NBC to air controversial NHL ad Saturday
Women’s activist Burk says commercial demeaning, insulting
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NEW YORK - Despite objections from Martha Burk, NBC said it was going ahead with plans to air an NHL commercial showing a bare-chested player being dressed by a scantily clad woman.
Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, said the ad was offensive. Burk led an unsuccessful effort to allow female members at Augusta National three years ago and is stepping down as chair of NCWO on Nov. 1.
NBC said it had no problem with the spot, which first appeared last week on the NHL’s Web site, and planned to air it on its NHL preview show Saturday.
“We’ve viewed the spot and find nothing objectionable,” NBC Sports spokeswoman Alana Russo said Tuesday.
The ad is among a five-part “Inside the Warrior” series produced for the league. NHL spokeswoman Bernadette Mansur said the ads will also run on Comedy Central, MTV and VH1.
Burk said the NCWO plans to write letters of protest to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics.
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Opening night for the NHL is Oct. 5, when all 30 teams will be in action following the season-long lockout.
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