The major TV networks — Ten, Nine, Seven and SBS — have refused to air this anti-pokies ad from rabble-rousers GetUp!, which seeks to draw attention to the fact that Coles and Woolworths own poker machines. The ad is a true account of a woman who lost her partner, who was addicted to gambling, to suicide.
GetUp! hasn’t given up on airing the ad, and is trying to get it on cinema screens or regional TV. In the meantime, given that you can’t see it on TV, you can see it here …
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Typical. This doesn’t fit the Mudrake limited news meme so it wont see the light of day on FTA or Pay TV.
Like so many other truths and facts, it is a victim. The thing that really gets my goat is i heard an ad for miners the other day, where they claimed they were, “just like nurses”. Yeah? Really? And Belangalo Forrest is just like Disneyland.
Reminds of the print media’s refusal to run a Environment Victoria’s ad about the destruction of Victoria’s forests to produce Reflex paper.
We only get the corporate sanitised version of events in the MSM. Many think that is all there is. The corporations would like to keep it that way.
I’m sure I’m one of many who appreciate Crikey’s support in this issue.
Commercial TV, in fear of revenue loss from Coles and Woolworths, refused to air it. Fair enough in their eyes, but if all channels aired it, who would they withdraw advertising from?
For democracy in this century, the power of corporate pressure is right out of the closet.
Thanks for this.
How can networks refuse to air this ad given that their rationale for accepting political advertising (or rather for not banning it) is that its important for democracy that everyone can have their say (through advertising) although this is dubious when it is so expensive – it just inflates the price of democracy. But here’s someone with something important to say and they don’t get a go.
It was ever thus. I can remember Dick Smith’s anti-smoking ad being refused publication by popular magazines of the day.
When you hear politicians raving on about the importance of the economy it’s about big business being allowed full rein to rip into the purses of Joe Public. When you hear ranting about “nanny state” it’s about big business being allowed full rein to rip into the wellbeing of Joe Public. When you hear about freedom of choice it’s about big business being allowed to sell crap that’ll harm Joe Public.