Commercials During Prime Time
By Kay on Sat, Jan 24, 2009
I’m NOT one of those moms. I’m not big on exclaiming the evils of television for children. I actually think there is some good, educational programming out there. And, I’m sure that some moms wouldn’t even allow as much ‘screen time’ as I do.
So, there’s my disclaimer before launching into the following rant…
What is up with commercials lately?!?!?
The other night, my 5 year old daughter, Kate, and I were watching Superstars of Dance. We were both excited to catch it on tv. She was excited because she LOVES dancing of any kind. She’s enthralled and entranced by all kinds of dancing – ballroom, ballet, hip hop, jazz – she really does love it all. I was excited because I loved the idea of watching the different countries compete and then finding them on the globe – kind of a geography lesson rolled in with the fun of watching some dancing.
During one of the commercial breaks there was a trailer for an upcoming horror flick. (Keep in mind, it’s only 7 o’clock.) The moving images that were on our television screen during that 30 second commercial were incredibly disturbing to ME, much less to my 5yo. And that was with the sound muted. I’m sorry, but watching a man walking on hands and knees while his head turns around backwards, is a little more than disconcerting. [I would link to it here so that you would know what I’m talking about, but 1) I don’t want to give the movie any more press than it’s already getting 2) Quite honestly, I don’t want to be disturbed by seeing those images again and 3) There are several movies coming out right now that are doing the same kind of thing. Besides all that, I think you get the picture.]
I know they’re probably going for shock value – which they’ve definitely achieved. I know that there’s a huge market for these movies, especially to teenagers (which is probably another rant for another day). I know that it’s a free country and they can play these kinds of commercials whenever they like. But, honestly, does we have to subject small children to these kinds of things during the first hour of prime time? During a ‘family-friendly’ tv show?
I’m incensed. I know that many more intelligent people have been ranting about sex and violence on tv for much longer than myself, but I this really sent me over the edge. Is this really the best the networks have to offer? So, now, I’m off to write a letter… which I NEVER do… but, there’s really only so much that a person can handle.
So, you tell me. Am I off my rocker? Am I just overly sensitive to this particular brand of advertising? What do you think? Have you written a letter before? How do you handle things that push your buttons in advertising? Leave me a comment below…
Written by Kay Hesketh - Visit WebsiteTags: parenting-tips
January 26th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Kam worked with an organization called “Enough is enough” and got a great response. They wrote letters to McDonald’s about their ads on BET. The ads were not the bad part, it was actually the shows on BET. The letter simply said that they were McDonald’s customers that did not appreciate them funding the network during these shows. Kam said McD’s pulled the ads during those inappropriate shows.
January 26th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Glad to hear that! I finally found an email address for NBC that I’ll be using this week. Hopefully something can be done to change things. Just glad to know that I’m not alone! 🙂
January 27th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I know just what you’re speaking of. Maggie saw it and ran to Steven. I yelled for him to change it.
YES……enough is enough!
January 28th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Dawna~
Glad to know you saw it and ‘freaked out’ about it, too! As soon as I write my letter, I’ll forward it to you so you can write one, too. 🙂
January 28th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Kay-
I know exactly what you’re talking about! There are even some previews that I can’t watch because they freak me out too much and I have to change the channel or shut my eyes or leave the room. And I’m a grown up! How do they honestly expect little kids to watch that stuff? It’s irresponsible and it makes me worry about having kids later on down the road and how I’m going to do TV with them. Brett and I have talked about how we’re going to handle that and all of the provocative commercials and other stuff that is going on and it already has us both more than a little peeved. And we don’t even have kids…yet 🙂
Cuss words on morning TV are starting to concern me too…but that’s an entirely different conversation :).
-TA
March 6th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Hi, I wanted to tell you about our experience. My husband was just sitting down with our 7 year daughter to watch some baseball. I think it’s on ESPN. It’s only 7:30, anyway a Viagra commercial came on, do I need to say anything else! We had to rush her out of the room because we could not find the remote fast enough. This is insane, we can’t even watch sports with our children(my children are having their first t-ball game tomorrow, so they though they would watch a game om T.V.)any more. Please help! What can I do to stop these kind of commercials playing so early. Is there anything we can do?
March 21st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I try to have a moderate parenting style, and agree that some tv can be educational. However, I was just reading books to my 18 month old son at 6:30 tonight, and saw an advertisement for an upcoming horror movie. I agree that I find the advertisement disturbing as an adult let alone a child. I really think they understand more than we think they do. I am going to keep searching online to see where I can send a letter or email, but let me know if any of you already have some contact information.
November 2nd, 2011 at 8:49 pm
Would love to know if you ever found an address for this issue…here I am in 2011 still seeing the same things advertised during inappropriate times and programming…something needs to be done…Please if you figured out to whom we should send our letters share the address with me.