Cable company refuses to televise ad on abstinence
Toolbox
Published: June 13, 2005
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — A television ad urging teenagers to abstain from sex has been deemed inappropriate for young children by Comcast Corp. and won't be seen on several cable stations geared to younger viewers.
The spot, sponsored by the Catholic Social Services program, ACTION, which stands for Abstinence Challenging Teens in Our Neighborhood, was supposed to run on cable stations in seven communities in southeastern Massachusetts.
During the 30-second spot, phrases about sex pop up on a black screen and are read aloud by teenagers.
"There's no racy language or images," said Liz Isherwood, whose public relations agency put the spot together. "I don't understand the decision and neither does Catholic Services."
Isherwood said the advertisement encourages self respect.
The phrases displayed on the screen include "I thought I would feel like a man" and "I thought she was using protection."
It ends with the phrase: "Before you decide to have sex, do some serious thinking and take ACTION. Care enough to wait."
Isherwood said the ad has been running on the radio and she hasn't received any complaints about its content.
Comcast officials were concerned that the ad might be seen by children in the 6- to 9-year-old range.
Messages left at by The Associated Press Comcast in New York and ACTION in Fall River on Saturday weren't immediately returned Saturday.
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