Ad
News, 28
February 2019:
Sky News has confirmed
to AdNews that it intentionally made the decision to drop ads from The Bolt
Report in order to protect advertisers from any potential backlash.
Yesterday, The Sleeping Giants found that Tuesday night’s The
Bolt Report aired with no paid ads as the host, political and social
commentator Andrew Bolt, angered Australians with his defence of Cardinal
George Pell.
This week Pell was found
guilty by a jury for molesting choirboys as an archbishop in the 1990s.
In an opinion piece
following the verdict, Bolt said Pell had been "falsely convicted"
and in a preview for his Sky News show he said he ‘doesn't accept' the verdict.
Now, Sky News has
confirmed to AdNews that it actively made the decision not to run ads, rather
than giving advertisers the option to first to pull out, in order to prevent
advertisers from being the target of public campaigning.
“Sky News is committed
to providing a platform for robust debate and discussion, and is not afraid to
tackle confronting and controversial issues,” a Sky News spokesperson said.
“Sky News recognised
that the controversial topic of George Pell’s conviction to be covered by one
of its highest rating commentators may have presented an environment that left
advertisers open to campaigns by activists.
“A proactive decision
was made to replace advertisements during last night’s program.”
Despite the measures Sky
News took, companies have still been facing protests after The Sleeping Giants
posted a list of advertisers on Sky News for the week ending 26/02/19.
So far, brands including
Nib, Samsung, Procter & Gamble, Coles, McDonald’s and CommBank have had
Twitter users urge them to stop advertising on Sky News.....
@TheRock man, I love everything you do and can not wait to see fighting with my family, but I thought you should know your film is being advertised on a. Show where they are defending a convicted child rapist. Put a stop to this!— addyourname (@jshawtaylor) February 27, 2019
Dear @Coles @CommBank— Natasha yann (@natasha_yann) February 27, 2019
As a share holder in the company I’m somewhat dismayed that we choose to advertise on a program which provides a platform for child abuse apologists like Andrew Bolt. His attack on the veracity of the victim is reprehensible. @slpng_giants_oz
Moving our health insurance from @nibhealthfunds because they advertise on @theboltreport defending #Pell #auspol @slpng_giants_oz pic.twitter.com/gRk70rvdVn— Fr Rod Bower (@FrBower) February 27, 2019
