ED Ads Controversy

Although television has undergone drastic changes in the last 50 years in order to survive, the simple fact that we allow it access into our very homes means that we feel entitled to demand a certain "decorum" from the TV networks for that access. For instance, shows depicting obscene language and nudity can be aired only after 10 PM and not before.

Nevertheless, there are other areas where the line between adult television and family television is blurred. In such instances, lawmakers are called to step in and clarify the situation through regulation, or deregulation. One of such instances is the airing of erectile dysfunction (ED) adds during primetime television (8PM - 10PM).

Many parents of young children feel that it is not right for their children to be watching such adds and asking what erectile dysfunction is. On the other hand, Pfizer, the pharmaceutical giant who patented Viagra (Sildenafil citrate), feels that erectile dysfunction is a symptom of a more serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and high-blood pressure. By this, Pfizer implies that the adds should be aired anytime of day or night just like they are for any other type of medication.

Eventually, Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) introduced bill H.R. 2175 in an attempt to stop these ED adds from airing on broadcast TV from 6AM to 10PM. The reason? He believes that the adds are indecent and inappropriate for children to watch. Furthermore, he feels that there are just too many of them and that they are aired too often.

And perhaps he is right. Anybody who watches TV regularly will experience the bombardment of ED adds on every single channel during weekends or evenings. The older "Cialis" couple sitting on bathtubs looking towards the sunset, or the "Viva Viagra" adds are just ubiquitous -- they have practically become fixtures on our TV sets.

Currently, the bill is being studied by Congress and it is expected to pass sometime next year. Furthermore, some in the pharmaceutical industry think that it would be good for these pharmaceutical giants to cut back on their advertising budgets and to portray themselves to the public as reliable companies instead of marketing strategists.