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NBC runs ads for its own shows because they make money off the shows. They can't make money showing a "controversial" ad like the UCC submission, and they might invite some unwelcome scrutiny from the ever-capricious Michael Powell and his hellish little minions at the FCC.
The major media in this country are extremely vulnerable to right-wing intimidation, and have been for over 50 years. During the Red Scare of the 1950s, the networks pulled shows based on the say-so of a grocery store owner who had a "chain" of three stores in upstate New York. Anyone who appeared on a network television show who had suspicious ties or sympathies (for example, Paul Robeson) would be targeted by this nutjob and his fanatical cohorts. Say, Robeson appeared on the Arthur Godfrey Show, sponsored by Swanson Frozen TV Dinners. Signs would go up in this guy's stores over the Swanson display that customers buying this product were supporting Communists. Swanson's sales would fall off, Swanson would contact the network, and the network would inform Arthur Godfrey that he should exercise a little more care in booking his guests.
Today, a similar dynamic is involved, and no overt threat or fine or discipline even has to be mentioned. NBC, all on its own, decides that the UCC commercial is "controversial" and trumps up some bullshit reason for not running it. The Bush administration doesn't have to lift a finger, because NBC will censor itself so as to protect those fat defense contracts its ownership at General Electric is so dependent on. The Bushistas can honestly say that they didn't have a thing to do with the cowardly decision by NBC. NBC went into the tank all by itself.
Of course, meanwhile, NBC will gladly run all sorts of ads for stuff you can't buy, such as prescription drugs that might wind up killing you. But that pleases large pharmaceutical companies, so that's okay. Showing a church where everyone and anyone can walk through the front door is subversive, controversial and above all, bad for bidness.
If any of y'all are ever in Portland, pop by Peace Church of the Brethren. Our doors are similarly open.
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