Aren't we a great bunch! Love the results.

I voted it makes me less inclined to shop there. I don't support a company that bows to the oversensitivity of a few in this country.

@itiswhatitis: This.

In general I don't think pulling ads would actually affect my decision to shop somewhere, but keeping the ads on a show I hate (and Glenn Beck is as close as you can get) could possibly make me less likely to shop there.

For the most part I don't care either way. I largely ignore ads anyway so I wouldn't even know about it until a media outlet makes a big deal about it. The people that run the companies buying ad spots are entitled to their beliefs and opinions just like myself. This really has no bearing on whatever product they sell and my desire to purchase said product.

It does not affect my opnion at all. Know why? I don't watch shows I don't like. If I don't watch the show, I don't know what ads are being run during the breaks.

I do not watch TV to be pissed off. I have my job for that.

To me, it depends greatly on the company. Largely, the quality of: a.) the product, and b.) the customer service. Walmart could throw their support full-tilt boogie behind Glenn Beck, but that wouldn't dissuade me from buying underwear there.

Now, obviously there are exceptions. If a company were to throw their support behind a neo-Nazi or terrorist organization, then clearly, you don't want to be in their place of business.

I'm with @Cameraman on this

I couldn't resist the *|UNSOLICITED_POLITICAL_OPINION|* option even though I rarely give one here. The results are now unreliable :o(

I think I would be influnced if the company was a pioneer rather than a follower. It's easy to disassociate (and probably appropriate) after there has been severe public outrage across board, but it takes a lot more courage to take a stand when the audience's views are not yet clear.

People still watch ads?

@icruise: Good point.

The association of a product with an abysmal content can be a lasting stain. Any of the arrogant corporate ads on Limbaugh are forever linked to his idiocy. They pay his bills.

Businesses are out to make money, and I think anything they do to make money can be interpreted as purely business decision. If they pull ads from a show, it's not as if they're doing it because they're so apalled at the content - they know people will be upset, and they want to protect their brand. I see it for what it is: a business decision to protect one's own image and profits. Companies are not in the business of being sympathetic and caring. But they know that the public is, so they line their goals up with the publics' so they can make money and still seem like the good guy.

@Cameraman: "I have my job for that."
I guess we work in the same company :)

@itiswhatitis:
"Keep in mind that this poll is not specific to what's happening with Glenn Beck's show. We're not trying to be political here"

*aheeeeeem*

*|UNSOLICITED_POLITICAL_OPINION|*

@itiswhatitis: I like the brands I like and I don't give a shit when their ads run. Pardon my French.

@pecan 3.14159265 (now with star power): And for that I give them props - sensitivity.

But like a lot of 'menters, I shop with my budget in mind a little more than my politics. I wish it weren't so.

@pecan 3.14159265 (now with star power): Like the way Kelloggs pulled the Phelps ads... and then got burned because of it.

Now I DO believe that there are probably companies out there who do or do not support something because they do not believe in it, but its rare. (Not to mention the whole mess about who gets to decide what the company stands for, and whether in doing so are they suppressing rights of the employees or not)

@MostlyHarmless: I make my own unsolicited political opinions at home. And I put them in airtight jars for the future.

@TinkishDelight: my bad, I was still wrapped up in the "Mayoral" post. That is the only thing I will apologize for on this site, I didn't read that disclaimer. I am not trying to derail the topic.

You should add in a choice in the poll:

I have a DVR and don't watch commercials.

That about sums up why I don't care what any company does with their advertising. However, I also think it's a bit hypocritical to pay for advertising on a show that anyone can tell has occasional outrageous programming, and then remove said ad time when the content is outrageous, but it doesn't affect my buying decisions in the slightest. . .

I think it carries more weight if they pull advertisements before the controversy. That shows that they are reacting to the show itself and not just pandering to a demographic's outrage.

@pecan 3.14159265 (now with star power): Oh please, everyone knows that *|UNSOLICITED_POLITICAL_OPINIONS|* are best put in Loud Speakers. Set to play in the middle of any conversation. No matter what the conversation is.

I'm switching from GEICO to another insurance company and getting my parents to drop their AARP subscriptions.

@sybann: There is not enough room in the wallet for both money and politics.

A boycott reflects negatively on the company as it shows they cave into extortion. You do not negotiate with terrorists.

The Family Guy episode about abortion is not going to be aired not because of the show content putting off viewers, but instead they fear it'll put off advertisers.
[www.eonline.com]

So, in a sense, Fox is saying that the Glenn Beck commercial pull doesn't bother them but then turns around and cancels (effectively) an episode of a different show because of perceived advertiser reaction.

Strange. But, then again, it is Fox.

I won't fault a company for choosing not to support political speech, no matter what that political speech is - so it would not make me less likely to shop someplace if they pulled their ads.

Whether it would make me more likely to do business with a company depends on what you mean by more likely. More likely than if they left their ads on the show? Possibly. More likely than if they had never had their ads on their show in the first place? Not likely. If they refused to pull their ads despite hate speech or other terrible things, I probably wouldn't give them my business. If they did pull their ads I would still give them my business if I otherwise would have. But I'm not going to shop at a store JUST because they pulled their ads.

@itiswhatitis: Are you saying you think no one on television ever crosses the line of what is acceptable behavior? Or do you believe there is no line, and that anyone should feel free to say anything, and never be called out for it?

Where is the option for "I have a DVR and avoid all adverts at all costs". Honestly 90% of all advertising during a show will make me want to change the channel.

To any market researchers or media types.
1: commercials that don't have even an iota to do with the sponsored show are painful to watch
2: mid show commercials should go away, like I said, with a dvr I DECIDE what commercials I see and when I see them.
3: extending between show advertising space and eliminating mid show commercials would make me a very happy viewer/consumer.

It depends why the company is dropping the ads. The best reason for a company to drop ads with a bad show is that the show is not watched by people who buy their products. Another reason is a real or threatened boycott. Companies don't place ads because they love or agree with the program, they place ads where they think they can catch the eye of their customers.

In Glen Beck's case, I think it's probably due to a threatened boycott by those organizations which don't like Beck (such as ColorOfChange.org), who probably don't watch the show anyway.

This will blow over, they will return to advertising on Beck's show (assuming his numbers stay where they are, which it looks like they are), and everyone will MoveOn to the next politically incorrect view of the day.

@MostlyHarmless: *|UNECESSARILY_LONG_TMI_PERSONAL_STORY_WITH_FLIMSY_RELATION_TO_CREDIT_UNION_FOR_LIFE_CONCLUSION|*

@itiswhatitis: I prefer to shop at places that put their money where their mouth is. I disagree with Chick-fil-a's opinions, but I love that they close on Sundays, because they are trying to do what they believe in. Same with Franklin Covey.

If a company disagree with the opinions of Glenn Beck, damned straight they shouldn't support it. If a group of people want to band together to protest something, good for them getting heard.

Make no mistake, these companies agree with the protesters. Wal-mart? Wal-mart doesn't care about a protest unless it agrees with the cause. Same with Progressive. These are huge companies, who have lived with unpopular positions in the past, they had no interest in defending Beck's crap.

How about choosing a company because they DO advertise?

I listen to WCPT radio [www.chicagoprogressivetalk.com] Progressive talk radio, one of the few remaining independent radio stations.

I go out of my way to patronize advertisers on their show, because I am grateful they spend their ad dollars supporting a station I respect.

@TinkishDelight: Being as awesome as I am, I can read the whole comment, even though it pops right outside the box (without doing "view source" no less)

*|UNECESSARILY_LONG_TMI_PERSONAL_STORY_WITH_FLIMSY_RELATION

_TO_CREDIT_UNION_FOR_LIFE_CONCLUSION|*

@itiswhatitis: So you're apt to stop purchasing from a company to punish it in response to them stopping their purchasing from a company to punish it?

Well well well.

@itiswhatitis:For me it depends on what they're reacting to. Most the time I agree with you (or would, if I wasn't so apathetic about these things to being with), but every once in a while it seems justified. Though I can't think of any examples off the top of my head.

@pecan 3.14159265 (now with star power):

I'd be careful about figuring the math. Consider that somebody has to be watching the show to be offended, and if they're being offended by proxy - they're unlikely to know the show's sponsors. At least I've never seen a list of them in the broadcast.

In the end, if any particular controversy doesn't result in a signifcant drop in viewership(a reason to drop ads itself), it obviously wasn't too offensive.

Still, I'd consider it in the sense that 'no publicity is bad publicity' considering that I've only ever seen reports of companies pulling ads - never keeping them. So I might pull them for a month then quietly sign back on.

I don't even pay attention to the ads, so it obviously makes no difference.

What is this "commercial" of which you speak? Don't you guys just DVR it and then fast-forward through that?

Eh, I'm ambivilent regarding Beck (which I realize this post is not about him, bear with me...) He's just another pundit schlepping his brand of politics on TV, no different from Maddow, Olberman, Hannity or O'Reilly.

As for pulling the ads... Generally speaking, when advertisers pull their ads due to "controversial" issues on a program, it's not about the "issues." Rather, it's about ratings. If the issue is controversial enough, ratings fall, thus giving them an opportunity to pull advertising from a slot with falling viewership, while maintaining the appearnce of taking a stand on said issue.

Since Beck's ratings continue to be strong, the advertisers seem to be needlessly pulling their ads for what can be interpretted as either strong-arming from or kowtowing to a particular political group.

@JennQPublic: your opinion of acceptable behavior and mine may vary on many different levels. If something is outright racist "kill all niggers" then absolutely they should be pulled from the airways. If you got upset because a rap artist said bitch but I didn't then that is your personal boundary not mine. Your boundary is no more important than mine. There is a universal understanding of what true hate speech is and it is never acceptable.

You being personally offended by something does not justify a radio show or television show being pulled. Don't like what that person had to say that's cool, don't listen to them anymore or watch their show, but don't ruin it for others that don't share your beliefs.

@icruise: my thought on this whole thing all along has been that if they hadn't made a big deal over the news of the ads being pulled, I never would have known what companies advertise on Glen Beck, because I don't like him, therefor I don't watch him to know who advertises with him. So I can't really say that in a normal situation that advertising on a show I dislike would cause me to distance myself from a company, because I'm unlikely to know they did advertise there.

@citking: No. This is more of a ploy to sell DVDs. According to an interview I read, they knew the script would be rejected when they wrote it but produced the episode anyway. You can be sure that the DVD set that includes it will be the best selling set in the franchise and will certainly play up the "BANNED" angle.

I voted yes.
I use my buying power to reward or punish a company based on various factors.
I dont buy from BestBuy, dont buy any Apple or Sony products. Now adding whole Foods to the list.
I do buy from Staples, Newegg & T mobile.

I'll admit my bad consumer-ness on this one...

I would not change my opinion of a company that pulled their ads from a controversial host or show.

I would, however, reduce/stop doing business with a company that continued to advertise on a show I found controversial to the point of boycott.

Unfortunately, I rarely watch any show I hate that bad. This is where the bad consumer-ness comes in - I'm rarely informed enough as to the "bad" companies I should be boycotting because I don't know if they support thing that are "evil".

One last thing - I don't support boycotts of companies like Whole Foods on the basis of the personal opinions of their employees, up to and including the CEO and Board. The unintended consequences are too great, and the resulting message is that intelligent discourse in America is impossible because if someone disagrees with you, they hate you and hope you suffer a horrible fate.

@Cameraman: Ditto. When I heard the names of all the advertisers pulling out, I thought they should have just stayed, because if they did, none of the people who hate Glen Beck would have known they ever advertised with him.

In the abstract I am all for it. After all, it is the advertising dollars that keep these moronic shows on TV, and if the ads are pulled, presumably the show would soon follow. Practically speaking I do not let TV ads inform my decisions of what to buy - I usually do my due diligence on products and don't allow a glossy ad to tell me what to buy.

I've managed to catch a few Beck shows on weekends when nothing else is on TV and I figured watching some crazy would be entertaining. A few of the crazy things I've seen him say are - 1) health care reform is really Obama's way of giving black people reparations, 2) Obama hates white people, 3) Obama's health care reform is run by wacko environmentalists who want to have forced sterilizations to minimize the population.

They should have a "hate off" between Beck and Kanye West to see who can say their president hates the other race more.

@nytmare: Very well put sir. Good Job.