of the White House . The three primary cable news networks will join Univision and Telemundo in carrying the President 's speech live .
Obama will deliver a speech on immigration tonight . Liberal groups are upset broadcast networks wo n't carry the speech . Networks aired a speech from George W. Bush on immigration .