This Local Gun Ad Was Banned By Comcast — And We Found It’s a New Widespread Policy

[NRA Member]

This Local Gun Ad Was Banned By Comcast — And We Found It’s a New Widespread Policy


http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/02/19/nbc-parent-company-comcast-now-quietly-rejecting-ads-promoting-firearms-or-weapons/

"Comcast, which recently acquired NBC Universal, has quietly decided to remove advertisements promoting firearms from its cable network, and gun retailers aren’t happy about it.

A Michigan company that handles the advertising for Michigan-based Williams Gun Sight and Outfitters contacted TheBlaze regarding the change, stunned that it couldn’t re-air a commercial they played last fall due to the new policy.

John Kupiec, president of the advertising agency Canadian American Corp., told us over the phone Monday that when they recently tried to buy ad time, a Comcast representative informed them that as of February 8 of this year, the network would no longer accept advertising from companies promoting firearms or fireworks on any network, during any time period.

“They’ve been a longtime advertiser [but] they said it doesn’t matter who they are,” Kupiec related, “if they sell firearms they will not be allowed to advertise firearms on their airwaves.”

He noted that the change doesn’t just impact local companies, but business like Cabela’s, Walmart, and others.

“My company has been in the advertising business for well over 30 years, [and] we’ve never remotely run into a situation where a product or service was banned from being on the airwaves that’s legal,” he added.

Chris Ellis, the director of communications at Comcast Spotlight, confirmed the new policy but declined to provide any supplementary information.

“Consistent with long standing NBC policies, Comcast Spotlight has decided it will not accept new advertising for firearms or weapons moving forward,” he said in an email. “This policy aligns us with the guidelines in place at many media organizations.”

Tom Wright, the president of Williams Gun Sight Co., told TheBlaze that he thinks the change is “ridiculous.”

They’re “fine promoting strip clubs and condoms,” Wright said, but appear to have a problem airing advertisements for a legal product.

Both Wright and Kupiec further noted that at almost any given time, you can flip to regular programming that features guns in a legal capacity (the Outdoor Channel, the Sportsman Channel, NBC Sports), or in a violent scene of a television show or movie.

Is Comcast planning on making changes to their scheduled programming, too, they wondered?

Before speaking with TheBlaze on Monday, Wright urged people on Facebook to speak out with their dollars.

Wright added for TheBlaze: “I don’t know whether NBC or Comcast have an agenda related to all the political activity going on, but it wouldn’t surprise me.”

The president of Williams Gun Sight and Outfitters concluded with a statement on how the change will affect his company."

“It certainly has the ability to negatively impact our business. We’ve been in business for over 85 years; we provide a service to not only the hunting and shooting community, but we’re part of a longstanding tradition here in America. I think it’s a sad state of affairs where a cable network such as Comcast would come out with such a policy.”

[NikeBauer21]

So, umm.. how are they going to handle the outdoor channel and VS? The majority of those commercials aren't just gear and outfitters, but firearms manufacturers and accessories. After all, you are watching a hunting show, is it really a shock to see some manufacturer commercials?

Come on Mr. Snider... I respect all you do for hockey, but this is low...

[savagemod11]

This is pretty out of hand now.

[bogey1]

Fireworks?

[Solaran_X]

I wonder if they would reject the anti-gun lobby's ads...probably not.

[39flathead]

Time to switch providers.

[hawk87]

Well the parent company is NBC Universal, home of Chris Matthews, Al Sharpton, Rachel Maddow, Ed Scultz etc... so, no need to be shocked.

Oh, and if you aren't familiar with all those names, you're not alone, based on MSNBC's ratings and all.

[fortysix]

They would be a lot more credible if they also barred programming and entire channels that featured guns or violence in any role. And sex too. And swearing. And sexual innuendo. So we'd just get a black screen 24/7. Remember, the only thing modern Americans will fight for is cable TV, and if you would mess up even one airing of American Idol it would be the apocalypse.

This policy is ridiculous because they absolutely air ads for strip clubs, and ads featuring guns for movies and shows that feature guns. Ever watch USA (owned by NBC, Comcast), it's the Law and Order channel 24/7. Those guys have guns and shoot guns and talk about children getting raped all day long. Not sure what message Comcast is sending by allowing and promoting this kind of programming. See, the problem with trying to set a standard is that you have to actually set the standard and keep to it, that's why it's a standard. When you do it whenever you feel like it or when the numbers are your way, then you're just lying.

[cdd1]

Well the parent company is NBC Universal

Comcast owns NBC Universal, not the other way around.

[str8shooter]

Consider the source. TheBlaze.com is an alarmist far right propaganda machine that's the internet equivalent to "Young Turks".

“Consistent with long standing NBC policies, Comcast Spotlight has decided it will not accept new advertising for firearms or weapons moving forward,”

IOW although Comcast recently bought the remaining 49% of NBCUniversal they're not going to tell the individual stations that have been and will continue to be run autonomously they have to change their policies.

Tom Wright, the president of Williams Gun Sight Co., told TheBlaze that he thinks the change is “ridiculous.”

So how is being consistent with a long standing policy a "ridiculous" change?