The TV network that is broadcasting the Super Bowl, CBS, rejected an ad from ManCrunch.com, a gay dating website.
"After reviewing the ad, which is entirely commercial in nature, our standards and practices department decided not to accept this particular spot," said CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs. "We are always open to working with a client on alternative submissions."
CBS said that they also rejected the commercial because of financial reasons. However, the dating website is accusing CBS of "straight-up discrimination."
CBS is charging up to $3 million for 30-second spots during the Super Bowl. ManCrunch would have been charged $2.5 million for its ad and would have had no trouble paying it, since the newly formed company recently raised $40 million from investors. A spokesperson for CBS also said that all the commercial spots are almost sold out, and only one or two remain.
The commercial shows two men watching the Super Bowl who then have their hands brush against each other in a potato chip bowl, which causes a male-on-male make-out session. It can be seen on YouTube.
Before watching the commercial, I would have believed the claim that CBS is being discriminatory. However, the commercial does show for basically half the time, two men making out. Perhaps, CBS is trying to avoid controversial commercials since networks who broadcast do not want another repeat of anything close to Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" during the Super Bowl. What do you guys think?
Saturday, January 30, 2010
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4 comments:
To be completely honest, I completely agree-I don't really want to watch anyone make out like that in a commercial. If CBS did reject the ad because it was two men making out, then that is discriminatory, but honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they just thought the commercial was weird like I did. I couldn't even tell if it was supposed to be funny...
They were going to pay $2.5 million for an ad in cash...?
There shouldn't be any complaints against this anyway. CBS reserves the right to refuse advertising against any party and I didn't see any discrimination, hate speech, fighting words, or anything like that mixed in there, so people SHOULD understand where they're coming from. Also, I don't know what heterosexual dating sites show "making out," but the ones I've unfortunately and regretfully have seen, there wasn't any of that. Hmm ...
I think that if they rejected it because they didn't want to show two gay men, then yes it is ridiculously discriminatory but if they really do have a good reason, then I don't see why it is an issue as Andrew said, they have the right to say no.
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