... because it features a gay couple worshipping Jesus.

http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/01/news/fo ... n/?cnn=yes

CBS, NBC ban church ad inviting gays

Networks wont run church spot featuring gay couple; say ad runs contrary to company policies.
December 2, 2004: 9:47 AM EST
By Steve Hargreaves, CNN/Money Staff Writer

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The CBS and NBC networks have refused to run an ad by a liberal church promoting the acceptance of people regardless of sexual orientation because the networks believe the ad is advocacy advertising.

The 30-second spot, run by the United Church of Christ, features two muscle-bound bouncers standing outside a church, selecting people who could attend service and those who could not. Among those kept out are two males who appear to be a couple. Written text then appears saying, in part, "Jesus didn't turn people away, neither do we."

"Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples...and the fact that the executive branch has recently proposed a Constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast," the church quoted CBS as saying.

A CBS spokesman confirmed that the ad was banned, but would not comment directly about the above statement.

"It was against our policy of accepting advocacy advertising," said the spokesman.

An NBC spokeswoman said the problem with the ad was not its depiction of same sex couples at church, but its implication that other religions are not open to all people.

"It went against our long-standing policy of not accepting ads that deal with issues public controversy," said the NBC spokeswoman.

"It's ironic that after a political season awash in commercials based on fear and deception by both parties seen on all major networks, an ad with a message of welcome and inclusion would be deemed too controversial," said Rev. John Thomas in the statement.

"We find it disturbing that the networks in question seem to have no problem exploiting gay persons through mindless comedies or titillating dramas, but when it comes to a church's loving welcome of committed gay couples, that's where they draw the line."

NBC couldn't comment on the seeming contradiction by the networks who aired a slew of controversial political ads during this past election but now refuse to air the ad from the United Church of Christ.

The commercial can be viewed at http://www.stillspeaking.com.

The church says the ad has been accepted on a number of other networks, including ABC Family, BET Discovery, Fox, Hallmark, TBS and TNT.

TBS and TNT are owned by Time Warner (Research), which also owns CNN/Money.

CBS is part of Viacom (Research) while NBC belongs to General Electric (Research).

The Cleveland-based United Church of Christ claims 6,000 congregations with 1.3 million members.


**If you go to the link above, they have the "controversial ad" for you to view.**

--PunkDavid

This will just create more publicity for the ad which I'm sure they won't mind.

As a Christian...I think the ad is great. The message that Christ brought to us was one that was meant to be shared (not forced upon)...but shared...with EVERYONE. Jesus shared his message with whores, thieves, the sick, poor, the rich, Jew, Gentile, men, women, soldiers and all people in between. One of the main themes of the Bible is the commandment by Christ for his followers to spread the Gospel to ALL people. Church should be an open forum for all people. Believers, non-believers, straight, gay, poor, rich, etc...etc...

I'm not saying that it's the Church's job to "convert" homosexuals into "Bible thumping" heterosexuals...so please...don't assume that's what I'm saying here. Quite the opposite. What I'm saying, and I think it's clear, is that the Church should be an open sanctuary for all people...no matter what you believe.

Any Church that looks down upon allowing homosexual couples to attend their services, is a church that needs to go back and make sure that they are truly following the message of Christ.

I'm sure there are millions of alchoholics, adulterers, thieves, blasphemers, non-believers and drug users that attend YOUR and MY church EVERY Sunday, and sit right next to us in the pews reading the Bible. We are ALL guilty of sin, and our sin is no "better" or "cleaner" in God's eyes simply because it may not be the sin of homosexuality. God despises ALL sin and rejoices in those whom spread his word, not in those whom deny others the blessing of hearing it.

Yet Jesus always hung around with 12 other men.

Yeah, and they wore robes, had long hair and liked to drink wine.

Do you know how hilarious it would be if they proved that Jesus was a homosexual? Thousands of Christians would spontaniously combust and explode.

But then there would be no holy grail.

I saw this yesterday too - I find it hippocritical that the networks who air shows that contain gay characters would not run this ad.

the networks refusing to air the ad have every right to do so. they are a private business and can pick and choose what they want to air. just as we, their customers, have a right not to watch those networks if we choose not to. tough luck for those that want the ad aired on networks that choose not to air it.

oh they do have a right to do so, but don't you think its kind of hippocritical, considering the content of some of their shows?

i'd say so. but they have the right to be hypocritical as well.
the majority of the shows on the major networks are garbage, IMO. this hypocrisy seems to go right along with the garbage they broadcast. despite the garbage and hypocrisy, the general public eats it up.

I agree, I also think it kind of funny that

The hullaballoo over not airing the ad would seem to be having the intended effect of the ad in the first place.

Their name and message is still getting out there and it's free.

Bonus.

this is true but i think it illustrates perfectly how it is nowhere near a liberal media...more like profit-motivated one. The myth of a l iberal media is just that and a scam, a way to get you to dismiss anything negative that might come out 'oh, it's just those damned liberals again...'

The term liberal media does not apply to this case.

Essentially "liberal Media" deals with what is reported and how that content is reported. It has nothing to do with advertising content.

Media bias deals with,

The types of stories run, what is reported, what isn't reported, pertaining to a particular news event. This can be obvious or very subtle. The various reporters internal feelings are going to have some impact on how they write, shoot and report a various news event regardless of how "fair" they think they are writing the story.


I agree much of what's said about it is exaggerated but bias is inherent in reporting more obviously in opinion shows, more subtly in the general news broadcasts.

I agree that this shows what really matters to networks and news organizations

money

those who think otherwise are fooling themselves.

Why are Stern and Limbaugh around? They get ratings of the coveted 18-29 males.

well yeah, I absolutely agree, without money you have no business and no job. Clearly the most important issue to any business is revenue.

but if it's a liberal media why just stop with what is reported? Shouldn't the types of advertising fall in, too?

The media is just pure sensationalistic. It's about getting ratings so they can charge more for advertising space.

I dont see why they won't show this ad tho. Well, no actually i can, the christian extremist groups probably threw a fit and threatened boycotts and all that.

Remember when Bill Hicks got totally cut from his last Letterman performance, one of the reasons was for making a joke about pro-life ppl...then they ran a pro-life commercial on the night his segment was supposed to have aired. It's all about advertising revenue and forming opinions for you

Hey it worked for numerous political ads that never aired this fall.

What I find the funniest about this is that I wouldn't have even noticed the gay couples in the ads if the media had not brought my attention to it through this story.

Have you guys seen those cellphone ads where everyone is looking at their bills and saying, "You!"? Did you notice the part where there's one guy looking at the bill, and another guy shaving? It's subtle, but it gets their message across that you can designate anyone, even your gay partner, as your unlimited anytime minutes person.

The UCC ad was much more subtle even than that.

--PunkDavid

Oh I see absolutely no problem with the ad either. Most rational people probably don't. My guess is the "non-advocacy" policy in this sense of the term is probably to attempt to avoid some of the backlash from the nutcases of the world especially given the overly loose way the FCC decides to fine media companies for "decency" violations.

if it doesn't make you ponder the sometimes dubious values of our societies, i don't know what would...