Anyone else seen the pro-animal research ad on Animal Planet?

[AlienGirl]

The one where the researcher talks about how she has and is researching diabetes, and she snuggles and kisses a rat (presumably supposed to be one of her lab rats)?

Tucker

[flvegan]

1. I haven't. During what show did they run this ad?

[AlienGirl]

2. I don't remember--it was deep in insomnia country, so most likely a rerun

Probably a rerun of "Cats 101" or one of the Animal Cops variants. It was after 1:00 am, IIRC, when I was using the TV to shut my mind up long enough to fall asleep, and the commercial jarred me into waking and putting on a folk-rock sat-radio station instead.

Tucker

[AlienGirl]

3. "Pitbulls and Parolees"--it ran again last night

The researcher has breast cancer, and is studying--as she puts it--"human breast cancer cells in rats".

Tucker

[flvegan]

4. Huh. I watched that the other night (great show!) and didn't see it.

Not that I pay that much attention to the commercials. Interesting.

[AlienGirl]

5. It ran again several times last night, during "Weird, True, and Freaky."

At the end the vivisectionist is making kissy noises at the rat and saying something like "You did so good!" in baby-talk. :eyes:

Tucker

[AlienGirl]

6. AHA! Here is a link to a story about it, and apparently a vid of the ad itself

http://www.shootonline.com/go/index.php?name=Release&op=view&id=rs-web2-1201306-1245188157-2

[Chan790]

7. Anybody have any contact information for Animal Planet.

I mean beyond the generic viewer-contact email addresses on their website.

I'd rather like to tell them that as a viewer I make a point to watch their commercials (I DVR everything I watch so I can just as easily skip the commercials like I do with most other channels' programing.) and to buy product from their advertisers whenever possible as I realize that supporting the people who financially support them is to their benefit and it gives them the freedom to be able to air quality programming without having to take money from people like FBR...so I'm more than a little put-out that they're taking money and airing commercial-propaganda from FBR.

I can very easily not support their advertisers if it's not going to affect who they're going to take money from.

[AlienGirl]

8. Now they're in prime time, buying ad space on "Pit Boss"

New ad shows a peacefully sedated rat--presumably fatally infected with human cancer cells by the researcher in the ad--undergoing MRI, next to images of human undergoing MRI. Researcher talks movingly about how she almost died of cancer (no mention that the rats might like to live, too) then is shown going home and petting her lovely Golden Retrievers. Followed by a url, research saves (dot) org, likely a front for an industry group.

Tucker

[Chan790]

9. I just sent them another email about this.

I wonder if they actually get how irritating this is to their core audience and demographic.

[Chan790]

11. UPDATE: I got a response, as follows:

Viewer:

Thank you for your comments. We appreciate your concern about the
integrity of our networks and for taking the time to write.

We have researched this particular situation and it has been determined
that this commercial was not supplied by Discovery Communications or its
advertisers. This ad was likely to have been scheduled by your local
service provider. Your comments and concern are taken very seriously.
Please know that they will be immediately forwarded to our executives and
Ad Sales teams for prompt review.

Thank you for expressing interest in our programming.

Sincerely,

Viewer Relations
Discovery Communications

So...apparently, they don't run those ads, your local service provider (or DirecTV in my case) does in the alloted slots they receive for local commercials. I guess I have someone else to complain to now. I'm not giving up until this commercial is not run on Animal Planet again.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

12. That is good to know!

I had been seing the ads and completely disgusted at the thought Animal Planet was responsible for their placement.

I have DISH and am seeing the same.

[LeftyMom]

10. I saw a billboard for the same ad campaign.

In Berkeley on San Pablo Ave. Somebody must be putting a lot of money into it, which means they know they need a fuck of a lot of good PR.

Keep fighting kids.