NBC Rejects "Thank The Troops" Advertisement
NBC Rejects Ad From Conservative Group
Dec 7, 3:45 PM (ET)
WASHINGTON (AP) - NBC has rejected a TV ad by Freedom's Watch, a conservative group that supports administration policy in Iraq, that asks viewers to remember and thank U.S. troops during the holiday season.
NBC said it declined to air the ad because it refers to the group's Web site, which the network said was too political, not because of the ad's message.
"Anybody in the world who would look at this ad would come away with nothing other than we should be thankful for their service," Freedom's Watch president Brad Blakeman said.
The spot was to be part of a seven-figure campaign that includes newspaper ads and television commercials. The ads are to run on CNN and Fox News Channel and are running in various newspapers. The New York Times ran a full-page Freedom's Watch ad Friday that said "Thank You!" and depicted a soldier reading a letter. The newspaper ad also contained the Web site address.
Alan Wurtzel, NBC's head of standards and practices, said the network decided not to run the Freedom's Watch ad because the group insisted that the spot contain the URL address of its Web site.
The group's home page links to another Freedom's Watch Web page that lists nonprofit organizations that are sending care packages to soldiers and that suggests other ways of expressing support.
It also contains a welcoming message that states: "For too long, conservatives have lacked a permanent political presence to do battle with the radical special interests groups and their left-wing allies in government."
"We have a policy that prohibits acceptance of advertising that deals with issues of public controversy," Wurtzel said. "This particular ad, in and of itself, is fine. It thanks the troops for their action overseas. We asked them to eliminate a URL address where a person is asked to contact elected officials and told not to cut and run on the war on terror."
NBC rejected a previous Freedom's Watch ad that addressed funding for the troops.
"It's a long-term policy, it goes back decades," Wurtzel said of NBC's stance of declining controversial issue advertising.
He suggested that Freedom's Watch did not alter the ad in order to force NBC to reject it and thus get media attention.
"Candidly, some folks have found that you get more attention when an ad is not accepted," he said.
Blakeman acknowledged that Freedom's Watch wants viewers of the ad to visit its Web site and said NBC's actions amounted to censorship.
Freedom's Watch has emerged as one of the best financed independent conservative groups in this election cycle.
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On the Net: http://www.freedomswatch.org
Dec 7, 3:45 PM (ET)
WASHINGTON (AP) - NBC has rejected a TV ad by Freedom's Watch, a conservative group that supports administration policy in Iraq, that asks viewers to remember and thank U.S. troops during the holiday season.
NBC said it declined to air the ad because it refers to the group's Web site, which the network said was too political, not because of the ad's message.
"Anybody in the world who would look at this ad would come away with nothing other than we should be thankful for their service," Freedom's Watch president Brad Blakeman said.
The spot was to be part of a seven-figure campaign that includes newspaper ads and television commercials. The ads are to run on CNN and Fox News Channel and are running in various newspapers. The New York Times ran a full-page Freedom's Watch ad Friday that said "Thank You!" and depicted a soldier reading a letter. The newspaper ad also contained the Web site address.
Alan Wurtzel, NBC's head of standards and practices, said the network decided not to run the Freedom's Watch ad because the group insisted that the spot contain the URL address of its Web site.
The group's home page links to another Freedom's Watch Web page that lists nonprofit organizations that are sending care packages to soldiers and that suggests other ways of expressing support.
It also contains a welcoming message that states: "For too long, conservatives have lacked a permanent political presence to do battle with the radical special interests groups and their left-wing allies in government."
"We have a policy that prohibits acceptance of advertising that deals with issues of public controversy," Wurtzel said. "This particular ad, in and of itself, is fine. It thanks the troops for their action overseas. We asked them to eliminate a URL address where a person is asked to contact elected officials and told not to cut and run on the war on terror."
NBC rejected a previous Freedom's Watch ad that addressed funding for the troops.
"It's a long-term policy, it goes back decades," Wurtzel said of NBC's stance of declining controversial issue advertising.
He suggested that Freedom's Watch did not alter the ad in order to force NBC to reject it and thus get media attention.
"Candidly, some folks have found that you get more attention when an ad is not accepted," he said.
Blakeman acknowledged that Freedom's Watch wants viewers of the ad to visit its Web site and said NBC's actions amounted to censorship.
Freedom's Watch has emerged as one of the best financed independent conservative groups in this election cycle.
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On the Net: http://www.freedomswatch.org
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..... Newt calls for boycott of NBC 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDoP5hdocFg0 -
Don't boycott NBC. Watch and make note of the companies advertising on NBC and contact them to say you have a negative impression of their product because they advertise on NBC. 0 -
If it was REALLY about just "thanking the troops" they wouldn't insist on their website being shown. I would have a LOT more respect for them if they would just stop lying about that.
Merc0 -
quote:Originally posted by SaxonPig
Don't boycott NBC. Watch and make note of the companies advertising on NBC and contact them to say you have a negative impression of their product because they advertise on NBC.
This is actually a pretty good idea...hit them in their pocket book.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mercury
If it was REALLY about just "thanking the troops" they wouldn't insist on their website being shown. I would have a LOT more respect for them if they would just stop lying about that.
Merc
Merc:
Even if it's true, why does it matter? If they are willing to pay for the airtime, shouldn't be allowed to run? Does anyone remember the communist organization known as "Move-on.org" ? Were they not allowed to openly attack the character of General Petreaus without so much as a nod?
Why is it we are only afforded the opportunity to hear the liberal message and viewpoint in our media?
I read somewhere this week that for the 30 days prior to the US Forces "Surge" being declared a success, there were 160-165 articles on NBC/CBS/ABC/CNN on Iraq, and for the following 30 days (post-declared success) there were less than 60 segments on Iraq for the same major networks.
Why was that? Did they not want that message to reach the masses as well?0 -
Much more effectve. Good plan. [^]
quote:Originally posted by SaxonPig
Don't boycott NBC. Watch and make note of the companies advertising on NBC and contact them to say you have a negative impression of their product because they advertise on NBC.0 -
Great Idea, Saxon!! Just don't forget to copy in NBC on the letters you write to the Advertisers And your local papers too! 0 -
Put on the commercial by Freedom Watch and follow it up by one from Cindy Sheehan and get then on with life. 0 -
NBC is a business and can air, or not air, whatever commercials it wants. This is America after all. And, the commercial could've been aired with the simple delition of a URL. But, the "Freedom Watch" would rather have the free advertising it's getting now. 0
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