Issues@Hand
AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs
January 1994 – Despite thousands of calls and letters, General Motors (GM) has refused to respond to a request that they stop their advertising on ABC. On October 20, American Family Association president Donald E. Wildmon asked GM to pull their advertising from ABC after the network began their new program NYPD Blue featuring pornography.
Based on the last two monitoring periods, AFA discovered that GM is the largest advertiser on ABC. Because NYPD Blue continues to lose about $1-1.5 million per episode, the network depends on advertising revenue from sponsors of other programs to pay the bills. GM provides ABC more money than any other advertiser.
“The millions of dollars which GM provides ABC helps the network continue their assault on the family and underwrite the pornography on NYPD Blue. GM did not even consider the thousands of calls and letters worthy of a response,” Wildmon said. “They have not even attempted to defend their support of the network.”
GM was among the top sponsors of violence, sex and profanity during AFA’s last monitoring period. “We are aware that GM, like nearly every other advertiser on TV, has not sponsored NYPD Blue. However, their continued support for ABC indicates that they have no reservations about supporting a network dedicated to bringing pornography into the homes of millions of American families,” Wildmon stated.
He said that AFA is not calling for a boycott of GM at this time, but will wait a little longer to see if GM will change their attitude. AFA supporters are asked to contact local GM dealers and ask that they convey their request for the company to pull advertising from ABC to Pres. Jack Smith at GM. GM makes Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Oldsmobile and Cadillac cars and GMC trucks. Write Pres. Jack Smith, General Motors Corporation, 3044 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202. If you desire to call, we suggest you call Pres. Smith person-to-person. The caller does not pay unless you get to speak with Pres. Smith. The number is 313-556-5000.
AFA also encourages churches and individuals to contact local companies advertising on local ABC affiliates which carry NYPD Blue. Local advertisers’ support of the local ABC affiliates indicates they believe a station showing pornography deserves support. Approximately 50 ABC affiliates are still refusing to show the program.
Local advertisers have stopped advertising on ABC affiliates in Memphis, Birmingham, Oklahoma City, Knoxville, St. Louis and other cities across the country because of calls and letters from local individuals.
The New York Times, in an article critical of AFA’s efforts in fighting NYPD Blue, nevertheless said that AFA’s campaign “has been a smashing success.” AFA has learned that companies which advertise on NYPD Blue are paying only 10%, or $11,500, of the regular rates of $115,000 per 30 seconds. In addition, the network is airing many R-rated movie ads free.
CCA Industries, a major advertiser on NYPD Blue, would have spent $1.38 million on the program if they paid $230,000 per minute as ABC states. Wildmon said CCA Industries reported a profit of only $1.21 million for the year 1992. “ABC wants us to believe that CCA has spent more advertising on NYPD Blue than their total profits last year. It is obvious that ABC is lying to save face,” Wildmon said.
Volkswagen began sponsoring the program because of the cheap rates, publicly admitting they were aware of the sexual nudity, profane language and extreme violence on the program. “It’s a good medium for showcasing our new products,” said Volkswagen spokesman Tony Fouladpour.
The address: Volkswagen of America, Chrm. Ferdinand Piech, P.O. Box 3951, Troy, MI 48007, phone 313-340-5000, FAX 313-340-4930. Volkswagen makes Audi and Volkswagen autos. 
