GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum - AshleyMadison.com - Transit agency urged to reject $250K ad deal

From the Toronto Star
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http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...s-named-desire

According to Noel Biderman, CEO of AshleyMadison.com ? a controversial website that helps married people cheat ? the TTC is backpedalling on a deal that would have promoted his company on city streetcars.

?They?re making moral judgments and that?s not the role of the TTC,? Biderman said Thursday, shortly after learning TTC staff had decided against recommending his ad campaign. ?They?re basically saying ?We don?t like your business and so we?re not going to let your business advertise.??

As far as Biderman is concerned, the TTC had agreed to a $250,000 deal, which would see six city streetcars advertise his slogan: ?life is short. Have an affair.? The plan, Biderman said, was to roll out the text-only ads in January, with possible future ads placed on buses.

Biderman said he?s been dealing with CBS Outdoor ? a company contracted to secure advertising for the TTC ? who sent him an email Wednesday acknowledging the TTC?s approval of the ads. CBC Outdoor also sent a contract to Ashley Madison, as well as subsequent emails clarifying the ads had been signed off by the ad review committee.

However, TTC spokesman Brad Ross said Thursday the ads had yet to clear the transit commission?s review committee, which ultimately gets the final say. Calling it a matter of ?taste,? he said TTC staff was not recommending the ads. ?We don?t feel it is appropriate for a streetcar to be running around on the streets of Toronto advocating that people have affairs,? Ross said.

Ross said the ads had only been forwarded to the review committee Thursday. A final decision is expected today.

When asked about the CBC Outdoor emails, Ross said he couldn?t speak on the company?s behalf, nor could he explain why it had been communicated that the ads had been approved. CBS Outdoor couldn?t be reached for comment Thursday.

Ross said the TTC has advertising standards to adhere to and that it would take only five complaints from the public to pull any ad off its vehicles.

But Biderman says the TTC should embrace any advertising dollars it can get, especially given the transit commission?s financial challenges. ?Do we keep allowing these fare hikes to continue, or do we let companies that might be a bit more controversial (advertise with the TTC)?? he said. ?My guess is the majority?would vote for the reduction of the fare hikes and take the ads.?