I’m sure most of you know that CBS has refused to air the winner of MoveOn.org’s Bush in 30 Seconds contest during the Super Bowl, ostensibly because “their policy originated in the 1950’s and prohibited the showing of advertisements that took stands on controversial public-policy issues” (NYT). First and foremost, any policy on what is acceptable for public viewing made in the ’50s ought to be looked at very skeptically today. I’m sure the ad wouldn’t have aired back then because it would be seen as Communist sympathizing. Second, they think that accepting anti-drug ads from the ONDCP, which is beholden to the White House, is OK because you can’t find any “responsible people who are for drug abuse…or teenagers seeking to smoke”. I also can’t find anyone who is for “budget abuse” or governments “seeking to exercise absolutely no fiscal discipline”, but I sure as hell can find people who are against the War on Drugs and anti-smoking regulations. To claim that such issues lack controversy is at best completely ignorant and worst an insidious undermining of the freedom of the press. These shitheel network executives will go running to the FCC to protect their precious spectrum, claiming they require protection because they serve a public good, but they crap all over the idea of public access to their medium. Then, they will whine about Tivo and other DVR technologies depressing ad values by allowing people to fast-forward through ads they don’t like, but they turn down $4 million for two spots (I know they don’t really need the money, but they ought to stop complaining).
MoveOn is running an online petition (via Lessig Blog) to get them to change their mind. I know that online petitions are 99% bullshit, and even less effective, but honestly, it’s all any of us are gonna do about this. It’s simply the easiest way to add your voice to the chorus, and if it’s too easy for people to jump on the bandwagon, then I guess that’s a sight better than it being too hard.
evan :: Jan.22.2004 ::
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