Odd Advertising Campaign

[Transient]

Earlier today I fired up my connection to the World's Classical Radio Station and was greeted with an ad about condoms. A rather tasteless one, I might add. Perhaps this is a late April Fools joke...perhaps someone set it up as a joke. Is this a real ad campaign that B.com has resorted to in order to pull in some funds? Gag a maggot, man. I hope not.

[Nicole Marie]

Thank you for your post. I am sorry you took offense to the female condom commercial. Beethoven Radio is dedicated to broadcasting a variety of commercials. We do have a full range of listeners and we try to appeal to as many as possible.

As advances in safe sex come onto the market, these products appropriately serve the community. New products, like the female condom, provide safe protection and control for women. With women being the highest group for contraction of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted disease; women more and more have to take control with these types of products. Our client is simply promoting an available (and to some, new product - although the female condom has been around for a few years) product that may be a good and available choice for some of our listeners.

The commercial will end its run. At the end of the day, Beethoven Radio is really about the beautiful music!

[Transient]

I was more concerned about the appropriateness of the ad. Does it really have a place on a classical music station? I am glad that it's being discontinued. Thanks.

I am not too sure, though, that an argument such as "ignorance of the people" is really a good reason to aire the ad. My inkling is that most people know quite well what safe methods of sexual activity are...they simply choose not to follow them (financial pressures, availability, passion of the moment, etc.). Increased exposure of a product does not necessarily result in increased usage.

Bottom line...this station has wonderful music. It is a joy to listen every day. Thank you!

[Nicole Marie]

We are not discontinuing the ad. The ad was set to run for a week and it will end this week at the end of the purchased campaign.

We are a commercial radio station first and foremost. We stay in business by selling ads. If we didn't we would not be able to broadcast. So yes, this ad does belong on a commercial station.

[Transient]

Ya. Ok. Thanks for listening.

[richardsdca]

I don't see anything wrong with the condom commercial, it was to the point and designed to catch your interest and get people to think about what they are doing.

[OperaTenor]

Hi Transient and Richardsdca, welcome to the Pit!

Does "sdca" stand for Sandy Eggo, Ca?

[jamiebk]

I agree with the running of the ad. What the heck...People who listen to classical music have sex too ya know....who would ever forget Bo Derick in "10"?