CBS Rejects "Truth" Commercials

Scene From "Truth"

CBS is refusing to run advertising for Truth, the film starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford that revisits a painful episode in the network's past involving a discredited 2004 news story on former President George W. Bush's military service record.

CBS has denounced the movie, which opens Friday, as a disservice to the public and journalists.

Redford plays Dan Rather in Truth, with Blanchett as producer Mary Mapes. Together, they were behind a 60 Minutes II story that questioned Bush's Vietnam War-era commitment to service in the Texas Air National Guard. But CBS apologized for the story after documents used were called into question and could not be verified. Mapes and three news executives were fired.


Sony Pictures Classics sought a multimillion dollar ad buy to promote the film on Stephen Colbert's Late Show, the CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning and 60 Minutes, but was turned down, said Sherri Callan, president of Callan Advertising, the company that places ads for Sony.

Instead, Sony is advertising on ABC, NBC, Fox and several cable networks. CBS, which confirmed the rejection, according to The Hollywood Reporter.