Calling All Activists - CBS and FOX Refuse to Air Condom Ads, but Sexually Explicit Shows Are Okay?

Calling all activists: Planned Parenthood needs you to write into CBS and FOX television networks demanding air time for messages that teach the public about safe sex and responsible choices. This is in response to recent reports that CBS and FOX are refusing to air condom advertisements. Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards is arguing the double standards of this decision,

“For years, FOX and CBS have been taking sex to the bank. They have a responsibility to promote good public health practices, including using condoms to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.”

A FOX Television spokesperson claimed, in the New York Times, that the network's choice is based on its opinion that condom ads "must stress health-related issues rather than the prevention of pregnancy." It seems rather hypocritical to me that these networks have no qualms about airing shows drenched in sexual content.

In fact, according to Planned Parenthood, 70 percent of all shows and 77 percent of prime-time shows contained sexual content in 2005. Fox’s recently ended series The OC contained an average of 6.7 sexual scenes an hour, and this was a show whose main audience was teenagers. Similarly, CBS had no problem airing the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

I agree with Richard’s statement that “When it comes to public health and preventing unintended pregnancy, major networks like FOX and CBS should be leading the charge to promote healthy behavior.” I am not quite sure what these network executives mean by saying that their ads must promote health issues rather than pregnancy prevention. It seems like common sense to me that preventing unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases can be considered two of the more significant health issues afflicting US men, women, and teenagers today.

I don’t understand how Fox and CBS can justify that it is irresponsible to use their influential platforms to educate America about the benefits of condoms, yet they have absolutely no issue about broadcasting prolific amounts of sexually-saturated TV programming targeting, not only adults, but our teenagers as well. Seriously, what is going on here?

If you have any information as to who to email or write to regarding this matter, please post your information here, so I can share it with the rest of my readers.

Condom Protesters Photo courtesy of David McNew/Getty Images