Senators Press CBS’s Moonves on Not Running Local Choice Ads

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) wrote a letter to CBS President Leslie Moonves asking why CBS refused to run ads for the cable-backed "Local Choice" proposal.

They said that they recognized CBS had the right to "exercise appropriate discretion over its advertising practices," they said they needed answers related to the blocking of commercial ads "in this instance." Given CBS' obligation to operate in the public interest -- which they suggest includes allowing an "open and honest debate" about the future of the video marketplace -- the senators say they want Moonves to explain some things: why the ads did not meet advertising standards, whether CBS recognized the ads were to run on other platforms, whether CBS provided a reason for not airing the ads, whether CBS has refused to air ads related to communications policies in the past and would it ever consider denying ads to political committees which CBS disagrees with. They also wanted a response to this observation: "Quoting from Justice Brandeis, in cases where CBS has an editorial or commercial position contrary to a prospective advertiser seeking to espouse a reasonable though different view, isn't the best remedy more speech, rather than enforced speech?"