INDIANAPOLIS STATION WILL AIR CONDOM ADS

A television station here has announced plans to accept advertising of prophylactics in an effort to educate the public about AIDS and prevent the spread of the deadly disease.

WRTV on Tuesday became the second U.S. television station to recently decide to run condom ads. KRON-TV in San Francisco announced its plans last week.

“We’re 100% behind any measure that will enable people to keep from spreading or receiving AIDS infection,” said David J. McCarty, external affairs director for Indiana’s Board of Health.

“Condoms are not 100% effective in stopping the spread of AIDS, like they’re not 100% effective in stopping pregnancies,” McCarty said. “But besides abstinence, they’re the most effective form of prevention for AIDS yet known.”

WRTV said it will begin accepting such advertising for use after 11:30 p.m. and said each commercial will be carefully reviewed before it is broadcast.

“We’re going to accept contraceptive ads only if the message deals with the prevention of spreading disease,” rather than being a message of birth control, said John B. Proffitt, the station’s manager and vice president.

KRON said it will donate profits from its ads to AIDS research and will require advertisers to make a matching donation.

“We will accept condom advertising on a six-month trial basis, if the commercials pass continuity standards and are in good taste,” said Francis A. Martin III, president of Chronicle Broadcasting of San Francisco Inc., KRON’s owner.