(Feb. 4) -- The Super Bowl may be over, but a big Super Bowl battle continues off of the field. The NFL says they may take action against CBS for allowing its affiliates to air Las Vegas commercials during the big game. The NFL refused to air Las Vegas commercials because they say the city and gambling go hand in hand. The commercials were still seen by an estimated 17 million Super Bowl viewers, and that has the NFL calling foul.
The commercial at the center of the controversy did not have a single word in it. But it now has the NFL making a lot of noise after the NFL banned CBS from airing the ad during the nationally televised game. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority found five local CBS affiliates who agreed to run it. "We certainly did not mean to aggravate the NFL," says President of the LVCVA. "We were just able to buy in those markets and we took advantage of it." The markets where the commercial aired were Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco.
Las Vegas Advertising Firm, R & R Partners produced the commercials, and bought the airtime. CEO Billy Vassiliades says he does not understand why the NFL is so upset, because when Las Vegas commercials ran in local markets during Super Bowls in 1999 and again in 2001, the NFL didn't say a word. Vassiliades says the NFL is inconsistent. "If the commissioners want us to adhere to certain guidelines to advertise on an NFL game, okay. We'll sit down and talk to them about that," says Vassiliades.
However, the NFL says there is nothing to talk about. They do not want any Las Vegas ads airing during any game. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy says the NFL was unaware that Las Vegas ran ads on affiliates in previous years, but now that they know it's going on they will make sure it never happens again.
"The NFL has a long standing policy against network partner and affiliates accepting advertising that would be inappropriate as it relates to gambling. When we find out, we take action and that's what we're going to be doing with Viacom and CBS," says McCarthy.
The NFL would not comment on what specific action they plan to take against CBS and owner Viacom. R & R Partners say next year they will try to buy airtime from local affiliates once again, and if the NFL blocks them, they will still get Las Vegas' message out by buying airtime before and after the game.
Commercial.....
http://www.klastv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1631088&nav=168aKd4z
The commercial at the center of the controversy did not have a single word in it. But it now has the NFL making a lot of noise after the NFL banned CBS from airing the ad during the nationally televised game. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority found five local CBS affiliates who agreed to run it. "We certainly did not mean to aggravate the NFL," says President of the LVCVA. "We were just able to buy in those markets and we took advantage of it." The markets where the commercial aired were Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco.
Las Vegas Advertising Firm, R & R Partners produced the commercials, and bought the airtime. CEO Billy Vassiliades says he does not understand why the NFL is so upset, because when Las Vegas commercials ran in local markets during Super Bowls in 1999 and again in 2001, the NFL didn't say a word. Vassiliades says the NFL is inconsistent. "If the commissioners want us to adhere to certain guidelines to advertise on an NFL game, okay. We'll sit down and talk to them about that," says Vassiliades.
However, the NFL says there is nothing to talk about. They do not want any Las Vegas ads airing during any game. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy says the NFL was unaware that Las Vegas ran ads on affiliates in previous years, but now that they know it's going on they will make sure it never happens again.
"The NFL has a long standing policy against network partner and affiliates accepting advertising that would be inappropriate as it relates to gambling. When we find out, we take action and that's what we're going to be doing with Viacom and CBS," says McCarthy.
The NFL would not comment on what specific action they plan to take against CBS and owner Viacom. R & R Partners say next year they will try to buy airtime from local affiliates once again, and if the NFL blocks them, they will still get Las Vegas' message out by buying airtime before and after the game.
Commercial.....
http://www.klastv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1631088&nav=168aKd4z
