CBS Sports

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 10:51am on Monday, February 1st, 2010

CBS Rejects Gay Dating Site Super Bowl Ad

CNN/Money reported on January 29, 2010:

"Super Bowl network CBS rejected an ad Friday from ManCrunch.com, a gay dating Web site.

"After reviewing the ad, which is entirely commercial in nature, our standards and practices department decided not to accept this particular spot," said CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs. "We are always open to working with a client on alternative submissions."

CBS said it turned down the ad partly for financial reasons, but ManCrunch believes that there's more to it than that.

"It's straight-up discrimination," said Elissa Buchter, spokeswoman for the Toronto-based dating site.

Jacobs of CBS declined to comment on the charge of discrimination.

Buchter provided a copy of the CBS rejection letter to CNNMoney, which states that the ad "is not within the Network's broadcast standards for Super Bowl Sunday."

The letter also states that the CBS sales department "has had difficulty verifying [ManCrunch's] credit status."

Buchter said that basing the rejection on credit status doesn't make sense because "we offered to pay cash." But Jacobs said CBS has no record of any such offer."

The full story:
http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/29/news/companies/mancrunch_ad_super_bowl/

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 10:32am on Friday, January 29th, 2010

CBS Considering Whether to Run Gay Dating Ad During Super Bowl

FoxNews.com reported on January 28, 2010:

"After days of deliberations on whether to run a controversial Super Bowl ad from gay dating site ManCrunch.com, CBS has not yet reached a decision.

The 30-second spot shows two men excitedly watching the game, before their hands brush as they both reach into a bowl of chips. Suddenly, the two begin making out, much to the shock of a guy sitting close by.

According to a rep for the dating site, which operates under the slogan “Where Many Many Many Men Come Out to Play,” the ad was submitted on Monday, January 18th. When the site followed up on the status of the ad on Friday, January 22nd, they were told by CBS that “the spot hadn’t been officially approved yet" by network standards, and that "all the Super Bowl spots were sold out.”

“ManCrunch requested the spot get reviewed anyway just in case another advertiser drops out and a spot becomes available, as often happens, and CBS agreed,” added the site’s rep.

ManCrunch officials said they believe CBS has no intention of airing a commercial for their gay dating service, "but do not want to officially ‘reject’ the spot out of fear there may be a backlash from gay advocacy groups.”

However, a representative from the network told Pop Tarts that advertising spots were still open, and was unsure where that comment originated.

“The ad is still under review, the process takes a little while,” a rep from CBS said. “We still have a lot of ads we have yet to review.”

The full story:
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/01/28/exclusive-cbs-limbo-air-gay-dating-site-ad-super-bowl/

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 10:59am on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

CBS Golf Analyst Says, "One Word About Tiger, I Will Get Fired," The Sydney Morning Herald reported on December 14, 2009:

"Former British Open champion and respected CBS golf commentator Ian Baker-Finch has been gagged by the US network from talking about Tiger Woods' dramatic fall from grace.

"Mate, if I say one word about Tiger I will get fired," Baker-Finch said before playing in Australia's richest one-day pro-am at Wynnum Golf Club today.

Woods announced last week that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence from the sport to work on saving his marriage after admitting to infidelity.

While Baker-Finch was unwilling to comment on Woods' travails, he was adamant that young gun Michael Sim had what it took to break Australia's US Masters duck."

The full story:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/golf/bakerfinch-gagged-about-commentating-on-tiger-20091214-krxl.html

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 1:44pm on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

On August 31, 2009, CBS Interactive and The Sports Illustrated Group announced a partnership in which they will share and distribute many digital and print assets, combining strengths from two major sports media brands.

MaxPreps.com, a CBS web site covering high school sports, will now be featured in SI.com's High School section front, as well as become the engine for the iconic Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd franchise both in print and digital.

Select Sports Illustrated writers, including David Feherty and Seth Davis, will be syndicated across the CBS Sports website.

CBSSports.com will feature direct links across its site to SI.com's award-winning writers, including Peter King and Tom Verducci. SI.com will promote live sports video on CBSSports.com such as SEC Live and Fantasy Football Today.

"We're thrilled to be partnering with Sports Illustrated for a deal that truly highlights the strengths of two very powerful brands in sports media," said Jason Kint, Senior Vice President and General Manager, CBSSports.com. "The increased exposure for MaxPreps.com through its association with Faces in the Crowd, as well as the content sharing with Sports Illustrated writers on CBSSports.com, should truly be a winning combination for both sides."

"The prospect of teaming some of the assets of The Sports Illustrated Group with CBSSports.com is truly exciting," said SI.com Managing Editor, Paul Fichtenbaum. "The combination will provide an outstanding service to users as well as shine a brighter light on our collective efforts."

Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd is one of the most recognized franchises in sports media. Many of the greatest athletes in the last 50 years came to national attention first in this feature. Former Faces include Lew Alcindor, Earvin Johnson, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Jack Nicklaus, Andy Roddick, Ben Roethlisberger, Emmitt Smith, Bill Walton, and Tiger Woods.