"Radio Stations Seek Relief on Ad Disclaimers"

Roll Call offers this report (paid subscription required), which begins: "For months media consultants have been grousing about the new “Stand By Your Ad” requirement for televised campaign commercials, arguing that it eats up precious moments in the already tight 30-second ad.

Now some radio networks are chiming in with criticism of the new political advertising requirement.

Metro Networks Communications Inc. — a national company that provides more than 2,000 radio stations across the country with live traffic, news, sports and weather reports — has asked the Federal Election Commission for an exemption from the requirement, arguing that it would be “physically impossible” for the company to comply with the provision.

Tom Fanning, national director of marketing for Metro Networks, explained in a letter to the FEC that his company’s reporters give live reports in real time on any variety of topics, and read a 10-second sponsorship message at the end of their report."

Posted by Rick Hasen at April 5, 2004 10:54 PM