NBC Refuses ads for Dixie Chicks movie

[Pirate Smile]

Sorry - I went to the sick bastard's site (Drudge). I usually never go there but I wanted to see what exactly they were saying about Webb and I saw this - Un-Friggin-Believable!

NBC REFUSES ADS FOR DIXIE CHICKS MOVIE
Thu Oct 26 2006 21:21:10 ET

**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”

The CW Television Network that the Network Does “Not have Appropriate Programming in which to Schedule this Spot”

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.

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.”

The CW Television Network responded that it does “not have appropriate programming in which to schedule this spot.”

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."

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.

The rejected commercials for “Shut Up & Post” can be viewed at http://www.shutupandpost.com

Developing...

That is all it says so you don't have to go to Drudge to look.

Could this be a hoax? Drudge has certainly been wrong many times in the past. I can't believe NBC would say they wouldn't air the ads because they “cannot accept these spots as they are disparaging to President Bush.” And who the hell is "CW Television Network"?

[bloom]

1. More people need to boycott these media outlets

if they are going to be so ridiculous. They aren't worth watching, anyway.

[NoodleyAppendage]

2. NBC = GE = War profiteers who care not for the welfare of the US.

NBC/GE/death-dealers is a turd on the foot of representative democracy.

J

[ClusterFreak]

3. NBC must have ran Fahrenheit 911 ads in '04, no?

How is the Dixie Chicks movie more disparaging to Bush than F911?

[Pirate Smile]

7. I think so but I'm not sure. I just can't believe they would come out

and use that excuse for not accepting the ads. Call me skeptical - because if it is true, :nuke:

[babylonsister]

4. But it's not beneath them to interview the Dixie Chicks. Their

interview on MSNBC on TWEETY today was right on concerning corporate interests dictating what's going on.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2489276

[SouthernBelle82]

21. Did this happen before

or after their interview with Matthews?

[TankLV]

5. But it was OK to REGULARLYL SCHEDULED programs, complete with music and logos

falsly accusing PRESIDENT Clinton of all sorts of things that were PROVEN UNTRUE?

Fucking bastards!

Who cares that anybody is "critical" of that WAR CRIMINAL bush*! He deserves everyminute of it!

What the fuck is is with these media whores where they have this mindset that right out of the gate, before anything at all is said, that you can't criticize this CRIMINAL?!?!?!

[Danieljay]

6. The Red Cross statement is totally misleading...I'll tell you why

The American Red Cross does NOT take funds that come with a string. In exchange for their contribution, they wanted to use the Red Cross name on their tour which was highly political at the time. The Red Cross maintains a policy of neutrality and cannot endorse any particular movement.

I completely support the Dixie Chicks and believe in what they are doing. That being said, the Red Cross refusing the funds was a good idea for the purpose of neutrality. The Red Cross does not discriminate in who it provides services to and cannot take donations that are attached to a politically charged tour. That would have been disasterous for an organization that depends upon volunteers and individual donations to provide emergency relief services.

This movie is great and I hope people see it. That statement about the Red Cross in the trailer however is disappointing.

[gully]

8. Something doesn't smell quite right here?

I'm not sure I believe this just yet.

[Pirate Smile]

10. Me too. I just can't believe they would come out and use that excuse

for refusing the ads. It would be so outrageous.

[Eric J in MN]

9. They can probably get it on MSNBC.

NBC broadcast can pick and choose because of high demand.

MSNBC needs more advertisers.

[EC]

11. Wait a minute, They were just on Hardball

and Twitty is really pushing the movie...they're NBC aren't they? I only ask since you found it at Drudge, I have to wonder...

[zulchzulu]

12. Doncha just hate the "Liberal Media"!

:sarcasm:

[zulchzulu]

13. GE links to NBC

http://www.cjr.org/tools/owners/ge.asp

[Imagevision]

14. yes quite obviously NBC is influenced by the GOP, GE does own

quite a few networks,,,no?

[Hippo_Tron]

15. Shut up and Post has either been hacked or isn't really their blog

Go to the site now.

[MattP]

16. Variety reports it is true

I think it is their blog they just have a bunch of assholes posting and no mods, anyway the truth is http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117952760.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 yes nbc is boycotting the ad because it disparages the pres(not really) and cbs, abc, and fox haven't gotten back to them yet.

[cui bono]

17. Argh! Well I'm glad I didn't go to the screening of it tonight.

I'd rather pay to see it so I can help support it at the box office.

btw... CW Network is new, they're on channel 5 in Los Angeles, I'm not sure what that was, I think it was the WB Network.

[SouthernBelle82]

22. Yes you're right

It was once the WB. I have no idea what happened with them and CW. Just wanted to say you were right about the network change.

[liberal1973]

18. If it's true about NBC

Then they need to have a dose of their own boycott back at them.

[newyawker99]

28. Hi liberal1973!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rodeodance]

19. I have CW tele network---I recently moved and do not know much

about it.




......That is all it says so you don't have to go to Drudge to look.

Could this be a hoax? Drudge has certainly been wrong many times in the past. I can't believe NBC would say they wouldn't air the ads because they “cannot accept these spots as they are disparaging to President Bush.” And who the hell is "CW Television Network"?

[SouthernBelle82]

20. Good for Weinstein

I hope they sue their asses. This is outrageous. Free speech doesn't exist in America if a pub is "president." When Clinton had his library opening last year he had people protesting at the front door and never told them to go away. Bush and his minions are all cowards.

[farmbo]

23. This + Matt Lauer's Rush lovefest = another permenant block on my TV.

(Which, JBTW, I will over-ride on Thursday 8 -9:00, for My Name is Earl and The Office... I'm not nuts, afterall!)

[dave123williams]

24. Here's a link to the trailer

Who cares if NBC won't run it? We'll see it anyway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgESdfe7v90

My favorite is the last line of the trailer, where Maines says of *, 'what a dumbfuck'.

[Buzz Clik]

25. Apparently NBC has reversed its decision.

In an interview on NPR's Day to Day, Barbara Kopple (maker of Shut Up and Sing) announced that NBC has given a second look at the ads and will be airing them.

[wyldwolf]

26. I saw it last night on the CW... during Smallville or Supernatural

[Buzz Clik]

27. Apparently, the story as released was only partially true.

NBC wanted to review the ads, and the studio was being difficult. NBC insisted on the review, and the ads were pulled followed by an immediate news release that NBC had banned the ads. This generated a lot of free publicity for the film. So, The Weinstein Company then allowed NBC to review them, NBC approved them, and off we go.

Doncha love it when folks like the Weinsteins play us for a bunch of dopes? Funny -- it works every time.