NBC Refuses To Air Anti-Obama Movie Commercial

An NBC affiliate has refused to air an ad for a political ideology film about President Barack Obama. The 30-second commercial for There’s No Place Like Utopia focuses on the progressive ideology the creator imputes to President Obama and the Democratic Party.

KUSA-TV in Denver reportedly told anti-Obama movie filmmaker Joel Gilbert that the commercial for There’s No Place Like Utopia must be in compliance with Federal Election Commission (FEC) requirements for a political advertisement in order to be aired on the NBC affiliate. Gilbert was quick to point out that the president is not running for office and also noted that the movie does not focus on a specific political candidate in the Democratic Party.

Joel Gilbert had this to say about the Obama movie:

“I am a media entity, a producer of documentary films, and I’m not subject to any FCC regulations. My film focuses on President Barack Obama’s progressive political philosophy, and Barack Obama under the 22nd Amendment cannot run for re-election for president. Nobody mentioned or featured in my documentary is running for election this year.”

The political documentary maker had budgeted $50,000 for radio and television in Denver. The Utopia film is slated to premiere on July 18 at the Regal UA Colorado Center Stadium 9 & IMAX in Denver. Only the NBC affiliate KSUA-TV has refused to air commercials for the movie.

There’s No Place Like Utopia synopsis:

“Why did Dorothy follow the yellow brick road? Film maker Joel Gilbert journeys across America to find out what’s at the end of the Progressive rainbow – Utopia or something far worse? From the ruins of Detroit to the slums of Chicago’s South Side, and from Denver’s illegal immigration invasion to Newark’s urban removal project, Gilbert pulls back the curtain. He confronts Progressives on his quest, and takes us deep into their political fantasy of paradise on earth. There’s No Place Like Utopia is a humorous and horrifying exploration of Progressivism, amnesty for illegals, race relations, Islam in America, political correctness, and Barack Obama himself, who promises to “remake the world as it should be.” But is Utopia a real destination for America? Or, does the true path to happiness still remain faith, family, and hard work – back home in Kansas?”

“What Channel 9 wants is for me to fill out a FEC Political Broadcast form PB-18 and change the content of the advertisement to demonstrate that it is a political advertisement,” Joel Gilbert said. KUSA National Sales Manager Amy Nisenson reportedly told Gilbert in an email that the Obama documentary commercial would need sponsorship identification as mandated by Federal Election Commission laws.

The email sent on June 20 reportedly read:

“You spots must explicitly state that it is ‘paid for’ by the entity purchasing the time. The sponsorship ID must appear at the beginning or the end of the spot. Television spots must have the visual ID with letters that constitute at least 4 percent of the vertical picture height (20 scan lines) and must air for at least four seconds. The FCC has stated that each line of type must meet the 4 percent requirement and that if upper and lower case type are used, the 4 percent requirement applies to the lower case (smaller) type. The ID must be set against a background that does not reduce the announcement’s legibility.”

Unable to fathom the obstacles placed in front of the airing of the commercial for a political documentary, Joel Gilbert added:

“Of course, none of my spots for TV or radio are political advertisement. The commercials are meant to publicize the movie premiere. I doubt Michael Moore would have to face this requirement if he were to premiere a new documentary in Denver.”

What do you think about the refusal of the NBC affiliate to air commercials for the anti-Obama movie?