Rawstory: NBC affiliates won't air MoveOn oil ads

[Bleacher Creature]

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/MoveOn_to_target_four_GOP_House_0403.html

NBC affiliates have rejected MoveOn.org ads targeting 4 Republicans for voting in the interest of big oil, RAW STORY has learned.

The $1.3 million ad buy, which MoveOn calls the first in a series, will target four Congresspersons in competitive districts. Representatives Chris Chocola (IN-2), Thelma Drake (VA-2), Nancy Johnson (CT-5) and Deborah Pryce (OH-15) will be the first hit. All four voted against giving the U.S. Department of Justice authority to prosecute oil companies for alleged price gouging.

According to the National Republican Congressional Committee, NBC affiliates in Columbus, OH and Hartford, CT have refused to air the ads.

<SNIP>

Funny how they never refuse to air GOP attack ads. Anyone else getting a little tired of this crap?

[Jane Austin]

1. When is somebody going to sue them for this discrimination?

n/t

[WhiteTara]

29. Soon I hope

any lawyers in the group who want to be the biggest of heros? Here's a prime opportunity. Step right up, now is the time to come to the aid of your country.
:patriot:

[saigon68]

33. No Problem with he SLEEZE BOAT LIES THO $$$$$$$$$$

[DUHandle]

35. I think this is some goodness left over from the Reagan Administration

There used to be a policy of "equal time" on any media outlet, which the R.A. did away with.

[DUHandle]

38. link

http://www.answers.com/topic/fairness-doctrine

[muntrv]

2. Remember,

GE, the company which polluted the Hudson River, owns NBC.

[LibMan11]

3. What does NBC have to say about this...

or do they have a new spokesman organization.

According to the National Republican Congressional Committee, NBC affiliates in Columbus, OH and Hartford, CT have refused to air the ads.

I guess I'm kinda stumped as to why this is coming from the NRCC, and not NBC. ???

[ClassWarrior]

19. Good point. I'd feel more confident in this report if the source was...

...NBC or MoveOn.

NGU.

[KurtNYC]

37. Here is more of the story from WaPo

The affiliates say they would be responsible (liable) for the content of the ads since they are from a third party and not GOP/DNC (?!). So are they responsible for the content of that book "Natural Cures THEY don't want you to know about" ? I think not. On the bright side this is less money for NBC affils:

Even though two stations rejected them, the ads are being aired by other stations in all four markets. The 30-second spots running for 10 days starting Monday accuse the lawmakers of taking money and then voting against bills that would penalize oil companies for price gouging.

Jean Nemet, a spokeswoman for WCMH in Columbus, said local stations are responsible for the content of ads paid for by third parties, and not the campaign. WCMH executives consulted with their lawyers before deciding not to run the ad, she said.

Move-on executive director Eli Pariser said the stations "are claiming the ads are misleading without saying what is misleading about them."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040301391_pf.html

edit to add: Here is some fun (from the same article):

Another congresswoman, Johnson (R), planned to answer the Move-on ads with ads of her own. That prompted Move-on to say it would increase its Connecticut ad buy in response.

[AX10]

4. DAMN IT! Why is it that only ads from the left are censored???

:wtf:? I hate NBC with a passion and I don't watch. :argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:

[Rex]

5. Sorry but the MSM is a Bushbot mechanism.

They WILL be held accountable for their crimes, along with the murderous regime. I can wait to see assholes like Bill O'Lielly in a courtroom for aiding and abetting war criminals! Laugh, but the day will come!

[dchill]

28. As long as O'Reilly, and FOX in general...

have ANY credibility, then MoveOn will not. Neither will any news organization that treats truth as news. The corporate controlled media are not BushBots - he's just their current flag-bearer. When his goose is cooked, eaten and the carcass gets set out with the garbage, the news media will live on. Unless they are regulated and forced to do their real job... News.

[nashville_brook]

6. didn't realize gasoline price gouging was left vs. right thing

this is an amazing display of brazen corporate interest trampling democracy. the airwaves belong to the people, dammit.

wouldn't it be nice to have an FCC or congress that cared...

[lindisfarne]

7. Be worth starting a letter writing campaign to local news channels of

other stations -- the moveon.org ads will be played for free when they mention NBC refusing to play them!

[cantstandbush]

15. Better still, a letter campaign to the voters in the districts of those

Congresspersons.

[mctrotter5]

8. Seems simple, boycott the stations and products they air ads

for and then write and tell them that is what you are doing. They had no problem running Swift Boat ads if I recall.

[MinneapolisMatt]

9. OMG I'm SHOCKED!

:sarcasm:

[rpannier]

10. Because ads from the left are angry and mean spirited

faux news and joementum will tell you that. Kinda like that United Church of Christ ad. The one that talks about including everyone -- ANGRY! ANGRY! MEAN SPIRITED!
While ads like the ones produced by the swift boat veterans are kind, pleasant with lots of singing and dancing and cute little bunnies and flowers.

[caligirl]

11. call in campaign, lock up the lines

[greekspeak]

12. This suprises you? That whoring GE that owns NBC is in DEEP w/ShrubCo

The "war in Iraq" is a big money earner for GE, the parent company of NBC. It should suprise nobody that their affiliates refuse to air disagreeable ads. But God forbid America see 2 seconds of a nipple or someone on the NASCAR circuit says SHIT. Welcome to AmeriKKKa, land of the quasi-free, home of the couch potato brave.

[Writer]

18. This was not a GE/NBC decision.

It was a local station decision not dictated by NBC Universal. CALL THE LOCAL STATION.

[mwooldri]

34. The Hartford, CT NBC affiliate is NBC O&O.

In otherwords it may be a local station but it's owned by NBC Universal.

As for the Columbus, OH station, it is in the process of being sold (if it hasn't already) from NBC to Media General.

Mark.

[anotherdrew]

13. time to bring hell to these media monster, this is an in-kind donation

to the republican party, nothing more or less.

America needs to turn off the god damned TV, sitting watching that god-damned idiot box has ruined this nation.

[midnight]

21. It is one heck of a mega phone ........

for those who have the power, and money.

[Ignis]

23. WE all know that, but...

How can we legislate to enforce equal time? The current laws obviously leave huge, gaping holes and are impossible to enforce. I say public funding for public elections, but until that time, what is a good step in the right direction?

[Zorra]

14. No surprise. Our Corporate/Totalitarian State media propaganda

machine has to make sure that the one party state remains in existence until the possibility of regaining democracy in the US is fully eliminated.

[boobooday]

16. Really, the company that owns the biggest defense contractor

Won't run ads that criticize their sugar daddies?

My solution to this would be to say that media companies can ONLY be media companies -- not defense contractors, or brewers of scotch. Also, we must reinstate limits on ownership, and break up these media cabals.

[Writer]

17. Guys, please don't make the mistake of thinking this was a network...

decision. It sounds like the sales and programming departments of these two local stations decided not to air the ads. For appropriate advocacy CALL THE LOCAL STATIONS NOT NBC in order to file complaints. If you call the network they won't be able to help you.

Thanks! :hi:

[mzmolly]

20. NBC Affiliate Phone: Columbus ~ 614-263-4444 ~ Hartford [phone]

:hi:

PS I found the numbers online and have not called yet today, so I hope they're current.

[Bandit]

22. If this were a GOP attack ad it would be on 24 hour news shows

constantly as newsworthy but I doubt it will even get a mention. Damn Liberal Media.....

[rman]

24. Translation: General Electric won't air MoveOn oil ads

http://www.nowfoundation.org/issues/communications/tv/mediacontrol.html

[npincus]

25. Did NBC affiliates air the Swiftboat LIARS' ads?

did they? I know MSNBC cable shows gave them plenty of FREE publicity.

[BigBearJohn]

26. Simple fix: MoveOn asks its members to send protest mail to NBC's sponsors

[iconoclastNYC]

27. Email contacts for Columbus station

General Manager --- [e-mail]

VP Sales ---- [e-mail]

[caligirl]

31. my email said.......

With GE refusing to hear an opposing voice to anything President Bush might get his nickers in a twist over you are in affect preventing Americans the right to excercise their constitutional rights. Your community is home to many who disagree with Bush and GE and deserve to hear and see the move on ads. Stop being a stooge to a President with a 38% and dropping approval rating. GE should not stand in the way of a democracy for and by the people. GE is not acting in a responsible fashion and is interferring with the publics right to know.

[WCGreen]

30. What was the name of that Media Company that was going

to run that Swiftboat infomercial....

I believ they had an affiliate in Columbus...

Perhaps it is this guy who owns the station....

[NorthernSun]

32. FCC

The networks and affiliates are both using public airwaves and by law must do public service. Sounds like that is what Moveon is doing. Maybe a few thousand letters to the FCC would threaten their licences.

[Po0Oi9]

36. FactCheck Article

Controversial $1.3 million ad campaign attacks four Republicans for stance on price-gouging legislation.