Canadian PSA Goes Too Far?

This Canadian Domestic Violence PSA never made it on the air because it was considered too violent and shocking. Does it go too far? SHOULD a PSA like this go too far?

Discuss.



Canadian PSA

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Updated On: 12/10/07 at 03:38 PM

Apparently so. It's interesting that it (the message, I mean) speaks to the male and not the female.

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I don't think it'd work.

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I actually work with an organization that works alongside HomeFront. This spot (along with another) were originally supposed to air on television, but were not approved and are now only available online.

From their website:

"Different points of view

Television Industry Standards Group

These 30-second TV spots produced in 2003 were not approved for air on Canadian television stations, even though the advertising agency, Ogilvy and Mather, consulted with the industry standards committee during production. In the end, the industry standards group said they were too violent.

Frontline Police Officers

Police officers who acted as advisors for the production had a different view. They said the spots were mild compared to what they see on the front lines every day when it comes to domestic violence. They believed the spots should show more violent cases of abuse.

HomeFront’s View

HomeFront believes the spots should be shown to raise awareness about a serious problem affecting the lives of too many people at every socio-economic level and from the many cultures in our communities. The problem knows no boundary.
A bold and innovative television public awareness campaign about domestic violence will not be shown on Calgary television stations due to an unfavourable ruling from the Television Bureau of Canada (TVB).

The TVB denied the HomeFront Society of Calgary approval to run the two public service announcements because they were deemed too graphic according to their Telecaster Guidelines. Given the failure to receive TVB approval, local Calgary televisions stations have decided not to run the PSAs (public service announcements).

“The purpose of the PSAs is to shine a light on domestic abuse by putting domestic violence situations in public places where it would not be tolerated.”
With the support of Ogilvy & Mather Calgary, HomeFront appealed the TVB’s decision."

http://www.homefrontcalgary.com/tvspots.htm

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Updated On: 12/10/07 at 03:57 PM

Tag's right. And the best part is, most of the nudity and swearing can be found on the Government-funded CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).

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I seriously thoguht it was a joke until the serious voice came on at the end.

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Don't get me wrong, obviously domestic violnce is horrible, but that spot was unintentionally funny.

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Yes, because skin burns are HILARIOUS.