Why Did CBS Accept A Superbowl Ad From Scientology Cult?

By on February 4, 2013 in News 28

The most surprising commercial show during last night’s Superbowl had to be that for the “Church” of Scientology. Classified as a cult in various countries (and as a criminal organization in Belgium), one wonders why the CBS television network decided to sell one of it’s precious advertising spots to such a controversial entity when demand exceeded supply and all spots were sold well in advance of the game. Here’s the rather dull ad for those of you who didn’t watch the game or were not in a market where it aired:

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  • Raz

    Money. $. The answer is simple.

  • Chaos_Dynamics

    That’s entertainment.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=742104313 Adam Goodwin

    When spiritual cults are on the up and up, and corporations are opting to hoard cash rather than continue to put the pedal to the indoctrination metal, then you know desperation is in the air!

    • http://www.facebook.com/VictoriaPandora Victoria Pandora

      If they can afford a superbowl ad then it’s time they toss their fair share in the tax pot.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=742104313 Adam Goodwin

        I have no stake in the matter. But it’s good to keep in mind that the ‘tax pot’ will likely be funneled into corporate coffers.

  • julie231

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  • http://www.zazzle.com/fantoccini* Chaos_Dynamics

    Additional activity by CBS:

    CBS forced CNET staff to recast vote after Hopper won ‘Best in Show’ at CES

    CBS forces SodaStream to soften their Super Bowl ad as to not offend either Coke or Pepsi

    • Guest

      I thought the message on the Soda Stream commercial was a bit pointed. Sure it avoided naming Coke or Pepsi, but that made the message more clear (IMHO).

  • WTFMFWOMG

    Scientology is a business, a corporation. They exist because we worship the profit motive. We enable cults, churches and similar money-making enterprises because we all hope to be rich ourselves. After all, why is the lottery so popular? CBS is a corporation, charged with maximizing return to the shareholders. This ad isn’t violent or pornographic, has a positive message, and offers a product that people might want, so why should CBS turn down the seven-figure sum they would receive by running it? Would you? If someone were in a position to turn it down and did, that person would be fired. I am not a member of Scientology and I am aware of their alleged practices, but if I were offered seven figures to run an ad on my network I’d be stupid not to. Also, look at all the entertainment people who are members of this organization. It is probably more than just Tom Cruise and John Travolta. I bet it goes way deeper than that. Last time I checked, CBS and the NFL exist solely to entertain us and sell advertising space. Hopefully we’ll view the ads, satisfy the advertisers, they’ll sell more ads, and thus maximize return to the shareholders.

    • rtb61

      Sorry but attacking the psychiatric profession and professional therapist just because they threaten to reduce the number of victims that Scientology can prey upon, simply crosses the line.
      Place slave labour of children trapped within Scientology simply is unacceptable. That CBS is blind to both of those examples just points to the infamous inside person or person. Someone at CBS personally gaining advantage by running those adds, whether it’s cut of the profits or the sexploitation of victims of Scientology or likely both.

  • InfvoCuernos

    “Are you a free thinker or non-conformist? Then you should join our organized religion today!” hmmm, something about that just doesn’t make sense.

  • BrianApocalypse

    Here’s to the rebels and free thinkers! Dare to think for yourself! But think in a direction we don’t like and we’ll sue your ass!

  • lazy_friend

    Is one of the CBS executives part of the cult?

  • http://www.facebook.com/franklin.percival Franklin Percival

    What a load of shite. How are these cunts able to get away with it?

  • http://www.facebook.com/franklin.percival Franklin Percival

    What a load of shite. How are these cunts able to get away with it?

  • http://hormeticminds.blogspot.com/ Chaorder Gradient

    I respect that they are honest about what they are though in the end. “Because in the eternal debate for answers, the one thing that’s true, is what’s true for you”.

    Thats what I always saw scientology as, as a conduit to monetize the culture of, and concept that truth is relative. It takes up the job of handling the absolutely bonkers way reality dessicates and dies when a large group of people live their own truths.

  • saint_al

    $ign up today, receive offer later for a legally binding Billion Year contract- no sh!t- to sail away as a member of Sea Org. Starring David Miscavige as Sea Hag. No, you won’t get to meet Tom Cruise.

  • nathan willard

    Just like every other commercial where the content has nothing to do with the product. Free thinkers do not need to be told what to think, they are free.

  • Matt Staggs

    “Hey, we’re not as bad as you hear”, seems to be the takeaway: “Some will doubt you. Let them.”

  • mannyfurious

    I guess I’m in the minority here. I don’t get what the big deal is. The Christian cultists got their moment in the Super Bowl sun a couple of years ago with the Timmy Tebow anti-abortion ad. Is Scientology really more cuckoo or deceptive than any other major religion? So we’re against censorship when it’s something we agree with being censored, but for it when it something we think is nonsense? Guess I missed the memo….

  • mannyfurious

    I guess I’m in the minority here. I don’t get what the big deal is. The Christian cultists got their moment in the Super Bowl sun a couple of years ago with the Timmy Tebow anti-abortion ad. Is Scientology really more cuckoo or deceptive than any other major religion? So we’re against censorship when it’s something we agree with being censored, but for it when it something we think is nonsense? Guess I missed the memo….

  • Rjt

    Never thought about Scientology till I saw the ad. Think ill look into it

  • BuzzCoastin

    > Why Did CBS Accept A Superbowl Ad From Scientology Cult?

    Scientology was willing to pay the fee for airing the commercial would be my guess

  • “Big” Richard Johnson

    I’m going to help her find Jesus.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=742104313 Adam Goodwin

      The take-home message? With Scientology you’ll never forget to eat your vag-tables.

  • lee murtagh

    I watched this same video on youtube earlier today, but it was labelled as an Atheist video and the ending was different. It said “we go one god further. Atheism”

    One of those vids has been edited. Did anyone see the original on TV?

  • http://www.facebook.com/maggie.furr.1 Maggie Furr

    Fuck L Ron Hubbard, and fuck all his clones…

  • Vainpire

    It’s confusing how 2 days ago I watched this very same ad and it was about atheism, not scientology. i don’t know which one is the original and which one is edited at the end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x0ZqQznblZo