Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest television advertising day of the year, and this year the Super Bowl falls just two days before the biggest day of the presidential primary season. So does that mean we can expect to see Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney approving messages?No. Fox says it will not sell campaign ads of any kind during the Big Game.
Clinton, Obama and Romney are the only candidates who have enough money that they even could have considered buying a $3 million 30-second ad, and none of them seemed inclined to do it. I think a candidate whose campaign team could have come up with a creative, clever and funny commercial might have done well from it, but it won't happen.The reasons: The show is sold out and equal opportunities couldn't be provided to all candidates, even if some additional time could be found for one to buy in.
Fox is saying it will comply with Federal Communications Commission rules.
"We comply with all legal requirements when it comes to selling time to candidates, including any requirements that might apply to a unique broadcast like the Super Bowl," the network said.
Sources close to the situation said that because ad time in the Super Bowl is essentially sold out, Fox will choose to not sell time to a candidate, citing an FCC ruling that a network can reasonably refuse to sell political time in "unique, one-time-only" broadcasts where equal ad time can't be offered to all candidates.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 8)
1. I'm sure Ron Paul could afford an add too.
Posted at 11:36AM on Jan 27th 2008 by bet super bowl
2. Good. Now we can all sit back and enjoy the Super Bowl in peace, without constantly being interrupted by one of these idiots claiming to be qualified (none of them are) to be our next President.
Posted at 6:14AM on Jan 28th 2008 by Mark Manozzi
3. THANK YOU FOX. WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE LYING,COWARDLY POLITICIANS ON THE MOST TREASURED OF ALL SPORTS' DAYS IN AMERICA.
Posted at 6:17AM on Jan 28th 2008 by SGTMIKE132
4. We don't need any lies being expressed during the Superbowl, just let me watch my steroid, HGH gorillas smash each other....thanx Fox you're F&B.
Posted at 6:42AM on Jan 28th 2008 by arf
5. Excellent decision by Fox. Now we can enjoy the game!
Posted at 6:49AM on Jan 28th 2008 by Solomon
6. SgtMike132. Ron Paul will not defend this country. He does not understand the threat we face. He has his head in the sand the same way the world did when Hitler was starting his rise toward world domination. Ron Paul has learned nothing from history. You say Fox News is totally Republican. ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC are totally leftist Democrat. At least Fox News presents both sides of an issue. Can't say that about the rest of the news shows. Ron Paul will not even be on the ballot in November unless he runs as a third party candidate. Of course he is egoistic enough to do that. Would definitely insure a HIllary win. Wow, wouldn't that be wonderful. Socialism here we come.
Posted at 6:49AM on Jan 28th 2008 by ChiefJAT
7. The only lie bigger than Fox being "Fair and Balanced" is the one about their being a "Liberal Media" in this country. This is simply another lie spoon fed to stupid Republican voters who can't think for themselves. The Media in the United States is an overwhelmingly Corporate Conservative Media. There has never been a "liberal news channel" in the way that Fox is a "conservative news channel....O.K. here it comes, wait for it....Fox news is not a "real" news channel. It is the propaganda arm of the Republican Party. Nothing more, nothing less. It is an afront to true Democracy and the only thing sadder than having a blantant propaganda machine masking itself as a real news channel on our television screens is the sad reality that their are knuckle-dragging mouth breathers out there that actually whatch that joke and think it's true.
Wake-up America. The same morons that watch that channel are the same idiots who elected George "worst president in american history" Bush as president. But don't worry, no Republican ( including Ron "I'm not really crazzzzzzy " Paul ) stands an ice cubes chance in Hell ( a make believe place ) of getting elected in this counrty for the next decade....maybe more. Only problem is whatever Democrat does get in will spend YEARS cleaning up the disaster the Republicans have left behind.Peace out.
Posted at 7:17AM on Jan 28th 2008 by Gregg Libbey
8. Way to go FOX. Who needs this political BS during the Super Bowl. The only people that critcize FOX for being "fair and balanced" are the far left supporters and news media that are scared to death to see both sides of the coin. They have been brain washed for so many years that do not know the difference between truth and fictional media bias. Ted Turner & Company are so upset because FOX NEWS consistently kicks their ass in ratings because the American people do not buy this liberal media BS for one second........
Posted at 7:30AM on Jan 28th 2008 by JFCJR
9. THANK YOU FOX!!!
Posted at 7:36AM on Jan 28th 2008 by DQ
10. what a stupid set of comments there mr.Libbey.so repubs cant think for themselves?? im an independent,so can they judge for themselves too? probably not in your convoluted view.there isw a known leftest view in the media,I know that for sure.especially news companies such as nbc and msnbc,cbs.fox is truely fair and balanced no question about that.you just dont want to admit that.
Posted at 7:40AM on Jan 28th 2008 by DANNY CORNETT
11. i wouldn't mind a political ad if they could be creative and funny... but then again their politicians.. what was i thinking? hang on america, with the choices we have this election we are in trouble..
Posted at 7:41AM on Jan 28th 2008 by joe
12. right on danny. funny how all the democrats deny the political views of television.
Posted at 7:43AM on Jan 28th 2008 by joe
13. Ron Paul is one of the few who have the money. But seeing as Fox (and other mainstream media) censors him, I am not surprised.
Posted at 7:50AM on Jan 28th 2008 by Geraci51
14. any commercial with a Democrat on it would surely be funny , because they are all Idiots. LOL
Posted at 7:55AM on Jan 28th 2008 by Thomas Stevens
15. I think they are beating around the bush. I think they stooped to lying to save face. Me thinks they must be very afraid of the Democrats this time around. Why don't they just tell it like it is? :: chuckles ::
Posted at 8:00AM on Jan 28th 2008 by JustMe
16. Thank God. Now I know I will watch the Super Bowl. The ads are the best thing about the game anyway, and now without having to see those idiots, they will be even better! I mean, we've been listening to them argue now for how long? And they still lie through their teeth and say nothing anyway....what a waste of money they could be using to help the poor and homeless in THIS country.
Posted at 8:04AM on Jan 28th 2008 by Lori
17. Screw our country's future, Let's watch some Football. We've had enough distractions already!
Posted at 8:10AM on Jan 28th 2008 by G-Mann
18. thanks Fox
Posted at 8:14AM on Jan 28th 2008 by upChunc
19. maybe they could do the same for the daytona 500
Posted at 8:16AM on Jan 28th 2008 by kevin
20. Halleluia!!! At least a few hours without these idiots BSing all over my TV. Thanks, Fox!!!
Posted at 8:18AM on Jan 28th 2008 by Cissy