Radio / Television News

Broadcasters don’t have to air every ad submitted


VANCOUVER – Earlier this month, media activist group Adbusters lost the court battle it launched against CBC and Canwest Global when the two broadcasters refused to sell the group airtime for its commercials.

Adbusters claimed the CBC and Canwest Global had violated its right to free speech under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by refusing to sell air time, “but the court decided that the Charter does not apply to private corporations,” says an Adbusters release.

(Ed note: Actually, the ruling says no such thing. It was more along the lines of saying broadcasters, like retailers, can choose what they wish to carry on their shelves.)

"It’s outrageous that the fast food, oil and automobile industries can buy as much TV time as they want in order to promote their agendas, but citizens are not allowed to talk back," said Adbusters editor-in-chief Kalle Lasn in response to the ruling. "Canadian democracy will not work properly until we the people have the same right to buy airtime as corporations do."

(Ed note: Actually, Canadians can talk back all they want by refusing to buy the products advertised or by shutting off their televisions if they have a problem with what’s being aired.)

The rejected Adbusters ads claim over 50% of the calories in a Big Mac come from fat; called for an end to the age of the automobile; and promoted Buy Nothing Day. “While Court Justice William Ehrcke ruled that private broadcasters have the right to run whatever ads they like, Adbusters feels the case raises some troubling questions,” says the organization’s release.

“Firstly, why are Canwest and the CBC selling as much time as they possibly can to corporations, while fighting expensive legal actions to keep citizen-produced messages off the air? Why does the CBC call itself ‘Canada’s Public Broadcaster’ if they won’t sell airtime to citizens?”

“Secondly, why is the CRTC not standing up for public access? When they grant licences to broadcasters, why is the right of Canadian citizens to access their own ‘public’ airwaves not being guaranteed? Thirdly, why is our freedom of speech being suppressed? Why can corporations buy airtime while citizens cannot? Why doesn’t the Canadian Charter apply to the most powerful social communications medium of our age – television?” continues the release.

"Adbusters has been given 30 days to challenge the ruling. The fight for media democracy will go on,” it added.

www.DemocraticMedia.org  
www.MediaReform.ca
www.MediaDemocracy.ca