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May 25, 2012

T-Mobile pulls ads from Rescue Me, Sunny in Philly

by Anna Johns, posted Jul 24th 2006 8:01PM
rescue meThe American Family Association has convinced T-Mobile to pull its advertising from FX because of the adult-themed subjects covered in Rescue Me and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. According to AdAge, Don Wildmon and his supporters in the American Family Association "bombarded" T-Mobile and other advertisers with e-mails to complain about advertising on two programs that the organization does not support (what do they support??). T-Mobile CEO Robert Dotson said the e-mails prompted him to actually watch the programming that they're supporting through advertisements. In a letter to the AFA, Dotson says, "Candidly, some of the choices we have made are inconsistent with who we are and what we stand for." Consequently, Dotson pulled all advertising from FX. So far this year, T-Mobile spent $1.2 million on advertising on FX and it is the network's 21st largest advertiser.

I wonder whether this will backfire on the AFA. Granted, it succeeded in pulling advertising (they got lucky, says Joel over on AdJab). But, this news may cause people to tune in to see what all the fuss is about.

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George

As if anyone needed one more reason to get a Tivo or a Media Center PC...

July 25 2006 at 2:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Elliott

The companies that tell the AFA to shove it are few and far between. Disney, for example, ignored their boycott. Ford Motor Company took it a step further: not only did they continue advertising in magazines which the AFA did not see fit, they actually increased their advertising. WooHoo! 3 Cheers for Freedom!

July 25 2006 at 11:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PORSCHE

I'm with #4....when Papa Johns pulled their ads from WWE I said I would not get pizza from them anymore...and I was glad I was Pepsi drinker when Coke left Married with Children.

There should be a site (and maybe there is) that tracks current and past sponsors of shows and when someone leaves a show you like..write to them and let them know you consume/use there product/service and if they don't support shows you like then you can't support their business.

July 25 2006 at 8:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris Sansbury

Ahhh the sign of a weak company...folding to stupid causes because they are worried about losing their three final cusomers. They'll be out of business in three years if they keep making decisions like this.

July 25 2006 at 3:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark Rabinowitz

I am actually going to write T-Mobile and tell them to shove their fucking service up their ass, to hell with the charge for backing out of my contract.

July 25 2006 at 1:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
LC

Well thanks to groups like the AFA, Married with Children and NYPD: Blue both had nice long runs in their series. Maybe they were hired by FX ;)

July 24 2006 at 11:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tony

Its sad the T-Mobile buckled to the AFA. The AFA is just a bunch of people with too much time on their hands. I am sick of groups feeling that they have the right to tell me what I should watch or what I should let my kids watch. It's my choice.

My message to the AFA - and every other stupid group that think its their job to police television - go get jobs, you are useless. We don't care what you think is appropriate or obscene, we are adults, we can figure it out.

And to T-Mobile, its pay cable, we all know what we are watching. Don't help this overzealous jerk-offs, its just makes them think they are right.

July 24 2006 at 11:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DonDon

People still watch commercials?

FF>

July 24 2006 at 11:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jimmy

The answer is simple. If this bothers you then you write T-Mobile and let them know that their decision to let a group of stiffs tell us how to live our lives has cost them a potential customer and that you'll be spreading the word to everyone you know that T-Mobile supports thug-tactics.

July 24 2006 at 10:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Vito

HOLY CRAP!!!! I am elated!! Every time that commercial with the cheerleader comes on, I come a little bit closer to putting my fist through the screen. I've contemplated it more than a few times.

As to the rest of it, there aren't nearly as many of those morons as advertisers seem to think there are. And if T-Mobile doesn't care for my (or the other millions of viewers watching FX) business, they won't get it.

Still, here's hoping they'll push that a-la-carte programming through so that they won't have an excuse to whine anymore, and their motives will be seen for what they are: wanting to regulate free enterprise and eliminate freedom of speech.

And Dorsey, there's already a group that goes against the AFA's interests. It's called the majority of the television audience. Fortunately, most advertisers care more about our group than fringe nutjobs who are willing to boycott their product at the drop of a hat.

July 24 2006 at 9:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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