Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, HGTV and several other cable networks are refusing to air a commercial for the anti-abortion film Unplanned, writes The Hollywood Reporter. Fox News is the only mainstream network to allow the ad airtime.
Lifetime and several networks owned by Discovery opted not to run commercials for the film due to the "sensitive nature" of the movie, per the Reporter.
"Most of the networks didn't go into detail beyond citing the subject matter of the film and that they didn't want to get into politics. But we don't believe we're in the political category," said Joe Knopp, an Unplanned producer.
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Unplanned is based on a memoir written by a former Planned Parenthood worker-turned-pro-life activist, and it has been hailed by some critics as pro-life "propaganda."
The movie is being distributed by Christian-oriented production company Pure Flix, and it marks the first time the company has tried to distribute and market an R-rated movie. In an unconventional advertising attempt, Pure Flix debuted the movie at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February.
The movie has also had trouble with some music labels, failing to win music licensing from Disney, Universal Music, Sony/ATV and Round Hill Music, writes the Reporter.
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