The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / The Stunning American TV Spot Running With A Long Warning Before It

**Posted by RadioActive** October 19, 2024 8:50 pm

It's the first time I've ever seen this - a stern announcer warning with graphics before a network runs a TV commercial. I'm sure it's on other outlets, but I happened to catch it totally by accident on ABC Thursday morning.

My tuner just happened to be on WKBW-TV's Channel 7 from the night before when I turned the set on and was greeted by big white letters over a black background. The gist of the text was pretty ominous. It said something like this.

"ABC warns viewers that the following commercial message contains offensive images and may not be suitable for all viewers. Under the law during an election period, we are not allowed to turn down certain specific advertising and this is one of those cases. Viewer Discretion is advised."

Well, after a disclaimer like that, I had to stay and see what this was all about. Too bad I did. What followed was a disgusting one minute spot for an extreme pro-life politician I've never heard of, who is running in the U.S. election. It was openly aimed at a Black audience and featured graphic images of aborted fetuses while the "candidate" spoke openly about his hope people would vote for him based on his position on abortion.

It was awful, and I accidentally tuned into it again the following day, but this time I changed the channel. It appears he was deliberately targeting women, because it aired right before the final segment of "The View."

My conclusion on this, without getting into the thornier issue of choice, is that I learned that there may not be any "standards" that need to be obeyed if a commercial airs as an election spot down south. Again, I've never seen this before. Hope I never do again. It was way over the top and I certainly understand why ABC provided the warning.

Have not seen it on other networks but it would not surprise me if this guy tried to buy time there, as well.

I'm not entirely sure what the rules are in the U.S., and what might have happened had the guy chosen to use profanity. Would they have been forced to allow that, too?

I know in Canada during a federal election, even the normally commercial free CBC Radio is obligated to carry ads for candidates if they choose to buy time on the stations. But I'm not sure if they're allowed to say "no" depending on the content.

**Posted by fybush** October 19, 2024 11:55 pm

US licensees have no control over the content of advertising time purchased by candidates for federal office. They're required to sell them airtime and they can't impose any restrictions on the content, which is how you get a situation like this.

Note that it applies only to the candidates themselves and not to political action committees, which are the entities these days buying most of the ads. And it's only for candidates for federal office (president, US Senate, Congress), not for state or local races or for referenda on issues.

Which means in practice that there aren't a lot of ads like this one - it's usually from third-party candidates who usually don't have a lot of money to spend on TV campaigns.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 20, 2024 7:08 am

Thanks for the clarification, as always. It means someone who manages to raise enough money - a substantial amount, I imagine - could do something like this. It may not happen often. But it's certainly astounding when it does.

I've been watching U.S. TV for decades. I've never seen anything like this before. Fortunately, it looks like primetime would be too rich for this guy's blood.

**Posted by g121** October 20, 2024 9:24 am

RadioActive wrote:
..
Well, after a disclaimer like that, I had to stay and see what this was all about. Too bad I did. What followed was a disgusting one minute spot for an extreme pro-life politician I've never heard of, who is running in the U.S. election. It was openly aimed at a Black audience and featured graphic images of aborted fetuses while the "candidate" spoke openly about his hope people would vote for him based on his position on abortion.
..

*sigh* tis somewhat similar to those disgusting graphic images anti-abortion pamphlets that show up in our mailboxes every so often.

Never underestimate how low zealots will stoop to "spread their message".

*sigh* common sense, maturity, good judgement, courtesy & decency has left the building ..

As an aside, I guess it's then fair game for anti-gun candidates to run election TV spots showing disgusting graphic images of bodies blown to bits by gun violence.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 20, 2024 9:41 am

To quote Chubby Checker in 'Limbo Rock,' "How low can you go?"

I guess we have our answer.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 21, 2024 5:26 pm

The story behind these abhorrent TV ads.