Superbowl Ad Stays

CBS says it will not cave into pressure to drop a Focus on the Family ad from its Super Bowl coverage. Woman's rights groups objected to the :30 announcement featuring former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. The network issued a statement that said:

"We have for some time moderated our approach to advocacy submissions after it became apparent that our stance did not reflect public sentiment or industry norms on the issue. In fact, most media outlets have accepted advocacy ads for some time. At CBS, our standards and practices process continues to adhere to a process that ensures all ads -- on all sides of an issue -- are appropriate for air. We will continue to consider responsibly produced ads from all groups for the few remaining spots in Super Bowl XLIV."

The Women's Media Center, National Organization For Women and more than two dozen other groups have launched a campaign to pressure CBS into pulling the Super Bowl "pro-life" ad bought by Focus on the Family. In the past, CBS has rejected advocacy ads from PETA, MoveOn.org and the United Church of Christ.

The spot reportedly tells how the Heisman Trophy winner's mom was advised by doctors to abort him. CBS officials have said they have seen the ad and have no problem with the video.

The NFL backed the CBS decision. "CBS standards and practices department approved the content of the ad as appropriate for the audience. We take no issue with CBS' decision," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.

A CBS spokesperson had told B&C's Claire Atkinson last week that the network had vetted the spot's script and did not expect to have any trouble with the video.

Here's a report from WNAC-TVs morning show on it.