State Farm ads were never supposed to run on Glenn Beck; company "evaluating" its ad buys

[babylonsister]

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200908120022


State Farm ads were never supposed to run on Glenn Beck; company "evaluating" its ad buys

August 12, 2009 12:36 pm ET by Eric Boehlert

That's the word from the insurance giant, whose representative posted in the comment section of a Media Matters research item today {emphasis added}:

In response to inquiries concerning State Farm's recent advertisements in the Glenn Beck program, I want to clarify this situation.

We have a policy of not advertising on political or opinion programming. We have corrected this issue and have taken steps to make sure it does not happen again.

Understanding our millions of customers and thousands of associates hold a full spectrum of views on political issues, State Farm has a long-standing practice of not advertising in political discussion programming regardless of a program's political point of view.

Because of the recent situation, State Farm is now evaluating its commercial placement practices to ensure its political issues advertising guidelines are maintained.

Phil Supple
Public Affairs
State Farm Insurance

[Why Syzygy]

1. No doubt they prefer to do their paid sponsoring of political

viewpoints behind closed doors. Not on national television.

[liberalmike27]

2. You Know

Glen has to be pretty fucked up to have the insurance companies cancel their ads. This supports my thinking, that perhaps all the redneck, dummies at these town halls are doing us a favor, and turning off the more intelligent of the right-wingers, making them not want to associate themselves with the anti-insurance crowd.

[babylonsister]

3. I'm sure the complaints these companies are getting are

having an impact, thankfully.

[Champion Jack]

5. good news

[Chemisse]

4. Another one down :)

Who's next?

[Berry Cool]

6. Just like a wacked-out neighbor,

that's Glenn Beck.

And State Farm may no longer be there.

[HopeHoops]

7. So why are they on FOX at all?

The entire channel is opinion!

[lpbk2713]

8. Then they ought to review who spends their company's advertising $$$

And call their RW loving ass on the carpet.

[guitar man]

10. That would most likely be an ad agency

And they might not be RW loving as much as they are $$$ loving. Their priorities are to get as many ads placed for the dollars they have available so they can collect all the commission they can.

[guitar man]

9. well then

They need to call their agency on the carpet over it if true. If they had it in their advertiser/agency agreement not to place the ads in programs like Beck and the agency did it anyway, it may be time to fire them and get a new agent. Some agencies are notorious for placing ads wherever they can place them just to get the dollars on the books.