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underpants

(194,960 posts) Mon Dec 15, 2025, 11:30 AM Dec 15

Big Advertisers Appear Wary of CBS News' Bari Weiss Town Hall Format (Kirk)

During a Saturday-night town hall led by Bari Weiss, the recently named editor in chief of CBS News, most of Madison Avenue sought an off-ramp.

The news special aired at 8 p.m. on Saturday, one of the least-watched hours in broadcast TV. And that may have contributed to a relative dearth of top advertisers appearing to support the show. During the hour, commercial breaks were largely filled with spots from direct-response advertisers, including the dietary supplement SuperBeets; the home-repair service HomeServe.com; and CarFax, a supplier of auto ownership data. Viewers of the telecast on WCBS, CBS’ flagship station in New York, even saw a commercial for Chia Pet, the terra-cotta figure that sprouts plant life after a few weeks.

Direct-response advertisers typically pay lower prices in exchange for allowing TV networks to put their commercials on air when convenience allows. A flurry of the ads appearing in one program usually offers a signal that the network could not line up more mainstream support for the content it chose to air.

A more monied class of sponsors was evident during the first commercial break appearing in the 9 p.m. hour on CBS, a rebroadcast of a 2024 episode of “48 Hours.” Marketers appearing included Amazon, Ferrero Group, and Procter & Gamble. One direct-response marketer, Operation Smile, a nonprofit medical service organization, also appeared.

Other marketers who lined up for CBS News’ Erika Kirk town hall included companies whose products and services may have dovetailed with the viewers who tuned in to see the show. Among the town hall’s sponsors were the conservative Heritage Foundation; Hallow, a mobile app for Christian prayer; “David,” a new animated film from Angel Studios, which specializes in faith-based content; and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. A small handful of more mainstream advertisers, including Spotify and TikTok, was also present.

https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/advertisers-wary-cbs-news-bari-weiss-town-hall-1236608265/

12 replies

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Big Advertisers Appear Wary of CBS News' Bari Weiss Town Hall Format (Kirk) (Original Post) underpants Dec 15 OP

Wonder how many people actually tuned in? and is the rw faux news universe mwmisses4289 Dec 15 #1

I can't find it. The latest I found were as of last Wednesday underpants Dec 15 #4

They might as well flush their money down a toilet BannonsLiver Dec 15 #2

Someone predicted this here last week. underpants Dec 15 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author BannonsLiver Dec 15 #3

When can we expect the ratings? MagickMuffin Dec 15 #6

I found this website but it's only thru Dec. 10 underpants Dec 15 #7

And the whole thing was just an elaborate infomercial for some shitty daytime talk show. Initech Dec 15 #8

Sounds like few watched it and it was a dud. I was wondering if anyone would report/mention it. Silent Type Dec 15 #9

WIll not watch CBS News anymore as I have no use for Judeo-Christian slanting of my news. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Dec 15 #10

Viewers who did tune in were not impressed Wiz Imp Dec 15 #11

It's state TV. I'm glad CBS doesn't have any shows I like. It makes it so GoodRaisin Dec 15 #12

mwmisses4289

(3,256 posts)

1. Wonder how many people actually tuned in? and is the rw faux news universe

Reply to underpants (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 11:42 AM

Dec 15

going to claim it had more viewers than the super bowl?

underpants

(194,960 posts)

4. I can't find it. The latest I found were as of last Wednesday

Reply to mwmisses4289 (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 12:10 PM

Dec 15

BannonsLiver

(20,282 posts)

2. They might as well flush their money down a toilet

Reply to underpants (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 12:01 PM

Dec 15

underpants

(194,960 posts)

5. Someone predicted this here last week.

Reply to BannonsLiver (Reply #2)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 12:13 PM

Dec 15

I’m not sure who it is was. Advertisers would stay away given the guest/topic and the fact that CBS was already catching holy hell for doing it.

Response to underpants (Original post)

BannonsLiver This message was self-deleted by its author.

MagickMuffin

(18,081 posts)

6. When can we expect the ratings?

Reply to underpants (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 12:15 PM

Dec 15

That’s as much info I’d care about knowing.

But isn’t it interesting they couldn’t get the advertisers that the Late Show With Stephen Colbert. And yet CBS put Late Night outta business even though advertisers weren’t upset about what Colbert said about CBS taking an extortion bribe.

Billionaires may buy up all the networks to control the message, however, they can’t control us to watch or listen to any of it, except to remain informed of the propaganda.

underpants

(194,960 posts)

7. I found this website but it's only thru Dec. 10

Reply to MagickMuffin (Reply #6)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 12:19 PM

Dec 15

https://ustvdb.com/ratings/shows/

Initech

(107,460 posts)

8. And the whole thing was just an elaborate infomercial for some shitty daytime talk show.

Reply to underpants (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 12:20 PM

Dec 15

Silent Type

(12,412 posts)

9. Sounds like few watched it and it was a dud. I was wondering if anyone would report/mention it.

Reply to underpants (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 12:43 PM

Dec 15

RedWhiteBlueIsRacist

(1,834 posts)

10. WIll not watch CBS News anymore as I have no use for Judeo-Christian slanting of my news.

Reply to underpants (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 01:03 PM

Dec 15

And that is all this Kirk stuff is, Judeo-Christian bullshit designed to fit a religious theme. For example, equating Kirk to Stephen of Acts. BTW, Stephen was a murderous High Priest, his true story has been covered up by theologians He was not put to death for his murdering, but for ceasing to continue them as his contract specified.

Wiz Imp

(9,012 posts)

11. Viewers who did tune in were not impressed

Reply to underpants (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 01:56 PM

Dec 15

https://www.irishstar.com/culture/entertainment/erika-kirk-cbs-town-hall-36397896

CBS viewers brand Erika Kirk Town Hall 'unsettling' as she slams late husband's 'sick' critics
As people tuned in at home, they rushed to X - formerly known as Twitter to share their thoughts. One person wrote, "something about erika kirk is very unsettling," while another said, "why is Erika Kirk being given an hour pf prime time network tv? this is a disgrace."

A third person fumed, "WHY THE F--K DO WE NEED A TOWN HALL FROM ERIKA KIRK???" and a fourth exclaimed, "What is this CBS News Town Hall with Erika Kirk?? Is this normal?"

Another baffled viewer posted, "WTF am I watching on @CBSNews with Erika Kirk right now?"

GoodRaisin

(10,736 posts)

12. It's state TV. I'm glad CBS doesn't have any shows I like. It makes it so

Reply to underpants (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2025, 02:06 PM

Dec 15

much easier to turn it off, and I dumped Paramount too.

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