ABC to air 9/11 "docudrama" WITHOUT ADVERTISING

[Maven]

...and give it away free on iTunes.

From Variety:

ABC has decided the best sponsor for its upcoming Sept. 11 mini is no sponsor at all.
After originally announcing its intention to air "The Path to 9/11" with limited commercial interruption, the network now will air both parts of the $30 million Harvey Keitel starrer without any advertising.

What's more, the Alphabet will potentially limit its backend profits by allowing consumers to download the complete miniseries -- for free -- via Apple's iTunes Music Store. Mini also will be streamed for free via ABC.com, and XM Radio has pacted with the network to make an audiocast of the film available to its subscribers.

ABC Entertainment prexy Steve McPherson said the commercial-free strategy was the most appropriate route to take with this project.

"We looked at different scenarios (and) talked to possible (advertising) partners, and none of it made sense," McPherson said. "This is the most respectful way to present this."

Read the entire puke-inducing article here. The ABC rep quoted in the article makes a big show of "informing" the public about the 9/11 Commission's findings (!). Of course--that's why they want to give it away to people--as a public service, to get the word out.

So why is ABC giving a $30 million dollar production away totally free? Out of the goodness of their black corporate hearts? Or could it be that they've dropped any pretense that this is anything other than a blatant campaign giveaway to the Republican Party? :argh:

[McCamy Taylor]

1. Read: advertisers wont touch this turkey with a nine foot pole.

[MrModerate]

2. Perhaps advertisers have stuck their collective fingers in the air . . .

And detected a change in the wind's direction. Perhaps association with a hit piece for the benefit of a soon-to-be-minority party didn't resonate well with their marketing gurus.

[Maven]

6. Maybe that explains the lack of advertising

But giving it away free over the net? Who benefits?

That is the most telling feature of this story.

[Joanne98]

3. ABC helps GOP get elected.

[hashibabba]

8. Maybe they knew the sponsors would pull out,

so they have to give it away for free. I talked one repub out of watching it, and probably can convince another friend, too. Every little bit helps.

[meegbear]

4. iTunes?

Steve Jobs is gonna let this shit be available thru him?

[Maven]

10. He may not have a choice

Depending on what ABC's distribution contract is...

Plus, it's a no-win for him to interfere.

[treestar]

5. Where did they get the $$$ for it, then?

When does ABC ever air anything without the intent to make money?

Something really smells here.

[WilliamPitt]

7. No advertisers = harder to pressure ABC

A boycot against advertisers would be a pressure point. They aren't allowing that pressure point. Clever.

[Oddly Stevenson]

19. With no specific advertisers to target....

...a very simple response would be to boycott ABC entirely. Short of that, consider that the new fall season begins in days. E-mail ABC, explain that because Path to 9/11 is little more than a biased GOP political ad being aired for free, you will not watch any of the new fall shows on ABC. Include a list of all the new shows and the times that they will air, indicating that you are very aware of which shows are on, but will choose to watch another network. It might even be a good idea to indicate what shows you will watch on the other networks at the time these shows are airing. Thousands of similar e-mails would probably get their attention, if nothing else does.

[Joanne98]

9. Fight back. Rate these videos UP!

Dueling 9/11 stories. Can't see one without the other!

Please get people to rate these up as a 9/11 "terra" day present to George W Bush and the Vice-snake Dick Cheney!

No 12 and going UP!
No 22 and going DOWN!
No 23 and going UP! (German language version)
No 64 and going UP!
No 99 and going UP! (korean language version)

Thankyou to the persons who produced the German and Korean language videos!

Message to the Loose Change guys: WE NEED A SPANISH LANGUAGE VERSION PLEASE!

http://video.google.com/videoranking?hl=en

[HMonk]

11. Sold to foreign networks?

The BBC is showing this on sunday and monday, which is unusual as the as we tend to get U.S. programming later than in the states.

Could this be happening in other countries?

[City Lights]

16. Hi HMonk!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[HMonk]

22. Thanks No Surrender

Happy to be here. :hi:

[AX10]

12. They don't need advertising. This is Disney's gift to the GOP.

[MessiahRp]

13. Agreed

It should be filed with the FEC as a campaign contribution.

[PresidentWar]

14. Ahaaa. So it's underwritten.....by WHOM, really?

[Poiuyt]

21. That is a VERY interesting question

Would the type of dollars needed to broadcast this be within the realm of the Swiftboat liars or some group like that?

[JuniperLea]

15. Ask ABC to Come Clean On its 9-11 "Docudrama"

Ask ABC to Come Clean On its 9-11 "Docudrama"
On September 10 and 11, ABC Television is planning to run an inaccurate film, The Path to 9/11, depicting the events leading up to the 9/11 attacks. The film was written by an avowed conservative activists and it largely places the blame for failing to prevent the attacks on the Clinton administration while whitewashing the failures of the Bush administration.

Reviews of the film have shown it to be full inaccuracies. According to researchers at Think Progress, the film’s distorted version of history is inconsistent with the 9/11 Commission Report, upon which it claims to be based.

The events leading up to September 11, 2001 are too important and too tragic for us let anyone play politics with the facts.

We the undersigned call on ABC to make it clear to viewers that this film is a docudrama, not a documentary account of the events and political decisions that preceded the attacks.

We the undersigned urge the network to run explicit disclaimers throughout the airing of The Path to 9/11 stating that it is nothing more than a docudrama.

ABC needs to come clean on this documentary today.


http://www.votelouise.com/page/petition/ComeCleanABC/khhyx

[indepat]

17. Sounds like the entire freakin' program is an interrupted commercial for

Repukedom.

[warrens]

18. I can't wait to see the ratings...

This bomb is going to leave a major, major crater.

[crim son]

20. I wonder if they are in fact being paid.

But not by any sponsors.