According to Drudge Report, NBC has stated that NBC “cannot accept these spots as they are disparaging to President Bush”, and the CW Television Network stated that the network does “not have appropriate programming in which to schedule this spot.”

The ad features footage of lead singer Natalie Maines declaring during a London concert in March 2003 that the band was ashamed to come from the same state as Bush; Texas. Her statement caused a row in USA where many radio stations banned Dixie Chick’s music, with a subsequent drop in sales of their CDs.

The new film about the drama that followed is directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck, daughter of the late Gregory Peck, and premiered on 27 October 2006 in New York and Los Angeles, USA. It will open in cinemas nationwide in USA on 10 November.


Strongly criticised

Ralph G. Neas, president of the nonpartisan People For the American Way, which advocates free speech, strongly criticised the reported NBC decision.

Famed litigator David Boies stated, “It is disappointing and troubling that NBC and The CW would refuse to accept an otherwise appropriate ad merely because it is critical of President Bush."

The movie’s distribution company Weinstein Co. stated that it regarded the rejection of its ads as evidence of political censorship by NBC and CW and said it was now exploring taking legal action.

In 2004, Michael Moore’s film “Fahrenheit 9/11” distributors faced the same barrier with NBC.

“It's a sad commentary about the level of fear in our society that a movie about a group of courageous entertainers who were blacklisted for exercising their right of free speech is now itself being blacklisted by corporate America” Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of Weinstein Co.