LOS ANGELES, November 13, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) – The online television channel Hulu, which streams network TV programs to internet users without cable, has refused to allow two pro-life spots to air.
The 15-second-long ads produced by Students for Life of America tell young women how they can receive women's health care services at a facility other than Planned Parenthood.
“Unfortunately we can’t accept ads that surround issues like this,” a Hulu account executive told the group. “We’ve run it past our ad standards team and it does not fit with the environment.”
The executive grouped the health care spots alongside undesirable advertisers including “guns, gambling, marijuana, and pro-life/pro-choice.”
However, pro-life observers say the network has not held both sides of the issue to the same standard. Hulu ran a youth-oriented ad for Planned Parenthood in 2014. “A Planned Parenthood ad, discussing sex, STD's, and birth control during a G rated kids show?!” one viewer commented at the time. “Completely inappropriate ad placement!”
For three seasons, the original Hulu series East Los High has aired on the network. In 2013, between the show's raunchy scenes, Hulu carried an advertisement for Plan B, the morning after pill. The program was created by Population Media Center (PMC), founded by former Planned Parenthood executive William Ryerson. Its Facebook page admitted the “show targets young Hispanics specifically.”
The pro-life spot's creators say they are being punished for Planned Parenthood's crimes.
“We weren’t trying to be controversial. Our commercials never even promote a ‘pro-life’ website,” said SFLA President Kristan Hawkins. “The only reason Hulu would find this controversial is because Planned Parenthood is currently caught in the middle of a damning scandal, where high-level officials were seen on video discussing the harvesting and sale of baby body parts.”
The group has since launched a petition on its website, WeGotItCovered.org, telling Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins, “Over the years, your network has aired commercials advertising Planned Parenthood and dangerous, abortion-causing IUDs. It is only fair that you allow Students for Life's non-controversial ads, which link only to a government website, to run on your network.”