No Pussycat Dolls on CelleCast. Not Now. Not Ever!
January 14th, 2008
We were very grateful to have the opportunity to appear on MSNBC’s Your Business yesterday morning. My 60 seconds of fame was in the ‘Elevator Pitch’ segment, where I had one minute to tell a two person panel about CelleCast, and what is seeks to accomplish. Please watch this quick clip to gain a visual context for the following.
As exhilarating as that was, I was put off, to say the least, at the way they chose to do the set up. Though not shown in the clip referenced above, they introduced my pitch by asking, “How would you like to get the Pussycat Dolls on your cell phone?” As you see in the video, two Pussycat Dolls dancers are waiting by the elevator as I get off. It’s all part of the Las Vegas on-location feel. However, I was extremely displeased by their association of our product with prurient, porn-related content.
CelleCast in actuality holds a higher content standard than the FCC in what we accept on our service. You can read our content decency standards here. We’ll hold true to this, even if it costs us the opportunity to license high profile content that fails to meet these standards. If we can’t elevate the dialog on the airwaves, then we fail in a bigger arena than business itself.
Andrew
January 15th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Andrew-
Lighten up a bit pal. I hardly consider this pop group “porn”! In all due respect, I find them sort of hot. Plus, they can spice up ANY video. I would think you welcome the sizzle. What’s next? We aren’t going to have any music by those “pesky” homosexuals? J/K
January 15th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I think “dave b” (not to be confused with this David B.)you are joking here (J/K) which many are not going to understand. Nevertheless, for those who may not know there is a difference between the singing group and the Las Vegas show. CelleCast is not in the business of associating itself with those “dolls” nor the national porn convention that MSNBC reported “happened” to be next door to the electronics convention at exactly the same time. It is not such a leap. The expectation is that to have the attitude “Hey, why not?” or “What’s the big deal”. That type of personal “enjoyment” impacts the one who has that view but also the thousands who watch the program. Kids included who happen to be watching with their parents. And that impact is often subconscious.
7:40 a.m. and 7:55 a.m. eastern standard time on a Sunday no less. I am reminded why it is vitally important for one to be super diligent. Indeed, the pressure to compromise will continue if not increase (where is one’s hope placed or rather in Whom is it placed?).
Peace.
January 15th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Brand association is an important issue for CelleCast, Daveb (1).
I was very unhappy to see that association made verbally in their set up. It is not us. If it is MSNBC, then it is them. I think MSNBC was kindof embarrassed as well, so that is why they sheepishly made the association that it was our product that was tied to it.
The truth is that it is their show producer who wanted it, even though some of the women on the set we’re less than comfortable with the idea.
Bottom line for us however, is that I will more diligently protect our brand from these unintended consequences.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:24 am
But. . .what about those “pesky” homosexuals? I hear the entertainment industry is riddled with them. We better have our eyes peeled.
There was a rumor afloat that the MSNBC host may have traveled to the porn convention and bought a sex toy!! OMG stop the presses.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Andrew I commend you and CelleCast on taking a stand against the association of CelleCast and the Pussycat Dolls. Most people are always trying to compromise their position in order to get ahead in life or move up the so called ladder. But it’s wonderful to know that there is a company with true morals and high standards. Keep up the good work and continue not to compromise!!!!
January 16th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Andrew,
You build your brand by association and disclaiming both the singing group and the porn convention in Las Vegas is a good call. I believe that one of the problems plaguing the fast disappearing radio medium has always been the content. I’m glad to know that Cellecast is not about the aforementioned. No need to lighten up either, Andrew. In your startup mode, you get a few chances and if some of them are wrong, they can be harmful.
I would expect your customer base of listeners to be highly educated and not normally dealing in the dregs of stuff ‘hot’ like Dave B mentions.
Stick to your guns - if people out there wish to traffic in such garbage, there’s plenty of outlets for them and yours shouldn’t be one of them.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Thanks Jay and Dennis.
I have always felt the idea of going into any arena without reservation, and seeking to elevate the conversation is a redeeming strategy.
CelleCast, being our own arena is an environment I can control, so we set standards. Apart from our reasonable standards, it, like the world is a marketplace of ideas where all participants contributed content will stand or fall on its own merits. We do believe in freedom of speech.
There is plenty of room for people from different walks of life and viewpoints to find expression and hear different kinds of programming in CelleCast without having to lower the conversation with explicit language, etc.
Dave, there are no ‘pesky’ people, just pesky ideas.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I fall in line with the thoughts of Dennis, Jay and David B. Taking any base content on CelleCast might be a faster path to financial success. But at the end of the day, a company that cellecasts content that is safe for any ears is a much more satisfying proposition. Setting the bar high and resisting negative associations is a mantra I can get behind!
January 16th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
who are the pussycats anyway?
January 16th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
They are a Las Vegas showgirl troup based in Caesars Palace.