CBS Defends Scrubbing Anti-Bush Super Bowl Ad (despite objections)

[kskiska]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CBS on Wednesday defended its decision not to air an ad attacking President Bush (news - web sites) during Sunday's Super Bowl telecast despite objections from some U.S. congressmen who called the move an affront to free speech.

Rep. Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, sent a letter co-signed by 26 other congressmen to CBS President Leslie Moonves on Wednesday criticizing the network for refusing to run the commercial from activist group MoveOn.org, that criticizes Bush over the rising U.S. deficit.

The network rejected the MoveOn.org ad based on its policy against "advocacy advertising," which it said was designed to prevent those who could afford to advertise from having undue influence on "controversial issues of public importance."

The Viacom Inc. -owned CBS network defined the term as having "a significant impact on society or its institutions, and is the subject of vigorous debate with substantial elements of the community in opposition to one another."

Ads for this year's Super Bowl are costing an average of $2.3 million each to air on television's most-watched event.

more…
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=638&ncid=762&e=2&u=/nm/20040129/en_nm/media_superbowl_bush_dc

[PartyPooper]

1. And, they refused to air the Reagan movie, too.

Go figure!

:eyes:

[DemoTex]

2. CBS

Blocked. I don't need them. They don't need me. Simple.

[countmyvote4real]

5. Let CBS know that you've blocked them, too.

I've done the same to my remote. Goodbye Raymond. Goodbye 60 Minutes. Goodbye Letterman. (That's a tough one.) Goobye... I guess that's about it.

Personally, I'm limiting my Viacom blackout to CBS because I still want to see The Daily Show on Comedy Central. Is it wrong to boycott a division vs. the entire company?

[truthisfreedom]

6. i contacted cbs today, told them i refuse to watch their broadcast network

i'm through. i don't need any of their crap anyway.

[farmbo]

12. How does one Block a channel from a cable system?

If its easily done, we need to post instructions and get them to MoveOn.org.

[banana republican]

3. REVOKE THEIR LICENSES TO BROADCAST ON PUBLIC AIRWAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The People own the air waves and lease them to (Crap Bullshit & Sedition e.g. CBS) eom....

[tridim]

4. "substantial elements of the community in opposition to one another"

I'd buy that except the MoveOn ad demonstrates a fact, and is not a matter of dispute. CBS brass is censoring the ad because it tells the truth about the deficit. Period.

On edit: Substantial elements of the community are opposed to alcohol consumption, shouldn't they pull all the beer commercials too?

[rodbarnett]

7. Press Release: CBS Statement on Advocacy Advertising

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Given the misleading and inaccurate statements offered to the media and the public in recent days, it is understandable why there is confusion over the CBS Television Network's longstanding policy against advocacy advertising.
The policy is decades old. It is designed to prevent those with means to produce and purchase network advertising from having undue influence on "controversial issues of public importance." From the Network's perspective, we believe our viewers are better served by the balance and perspective such issues can be afforded within our news programming.

This policy applies only to Network advertising, not to the local time of individual stations affiliated with the Network. As such, it is therefore also intended to promote and protect localism. Local stations we own, as well as CBS affiliates owned by others, are free to accept or reject such advocacy advertising for their own air based on how they believe such decisions serve the public interest in their communities.

Conflicts over the policy are also decades old. The Network has rejected hundreds of advocacy ads over the years ranging from Mobil Oil and W.R. Grace Company submissions to ads on all sides of issues from gun control to abortion to the North American Free Trade Agreement, to name just a few. We have found that people tend to agree with the policy when they disagree with the thrust of the ad, and vice versa.

Suggestions have also been made that we are violating our own policy by allowing the airing of messages that aim to curb drug abuse and smoking by minors. CBS is unaware of responsible groups that advocate drug abuse and smoking by minors, so it is hard to understand how these laudable efforts would constitute "controversial issues."

In recent years, a cottage industry has arisen among groups that submit advocacy ads that they know will be rejected. They then resort to press releases and Internet diatribes about the rejection to reap considerable free media attention and financial contributions to support their cause. Editors and potential contributors beware.

The one constant is that CBS's policy is simple, clear, published and available to anyone who asks. A copy of this written policy follows.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040128/nyw155_1.html

[truthspeaker]

9. marijuana consumption is a contraversial issue of public importance

But they have no problem airing the Gestapo PSAs demonizing weed.

[tabasco]

21. Good point.

It makes me angry to see those idiotic ads equating smoking pot with terrorism. Maybe it would make some people angry to see the huge deficits critcized. Same damn thing. CBS is full of crap.

[hang a left]

10. I truely don't see how use drugs=support a terrorist

is not an advocacy ad. I don't remember drug ads directed to minors, as I remember they were directed to all of the freedom hating Americans out here.

[Just Me]

14. How come they don't run a similar ad showing corrupt corporations,...

,...and how their practices ultimately support terrorism, human rights violations and rogue regimes? Aren't those practices ever more grave than the petty pot-smoker?

[hang a left]

17. Or at least be correct in their supposition.

like Use Drugs Support the CIA and Paramilitary and Black Ops and Clandestine Services.

[Just Me]

18. I gotcha.

My point is, a more accurate "advocacy" ad (which they claim they do not run *LOL*), one with far more direct evidence,..."connecting the dots", so to speak, would include the cogent and vastly damaging consequences of corrupt corporate practices!!!

[metisnation]

8. Librul Media

Why did they deny moveon's ad about Bush.....ding ding ding... you are correct the media is not left.

[noonwitch]

11. Maybe they can get ABC to broadcast it during the NHL All-Star game?

Or save it for the Stanley Cup finals in June-it'll be that much closer to the election, then.

[bif]

13. They want to keep FCC legislation going their way

n/t

[splat]

15. alternative

If MoveOn is smart, they'll buy the first ad on the new Survivor All Stars that begins right after the Super Bowl.

[bspence]

16. Couple things

1) They never address the hypocrisy of airing an anti-drug ad from the White House. That's an ADVOCACY ad, CBS! There are some of us who enjoy our drugs!
2) The only ads (and made for tv mini-series) they seem to be blocking are left-leaning.

[HootieMcBoob]

19. What's left leaning about MoveOn.org's ad?

The only reason they could possibly find for it's being controversial is that it criticizes Bush's policies. What responsible organization could be for outrageous deficits that are going to have to be paid back by our children? It's political censorship pure and simple. Call them up and clog their switchboards.

[Mandate My Ass]

20. I called and emailed

They're directing calls now to a voicemail that asks you to leave your comments about the network's moveon.org censorship (my word, not theirs) decision.

[plcdude]

22. Tobacco

ads are advocacy ads that inform. The deficit is real and high risk of death is real in tobacco use. This is not rocket science.

[abelenkpe]

23. all ads are

advocating something. It is hypocritical of CBS to ban only the two ads from PETA and MoveOn.org. I thought CBS claimed to be fond of capitalism? I can see no reason for turning down any advertisement from parties wiling to pay CBS's outrageous fee. This is censorship and I don't buy their lame justifications. Encourage all your friends and family members to write and/or call CBS. And then don't watch the superbowl....no matter how painful it might be. It will be the first time I don't watch, but I think it is worth it.

[EV1Ltimm]

24. That's fine.

But, so help me god, if i see one ad that kisses bush's ass, cbs is getting the verbal wrath.

[xxqqqzme]

25. if it an ad from a fat

rethug corporate contributor, it IS kissing squatter's ass.