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Home Front: Culture Wars
NBC Refuses Ads For Dixie Chicks Movie
2006-10-27
Drudge Exclusive
In an Ironic Twist of Events, NBC and The CW Television Network Refuse to Air Ads for Documentary Focusing on Freedom of Speech. NBC Claims that the Network “Cannot Accept These Spots as They are Disparaging to President Bush”
apparently they've never seen Brian Williams' newscast, but I digress
The CW Television Network responded that the Network Does “Not have Appropriate Programming in which to Schedule this Spot”
"our bilges are already full"
NBC and The CW Television Network have taken a stand against the Dixie’s Chicks new documentary “Shut Up & Sing” a behind-the-scenes look at the incredible political and media fallout that occurred in 2003 after the Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines said that she was "ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." “Shut Up & Sing” opens in theaters in NY and Los Angeles on Friday and in theaters nationwide on November 10th.
bet that'll be a blockbuster, like Al Franken's $90,000 box office smash
Optimist.
NBC responded to a clearance report submitted by the Weinstein Company’s media agency saying that the network “cannot accept these spots as they are disparaging to President Bush.”

Famed litigator David Boies stated, “It is disappointing and troubling that NBC and The CW would refuse to accept an otherwise appropriate ad merely because it is critical of President Bush."
(D, Loser-Fla)
Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company stated, “It’s a sad commentary about the level of fear in our society that a movie about a group of courageous entertainers who were blacklisted for exercising their right of free speech is now itself being blacklisted by corporate America. The idea that anyone should be penalized for criticizing the president is sad and profoundly un-American.”

The Weinstein Company is exploring taking legal action.
Talk to Mr. Boies. In about a minute (well five, these are progressives we're talking about) they'll realize that NBC is a private corporation that can accept or deny advertising pretty much as it wishes.
The rejected commercials for “Shut Up & Post” can be viewed here.
Posted by:Frank G

#9  when i read the first sentence i thought it said the CTW network, but then realized that even Sesame Street wouldn't play the dixie twits.
Posted by: USN, ret.   2006-10-27 15:23  

#8  Amen mcsegeek1, the more the Hollywierd crowd howl at teh moon the more Coservatives are movtivated to vote. Notice I didn't say vote Conservative because Conservatives either vote for a Conservative or they don't vote at all. Play the ad and let the good times roll.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2006-10-27 11:02  

#7  This is all bullshit. NBC loves to hate Bush where they can because they will make MONEY at it. Their bottom line is nobody cares about the dixi bitches and no one will watch, no one will buy time, hence no money from advertisers. Who would really concider buying time from NBC if it aired?? Not even the Donks are that stupid, ok well maybe, ok all right but they could not buy all the time.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2006-10-27 10:50  

#6  I''m all for them running it. We need a little more seething and anger on the right. Nothing gets out the vote more. Just look at 1994 as an example. Only 2 years of non-stop lies and BS motivated the right in droves. We've had 6 years of it this time around, and the lies are bigger and the BS is deeper than it ever was. Somehow though, I don't sense the same level of anger and frustration among conservative voters that I felt in 1994. We need a little negative reinforcement.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-10-27 10:25  

#5  And if the donks win the election NBC will understand that GE is a big defence contractor that needs lots of government contracts and NBC's loss is mitigated by its government licensed television and radio stations.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-10-27 09:37  

#4  We are in the period pre-election during which IIUC those ads would be construed as political announcements.

That has some implications re: allowing GOP response, I think (but I'm not a lawyer).

but if not, my vote goes to the "don't help the Republicans" theory.
Posted by: lotp   2006-10-27 09:25  

#3  Sounds like bullshit to me.
Posted by: tu3031   2006-10-27 09:11  

#2  My hypothesis: NBC recognizes that the Vichy Chicks' stupid conspiracy movie is a niche market and will have the effect of alienating mainstream voters in the upcoming election.
Short version: they think it will backfire on the Donks.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy   2006-10-27 02:08  

#1  Iff only Dubya was more like Putin or Kimmie.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2006-10-27 01:06  

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