MoveOn Ad rejected by CBS

[worldgonekrazy]

http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=39590
CBS Rejects Anti-Bush Super Bowl Commercial

A CBS spokesman said the decision against broadcasting the spot had nothing to do with either the Super Bowl or the ad's specific issue but was because the network has had a long-term policy not to air issue ads anywhere on the network.

A MoveOn spokesperson said the group hopes to appeal the decision within CBS.


"the network has had a long-term policy not to air issue ads"...my ass! How about those absolutely ridiculous anti-drug ads saying that you support terrorism by buying pot? THOSE are issue ads, yet CBS (and every other network) happily airs them. What is the difference here? I think our children will be more harmed by Bush's reckless deficits than by smoking some reefer.

Anyhow, this is a call to action. Everyone who disagrees with this blatant act of political censorship ought to call, fax, or email CBS and let them know that you are not happy. I would say that we should all boycott the Superbowl but if my Patriots make it I simply have to watch. Of course, CBS doesn't know that so I still lied and told them I would boycott! ;)

Here is some contact info for CBS that someone else was kind enough to provide in a thread yesterday (before it was known the add was rejected):

CBS Television Network
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

Main Number:
[phone]

GIVE A HOLLER! We must make some noise so hopefully the story of the censorship will catch on and get MoveOn a lot of free publicity!

[Must_B_Free]

1. I like censorship on TV

Otherwise it would all be crotches in your face.

if they don't want to air the ad, what's the big deal? It's a private company isn't it?

[Cleita]

2. If they do it will be the first time they refused money for principle.

I think they better come up with a better excuse or tell the truth, that they got their orders from above and that they must follow them.

[Webster Green]

4. What's so bad about crotches in your face?

??????

[Eric J in MN]

15. The airwaves belong to the public. If a company which is loaned space

The airwaves belong to the public.

Companies who are loaned the right to broadcast on a certain band have a responsiblity to promote public debate, not to stifle it.

Why should one company get to decide what ads people view coast to coast during a Super Bowl?

Maybe the solution is an anti-trust law in which only local affiliates can make advertising purchasing decisions.

[Logansquare]

26. Thanks for reminding everyone of this--the airwaves are actually "ours"

You wouldn't know it from the recent actions of the FCC. Jesus, Newton Minow was right, it has become a "vast wasteland."

[Bush loves Jiang]

16. Hey Joe Lieberman...

Welcome to DU...

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

20. "It's a private company isn't it?"

You're kidding, right?
Tell me you're kidding.

The airwaves are supposed to be public. Every time I get into a conversation with various Republicans about the media and how we're not getting our message out, they always say "well then buy some time on a network and say what ever the hell you want to say."
Now, it seems, our side can't even buy time on the air.

[ringmastery]

3. you do know

that if CBS agreed to air the ad, some conservative group would buy time to balance. They have all the money in the world.

The Super Bowl is an escape. No need for politics.

Also, there's a difference. The drug stuff are PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS. I think CBS and local stations air them to keep their broadcasting license, so they are broadcasting for the public good or stuff like that.

[worldgonekrazy]

7. Really?

I think you are wrong. There are a lot of people that do not support the War on Drugs, myself included. So why is it that I have to be subjected to ads that not only support the war on drugs but also make ridiculous assertions like saying that smoking pot supports terrorism?

Try again.

[Bush loves Jiang]

17. Bullshit...

If you think the letting the Drug Gestapo spread their propaganda as truth is a "public service", I have some stock I'd like to sell you in Auschwitz, Mr. Bush.

[Cha]

5. Thanks for the info...these are the censors who

bowed to pressure on the "reagun miniseries", too.

Then Showtime aired the miniseries and it went on to garner Golden Globe nominations!

[wuushew]

6. Does anyone have a list of commericals that will air?

Because if I see another ad on how smoking weed caused someone's kid to drown I am not going to be happy.

[worldgonekrazy]

8. You can count on it

But...but...that is a "public service ad" whereas informing the public that the next generation will have to pay off a trillion dollar deficit is a "political issue." Doesn't that make sense? :eyes:

[Cat Atomic]

9. This could be an opportunity to point out corporate media bias.

We need to put the question out there: why won't the corporate media show an ad that criticizes Bush's policies?

I'm sorry, but their answer is bullshit. If it were true, they would've dismissed MoveOn's offer at the beginning.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

10. The Corporate Media has decided NOT to allow Democratic Groups on TV

So, what are you going to do about it? Write a letter? :eyes:

Why the hell would a Corporation like Westinghouse/CBS allow a grassroots organization of a bunch liberals buy TV time anyway? You think they paid politicians millions of dollars for that spectrum to sell it to their enemies? You call them whores - they prefer "successful business people".

This is what plutocracy looks like. Wait until Bush finishes selling our country to the Communist Chinese regime.

[guitar man]

11. You're right

I am sure they were ready for the call/email/letter writing befor they even made the announcement.

If we really want to screw with them,what we need to do is bombard their affiliate stations with people who want to inspect the public file that is maintained at each station. It is the law that they maintain this file and allow members of the general public to inspect it.


If enough folks showed up at one time,it could cause them a major headache. :)

[LeahMira]

18. I'm not sure...

... how this would connect with their decision and I'm not sure how they would make the connection, but I definitely like your thinking.

:yourock:

[guitar man]

23. I doubt seriously

We could change their minds about the Move On ad,but we sure could be a pain in the ass. If every time we are marginalized by the networks,they know a bunch of us are going to show up at their affiliate stations with our DU t-shirts on to inspect the public files,maybe they will think about what they are doing next time.

[ContinentalOp]

19. What does this mean?

"If we really want to screw with them,what we need to do is bombard their affiliate stations with people who want to inspect the public file that is maintained at each station. It is the law that they maintain this file and allow members of the general public to inspect it."

What does this mean, how do we do it and what are we looking for? Sounds fun :)

[markus]

21. Its called teh day book

and it lists all of the advertisers.

They have to show it to you if you ask for it.

It's considered polite to call first, or you might find yourseslf sitting in their waiting room most of the day waiting for it.

Campaign regularly check these to see who's buying what.

[guitar man]

24. it doesn't matter

what we are looking for,it is just the simple act of going in,taking up space and time on something thay must comply with by law.

A good use of this time may be to look for spots and psa(public service announcements) that DO deal with issues,since their lame claim seems to be that they don't run spots dealing with issues.

Basically,it would be just being a pain in the ass because the law says we can.

more info.

http://www.fcc.gov/eb/broadcast/pif.html

[tom_paine]

12. The world has indeed gone krazy

And we are rapidly becoming the New Soviet Union.

So many things that cannot be spoken of on the airwaves...so much of the media is indirectly or directly under Imperial control...

Sure, I called CBS. They shuttled me to someone's voice mail. Who undoubtedly will take those 1000 or so messages and push "delete".

My God, do I hate living in the New Soviet Union, and it isn;t even halway towards transitioning from a Free Country into Orwellian Empire.

And yet, it is my country. I bleed red, white, and blue for the Old American Republic that my grandparents fled Commie Russia for. The idea of it is so magnificent. I cannot get used to the idea that it is gone...perhaps forever (though I am still holding out for a miracle).

:(

[DicklessCheney]

13. CBS still feelin heat over Reagan miniseries. n/t

[Military Brat]

14. Welcome to DU, DicklessCheney

Whoa, what a moniker :)

:hi:

[spanone]

22. I'm sure the unbiased FCC chairman Powell will step in and intervene.

[banana republican]

25. ANYONE HAVE THE HOME PHONE NUMBER OF THE CEO???

I can't wait until tomorrow....

He need to wake up and smell the coffee.