On the surface, a 30-second Super Bowl ad featuring college football’s Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, talking about family seems like a good match. But red flags went up when the conservative, anti-abortion, anti-gay rights organization Focus on the Family announced that they were behind the spot. In the ad, Pam Tebow, whose husband run an evangelical Christian association, talks about ignoring her doctors’ recommendations that she have an abortion when pregnant with Tim.

What makes CBS’s decision to carry the ad unusual is that the network has long had a policy of prohibiting advocacy ads—i.e. those they deem promote messages that are controversial and divisive. In the past, the network rejected Super Bowl ads from gay marriage proponents, the United Church of Christ, and PETA, among others.

On Tuesday, a letter signed by two dozen groups, mostly with feminist and pro-choice leanings, was delivered to CBS urging the network “to immediately cancel this ad and refuse any other advertisement promoting Focus on the Family’s agenda.” The letter cited the organization’s “brand of un-American hate,” against “non-traditional families.” A spokesman for Focus says, “there’s nothing political and controversial,” about their ad which, “celebrates families.”

In response, CBS said it would consider “responsibly produced ads from all groups” for the remaining spots during the Super Bowl, which is usually the highest-rated show on TV each year. The network also said it has modified their approach to advocacy submission, citing recent ads on conflicting side of the health care debate.

http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/news/cbs-plans-controversial-super-bowl-ad-3873.html

What makes the message so controversial, especially in comparison to the Go Daddy ads featuring Danica Patrick?

I don't understand why honoring the sanctity of all human life is controversial. I don't see this ad that way. I see it as positive and life affirming. And I applaud CBS for running it.

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.”

ManCrunch’s submission is not the only controversial ad CBS has had to review this year. On Wednesday, the network announced that they had approved a pro-life commercial starring Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, funded by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, to air during the game.

“CBS’s recent decision to air an anti-choice advertisement during Super Bowl XLIV was outrageous,” a rep from advocacy group The Women’s Media Center said. “Even worse is the network’s about face from its own policy of rejecting controversial Super Bowl ads.

"The Women’s Media Center and organizations dedicated to reproductive rights, tolerance, and social justice, are urging the network to immediately cancel this ad.”

CBS is reportedly standing by their decision, and producers said they would consider accepting any other "responsibly produced" advocacy ads for broadcast.