Citing Policy On Supplements, NFL Nixes GNC's Super Bowl Ad
NEW YORK (KDKA/AP) - Nutritional supplement seller GNC intended to use a 30-second Super Bowl ad to revamp its image. But the NFL had other ideas.
GNC said Tuesday it was notified that it will not be allowed to air the ad it created - or any ad - during the game Sunday because it violates an NFL policy against having supplements advertised during its games.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, by email late Tuesday, told KDKA's John Shumway the league informed Fox of its decision several weeks ago.
The NFL's statement reads in part:
"We have told the network it may not air in Super Bowl or any NFL programming. This is consistent with our policies that prohibit the advertising of supplements."
But GNC tells USA Today that over the weekend they were making adjustments to the spot to meet request from Fox and the NFL, then came the rejection of the spot on Monday.
In a statement, GNC's Marketing and e-Commerce Officer Jeff Hennion said: "The NFL is one of many sports governing bodies, all with specific and widely varying policies. At GNC, we follow FDA regulations and our own strict standards to ensure customers know what's in our products and that they are safe and of the highest quality."
Hennion told USA Today that less than 3 percent of it's products contains substances banned by the NFL and all products are clearly marked.
The statement from Hennion goes on to read: "While we are disappointed by Fox Sports/NFL's late-in-the-game decision to exclude our ad from the Super Bowl, we continue to be excited about the campaign. The ad will run in numerous media outlets and reach millions of people with genuine and inspiring stories of the courage to change."
A number of companies in the past have had their Super Bowl ads rejected due to content, and have had to switch them out or make modifications.
But this is the first time in recent memory that an advertiser has been banned completely.
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