Back to SoWal Lounge

CBS Superbowl anti-abortion commercial

Mango avatar
SoWal Insider
3,778 views
SOURCE:
Almost every year, the Super Bowl is the most-watched television program and it's not just football fans who are responsible for the massive viewership. The annual game has become a social event replete with parties and non-football fans who tune in to see highly publicized halftime shows, inventive commercials and episodes of promising new TV shows afterward.
This year is no different except that when viewers tune in next Sunday, they probably will see a 30-second anti-abortion commercial funded by the far-right, religious Focus on the Family organization but they won't see a light-hearted ad for a gay dating Web site that features two men and another that's gay-themed. That's because CBS executives said the network doesn't accept advocacy ads.

The Super Bowl ad will apparently feature the quarterback (TEBOW) and his mother, who was advised to abort the pregnancy that resulted in his birth. But she refused, and, lo, unto her a quarterback was born. It will no doubt be a very heartwarming spot. I guess the point is that if Tebow’s mother had followed the doctors’ advice, the world would have been deprived of a desperately needed football player and there would not have been a Heisman Trophy winner in 2007.
Here's the ad CBS won't run:

A website called ManCrunch.com, which is a dating site for gay men, wants to buy a spot for its new ad during Super Bowl XLIV on CBS. (See the video of the ad below.)
UPDATE: CBS rejects Mancrunch.com ad, CNBC reported
Man Crunch spokesman Dominic Friesen told theNew York Post that CBS claimed all the commercial spots during the Super Bowl were sold. Friesen maintained that wasn't true:
"It's clearly a form of discrimination that we're getting the runaround, that we're not being told the truth. Quite frankly, there is a lot of ad space available -- a lot of the companies that typically advertise during the Super Bowl are not advertising this year."
​
CBS has given preliminary approval to an ad from Focus on the Family featuring Tebow and has said it will welcome advocacy ads if "responsibly produced."
It's not unusual for a network to turn down an ad for the Super Bowl based on content. The Post reported that CBS turned away a GoDaddy.com, which has skirted the line of edginess in Super Bowl commercials in past years.
Watch the ad and see if you think CBS should clear it for the Super Bowl. -- Sean Leahy
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MQWFiIrBLA&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- ManCrunch SuperBowl Commercial[/ame]

Replies

78
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#77
:lolabove:

That's the one I was looking for. After the first half everyone in the room kept asking where the nearest Denny's was. :funn:
Kayak Fish avatar
Beach Lover
#78
Excuse me, but I think people were rightfully upset - it had the potential to be awful, and it is never fair to show one side of an issue without presenting the other- this ad was publicizing an issue, NOT a product or service ad. I imagine the pro-choice camp never thought in a million years they would have to run an ad during Superbowl, nor would they have wanted to in the first place.

I still don't think it really "fit" with the type of advertising normally seen during Superbowls, but hey, that's my opinion.

You're excused. They hadn't seen the ad and threw a fit. Bottom line is they are promoting a product- their loony website. I'm not advocating Focus on the Family- in fact I think they are scum. However I am an advocate of free speech and I found the ad totally inoffensive. Now the website piece on the other hand makes me cringe, but that's not the point.

The pro choice camp doesn't have to run ads and shouldn't waste their money. This ad isn't going to change anything. It is also going to be pretty tough to have a pro-abortion ad I would think. Not exactly the basis for a nice story. The outrage about this was totally illogical and just a political game being played by NOW and other abortion zealots. I'm not saying we should outlaw abortion- we shouldn't and I support one's right to choose- but I am pretty skeptical of anyone who gets so outraged about an ad that at worst was going to tell a story about how choosing to have the baby turned out really well.
Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#79
You're excused. They hadn't seen the ad and threw a fit. Bottom line is they are promoting a product- their loony website. I'm not advocating Focus on the Family- in fact I think they are scum. However I am an advocate of free speech and I found the ad totally inoffensive. Now the website piece on the other hand makes me cringe, but that's not the point.

The pro choice camp doesn't have to run ads and shouldn't waste their money. This ad isn't going to change anything. It is also going to be pretty tough to have a pro-abortion ad I would think. Not exactly the basis for a nice story. The outrage about this was totally illogical and just a political game being played by NOW and other abortion zealots. I'm not saying we should outlaw abortion- we shouldn't and I support one's right to choose- but I am pretty skeptical of anyone who gets so outraged about an ad that at worst was going to tell a story about how choosing to have the baby turned out really well.

totally agree Fishfood.



I think the argument is whether CBS should have allowed such a commercial based on their own rules and practice. but, still - they can run any commercial they choose. free speech and all that. and you are right - the commercial was totally fine. the uproar was out of line.

Checking your forum account

Please wait while we verify your forum account.

New posts