Band's Film Ads Hit Sour Note

BAND'S FILM ADS HIT SOUR NOTE
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Richard Verrier]
A new documentary on the backlash against the Dixie Chicks after critical remarks the group's lead singer made about President Bush has brought disharmony between the film's distributor and two TV networks. On Thursday, Weinstein Co. alleged that NBC and the CW had refused to air nationwide commercials to promote "Shut Up & Sing." Weinstein said NBC wrote that the network "cannot accept these spots as they are disparaging to President Bush." The CW also rejected the ads, Weinstein said, saying in a letter that it did "not have the appropriate programming in which to schedule this spot." Harvey Weinstein, who runs the company with his brother, Bob, said the networks were stifling free speech. "It's a sad commentary about the level of fear in our society that a movie about a group of courageous entertainers who were blacklisted for exercising their right of free speech is now itself being blacklisted by corporate America," he said.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-dixie27oct27,1,5319115.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-business
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