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Author Topic:   Challenger disaster used as comedy
edmk5000
Member

Posts: 49
From: Homestead, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2005

posted 01-23-2006 11:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for edmk5000   Click Here to Email edmk5000     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was watching the spanish-language television network, Univision and caught the opening to a "comedy" show called, "La Hora Derbez" in which they use footage of the Challenger exploding in a comedy bit.

In the first minute or so of every show, they use footage of a shuttle launch, cut away to an actor aiming his sling-shot in the air, and cut back to actual footage of the Challenger explosion, as if the actor hit the shuttle. They actor then makes an "oops" face. Canned laughter and "Beethoven's Ode to Joy" plays as if the destruction of the vehicle and deaths of seven people is funny.

The show can be seen weeknights at midnight(est) on Univision (most major cities have a local Univision affiliate, in Miami, it is WLTV-23). DirecTV carries it on channels 402/403. Most cable companies also carry the network.

Are there enough readers here bothered by this to start some kind of letter-writing campaign to the network or to other news outlets? I am not sure if Univision would acknowledge, respond, or appologize to our letters, but it may be worth a try to organize something.

Using the actual footage of the explosion is (in my opinion) worse that when GM/OnStar used the Columbia just sitting on the pad last year. What was the result with that, anyway? I know the ad didn't run long.

If I am being a "crank" for bringing this up on this board, I appologize. Also, I do not have anything "against" the spanish-speaking community (my wife is Cuban) just the use of the video of the death of seven people as a comedy bit.

Finally, if anyone wants to see this bit, I can send or post the video.

edmk5000

[This message has been edited by edmk5000 (edited January 25, 2006).]

KSCartist
Member

Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 01-24-2006 11:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
edmk-

You are not over reacting. To use this footage especially this close to the anniversary is beyond tasteless.

Robert- If we can get a electronic petition going. I'll sign it. I'll also contact the local media to make them aware.

Tim

Madon_space
Member

Posts: 667
From: uk
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 01-24-2006 11:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Madon_space   Click Here to Email Madon_space     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Count me in too, i would deffinatelt put my name to a petition.

------------------
Best Wishes
ROB
http://hometown.aol.com/robc2412/madonspace.html

John K. Rochester
Member

Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 01-24-2006 02:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for John K. Rochester   Click Here to Email John K. Rochester     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Using Columbia in the ad mentioned may have been a mistake in editing....but to use the footage of Challenger for a tasteless comedy bit is too obnoxious and uncaring to ignore. Request your cable channels or dish provider to drop the offending channel from its menu.

trajan
Member

Posts: 109
From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
Registered: May 2004

posted 01-24-2006 04:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for trajan   Click Here to Email trajan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I will happily contribute to a petition or write / e-mail in, whichever is more appropriate.

Jason

edmk5000
Member

Posts: 49
From: Homestead, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2005

posted 01-24-2006 10:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for edmk5000   Click Here to Email edmk5000     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Below is the contact information for Univision's corporate office, Univision's Investor Relations, and the Miami affiliate. Most US cities have a Univision broadcast and/or cable channel.

Before we write, we will need to organize what we are going to include in the letter.

Also, because it is a spanish-speaking network, my wife has volunteered to translate our letters into spanish so that we can send our letters in both languages. If we only send english letters, they may not be very responsive as we are not their target audience. Please email me with any letters for translation.

CORPORATE OFFICES:

Ray Rodriguez
President and Chief Operating Officer
9405 NW 41st Street
Miami, FL 33178-2301
Telephone: (305) 471-3900
Fax: (305) 471-4065


INVESTOR RELATIONS

Univision Communications Inc.
Attn: Investor Relations
1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 3050
Los Angeles, CA 90067
310-556-7665
Fax 310-556-7615

IR Contacts
Diana M. Vesga, Vice President
Phone: 310-556-7695

Mariana Correch
Phone: 310-556-7665

Public Relations
Stephanie Pillersdorf / Brooke Morganstein
Citigate Sard Verbinnen
Phone: 212-687-8080

MIAMI AFFILIATE:

Luis Fernandez Rocha -- General Manager
Helga Silva -- News Director
WLTV-23
9405 NW 41st Street
Miami, FL 33178-2301
Telephone: (305) 471-3900
Fax: (305) 471-4065

MORE CORPORATE INFO: http://www.univision.net/corp/en/board.jsp

Again, the show using the Challenger disaster as a comedy bit is on a show called, "La Hora Derbez" at 12midnight (Eastern time) on Univision network stations. I have the video on Tivo and will transfer it to an mpg or avi file, tape, or DVD if anyone wants to see it or include it with their letter.

Thanks for the support on this.

Ed

tegwilym
Member

Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 01-25-2006 11:44 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for tegwilym   Click Here to Email tegwilym     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by edmk5000:
Again, the show using the Challenger disaster as a comedy bit is on a show called, "La Hora Derbez" at 12midnight (Eastern time) on Univision network stations. I have the video on Tivo and will transfer it to an mpg or avi file, tape, or DVD if anyone wants to see it or include it with their letter.

Thanks for the support on this.

Ed


I'd be interested in seeing what it is, can you send a link? It sounds pretty tasteless, so you can send it directly to me if you don't want to post it publicly.

As for the Columbia ad, I just attribute that to the general public and media who can't tell one shuttle from the other and just used some stock video. I guess they didn't know that Columbia was the only on with the black panels on the wing leading edges. I haven't seen that commercial in a while, so I guess someone took care of that.

Tom

KSCartist
Member

Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 01-25-2006 11:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I stayed up to see it last night. Unbelievable that anyone could think the idea of blowing up a shuttle is comical, let alone use actual footage of a national tragedy for laughs.
I emailed a reporter for a local TV station and asked him to look into this. I figure if our letter campaign doesn't work, then negative publicity will.
Tim

edmk5000
Member

Posts: 49
From: Homestead, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2005

posted 01-25-2006 09:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for edmk5000   Click Here to Email edmk5000     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have placed the video (.wmv format) on my "personal web server" for viewing/downloading. Note that I have not built a website and the file is sitting on the server by itself.
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-edmk

Please also feel free to email me and I will email the file to anyone who requests it.

Since the show that the clip comes from is copyrighted, I included the original copyright notice in the video. Also, according to the "Fair Use" doctrine of the US Copyright statute, "it is permissible to use limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports." In this case, I am using a portion of the copyrighted work for commentary and criticism so it seems to be legal to post and download.

Ed

randy
Member

Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 01-26-2006 12:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for randy   Click Here to Email randy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Count me in, too. I think it's very inappropriate.

[This message has been edited by randy (edited January 26, 2006).]

Scott
Member

Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001

posted 01-26-2006 03:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott   Click Here to Email Scott     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That idea of calling TV stations is a very good one. With the upcoming anniversary, I can see a lot of stations reporting on this if they are informed of it.

David Stephenson
Member

Posts: 294
From: England
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 01-26-2006 03:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for David Stephenson   Click Here to Email David Stephenson     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hello,
im disgusted by this ad and will put pen to paper over it.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
David

mjanovec
Member

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 01-26-2006 05:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The thing that bothers me is that there is plenty of footage (old and new) of unmanned rockets exploding. Why did they have to choose a flight that ended in the deaths of seven people?

I can't even imagine what it would be like to be a surviving family member of one of the crew and to turn on the TV and see this "comedy" flash by on the screen.

edmk5000
Member

Posts: 49
From: Homestead, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2005

posted 01-26-2006 10:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for edmk5000   Click Here to Email edmk5000     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have posted a draft of the letter and press release I am sending concerning the Challenger video on my webserver. Please feel free to copy, modify, and send the letter and/or press release.
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-edmk


I will be faxing and mailing the letter (and cc's) tomorrow.

[This message has been edited by edmk5000 (edited January 26, 2006).]

zee_aladdin
Member

Posts: 781
From: California
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 01-26-2006 11:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for zee_aladdin   Click Here to Email zee_aladdin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I watched the footage and it is not just tasteless, I think it is an ATTACK on American Technology...

I think whoever did this is INTENTIONALLY Trying to belittle and make fun of the American Space Program, which is Just UNACCEPTABLE to me or to any decent Human Being!

edmk5000
Member

Posts: 49
From: Homestead, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2005

posted 01-27-2006 03:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for edmk5000   Click Here to Email edmk5000     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Since tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of the Challenger disaster, many cities around the US are having "memorials" and tributes. Here in Miami, FL, a memorial is being held at a Challenger memorial statue downtown and I will be making those in attendance aware of Univision's video.

I plan on bringing the press release describing the issue, a list of people to write, a laptop computer with the video, and a petetion to sign.

Since the local news media will also be covering this memorial, I may try to make contacts with them as well.

This seems like a good opportunity for all of us to get this video cut from the air.

Ed

edmk5000
Member

Posts: 49
From: Homestead, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2005

posted 01-27-2006 04:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for edmk5000   Click Here to Email edmk5000     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
UPDATE! UNIVISION COMES THROUGH!

I just received a telephone call from Ray Rodriguez, President and CEO of Univision Communications. Mr. Rodriguez says that the video will "never be aired again on his network."

Mr. Rodriguez offered a sincere apology and said that the video was "ridiculous and couldn't beleive that video was still airing" and is personally ensuring us that the video not be aired again.

Mr. Rodriguez told me that after he read my letter, he hoped I was wrong. A while back he says, that they had removed this clip, but somehow by "human error" the video resurfaced.

I will also be removing the video clip from my server (unless the video resurfaces).

My next letter will be a thank you letter to Mr. Rodriguez.

Ed

Scott
Member

Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001

posted 01-27-2006 05:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott   Click Here to Email Scott     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Kudos to you, Ed! You have demonstrated again that one person can really make a difference.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-27-2006 05:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm not particularly sure how I missed this thread until now, but I am very happy to see its outcome. Congratulations Ed, on a job well done.

[This message has been edited by Robert Pearlman (edited January 27, 2006).]

randy
Member

Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 01-27-2006 06:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for randy   Click Here to Email randy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great job Ed!

zee_aladdin
Member

Posts: 781
From: California
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 01-27-2006 09:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for zee_aladdin   Click Here to Email zee_aladdin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great Job Ed ... you deserve a Medal!

- Zee

David Stephenson
Member

Posts: 294
From: England
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 01-28-2006 05:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for David Stephenson   Click Here to Email David Stephenson     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well Done Ed,
nice to see someone taking a stand can still make a difference.
David.

KSCartist
Member

Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 01-28-2006 05:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ed-

Great Job. I'm going to be at KSC today for the anniversary and was going to speak with Joe Allen of is now Chairman of the Board for the Challenger Center.
I'm glad I checked in before going. Thank you for your effort.

Tim

spaceman1953
Member

Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 02-02-2006 06:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaceman1953   Click Here to Email spaceman1953     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you Ed.

.

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