Philly Transit Authority Says GTA IV Ads Will Stay

Philly Transit Authority Says GTA IV Ads Will Stay

April 30, 2008
While public transit agencies in Chicago and Miami have pulled ads for Grand Theft Auto IV, it looks as if GP's local bus company will permit the ads to stay.

According to a report by all-news radio station KYW-1060, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) won't bow to (unspecified) pressure to remove the ads. From the KYW story:
SEPTA... is standing firm in its decision run the ads on hundreds of its buses...

SEPTA officials would not be interviewed, but they issued a statement saying while some might consider the game offensive, "the advertisement is not."

The ad campaign is slated to run for six weeks, with 350 posters on buses and other locations, generating $83,000 in revenue for SEPTA.

SEPTA last year was criticized for accepting ads for the movie "Hitman," ads featuring images of guns.

GP: It's not yet clear how SEPTA came to deal with the GTA IV ad issue. However, after I posted a picture of a SEPTA bus carrying a GTA IV ad last Friday, Jack Thompson, who was then in the process of persuading Miami-Dade Transit to drop its GTA IV ads, indicated he would pressure SEPTA to take a similar course of action.

In any case, if Thompson did try with SEPTA, he failed. GP has a call into SEPTA management for more details. In the meantime, it's good to see SEPTA standing firm on this issue. There are obvious First Amendment implications and, hey, SEPTA is strapped for cash. As a regional taxpayer, I'm happy to see that $83,000 in revenue coming in.
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Comments

Submitted by Jabrwock - April 30, 2008 at 12:05 pm -0500
Dorkmaster Flek, the trick here is that it's technically a public resource. So the government is bound to not "filter" ads just because they don't agree with the underlying message on morality grounds.

As long as T2 ponies up the "fair market" value for the ad space, the transit system can't discriminate.

Especially when it's such benign images as 3 characters, with no guns, etc, in view at all.

There's been a few court cases about this, where groups with controversial ideas successfully sued transit advertisers for pulling their ads on "morality" grounds...
Submitted by Jack Wessels - April 30, 2008 at 10:02 pm -0500
Hell yeah, glad to see PA is standing up for itself. Makes me proud.
Submitted by Philly Transit Authority Says GTA IV Ads Will Stay - April 30, 2008 at 10:08 am -0500
[...] wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWhile public transit agencies in Chicago and Miami have pulled ads for Grand Theft Auto IV, it looks as if GP’s local bus company will permit the ads to stay.According to a report by all-news radio station KYW-1060, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) won’t bow to (unspecified) pressure to remove the ads. From the KYW story: SEPTA… is standing firm in its decision run the ads on hundreds of its buses… SEPTA officials would not be interviewed, but they issued a statement saying while some might consider the game offensive, “the advertisement is not.” The ad campaign is slated to run for six weeks, with 350 posters on buses and other locations, generating $83,000 in revenue for SEPTA. SEPTA last year was criticized for accepting ads for the movie “Hitman,” ads featuring images of guns. [...]
Submitted by MasterAssassin - April 30, 2008 at 10:09 am -0500
Kudos to Philly for standing up for free speech!
Submitted by Sukasa - April 30, 2008 at 10:11 am -0500
If Smackywack really wants them to remove the ad, he should pony up $83,000 and replace all the ads with his own ad. At least he would be putting his money where his mouth is.
Submitted by Rhade - April 30, 2008 at 10:11 am -0500
Well.. what if they were offered $83,001 to pull them...

I highly doubt this is SEPTA sticking it to 'the man'. Good news regardless.
Submitted by Black Manta - April 30, 2008 at 10:13 am -0500
Philly FTW! :D
Submitted by Black Manta - April 30, 2008 at 10:19 am -0500
Also to add, like I said in Saturday's article, I didn't think Jack would get very far. He may hold some influence in his home state of Florida in general and Miami in particular. But anyplace else, it's a different story. To SPETA and agencies in other states, he's just one guy and an out-of-towner at that, and as such his words would carry little import.
Submitted by Dorkmaster Flek - April 30, 2008 at 10:21 am -0500
How much First Amendment issues are there in this case though? The buses are the property of the transit authority, and as such they get to decide exactly what they want to allow advertised on it. I agree it's an issue, but it's not really a free speech issue as far as I can see.
Submitted by Salen - April 30, 2008 at 10:24 am -0500
Huzzah for SEPTA for standing up to JT and giving him the finger (figuratively).
Submitted by BB - April 30, 2008 at 10:29 am -0500
Upon reading this headline, Nelson's "Ha ha!" popped in my head . . .
Submitted by Jonathan, aka Soul - April 30, 2008 at 10:31 am -0500
Good for Philly for having a spine :) .
Submitted by nightwng2000 - April 30, 2008 at 10:31 am -0500
So There! :P

Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Submitted by TheRoosterRngr - April 30, 2008 at 10:36 am -0500
w00t, finally. This is reassuring. : - ) Not everyone is scared of crazy idiots.
Submitted by DavCube - April 30, 2008 at 10:44 am -0500
Hoorah, Philly.
Submitted by jesse - April 30, 2008 at 10:46 am -0500
OWNED....
Submitted by GryphonOsiris - April 30, 2008 at 10:53 am -0500
Actually, I'mnot surprised about this. Philly may be known as the city of brotherly love, but they more have a "Hey! Fuck you!" attitude. So 10 - 1 says that when He-who-must-not-be-named tries to threaten them about keeping the adds up they'll come back like the scout from Team Fortress 2. Bonk!!!
Submitted by mogbert - April 30, 2008 at 11:06 am -0500
I'm glad that these ads are staying up. Personally, it's because I feel much worse things are often advertised, and as long as the ads themselves aren't illegal (like smoking ads or offensive/illegal imagery) then I don't see why they would have to pull them.
Submitted by Strªngعr_Dªngعr - April 30, 2008 at 11:06 am -0500
Its kind of crazy that a City with a huge back slide into worst crime rates is backing this game. But then again, maybe just maybe, Some people in Philly realize that the person committing the crime is responsible for their actions and not some outside influence. *epiphany*
Submitted by Bungles Danforth - April 30, 2008 at 11:09 am -0500
last I checked the murder rate in Philly has been getting worse every year since the last GTA game came out....maybe this is what the city needs.
Submitted by nightstalker160 - April 30, 2008 at 11:11 am -0500
Good for SEPTA. I'd be interested in how Jack tries to justify making them take it down.

he could use an old SUPREME COURT case "Railway Express v. New York" which allowed advertising restrictions based on the state having a "logical reason" for doing it.

But that case (while not overruled) came WAY before all the first amendment litigation we have now. It's an unused relic.
Submitted by Rhade - April 30, 2008 at 11:20 am -0500
Why does everyone seem to think that this is SEPTA sticking up for R*, GTA, freedom of speech??

Am I missing something?

This is, like I said, good news... but it's almost certainly because of the revenue...
Submitted by IllegallyMindedJohn - April 30, 2008 at 11:45 am -0500
Kudos to my hometown. Also, kudos to SEPTA... my grandfather drove for SEPTA (after driving MASH units in WW2).
Submitted by Shadow Darkman, Anti-Thesis of Jack Thompson, - April 30, 2008 at 11:55 am -0500
JT = P\/\/|\|3D I|\|T0 3PIC PH@I1!!!

Philadelphia = Resisting JT FTW!!!
Submitted by PhillyGuy - April 30, 2008 at 12:08 pm -0500
SEPTA just needs the money in reality.
Submitted by Falcon4196 - April 30, 2008 at 12:30 pm -0500
5 years of using the SEPTA Regional Rail and I can tell that this probably about the money. Still good for them for resisting. I'm going to keep buying those monthly Trailpasses.
Submitted by mottom22 - April 30, 2008 at 1:04 pm -0500
I live and work in Philly, and see these ads all the time. they aren't offensive, and if you didn't know video games at all, you really wouldn't know what the thing was about. i know its called grand theft auto, but thats essentially the only major clue you get. they are alot less racey than ad's i have seen with half dressed models and saprano ads.
Submitted by Geno - April 30, 2008 at 1:50 pm -0500
BUT THE CHILDREN

IF OUR CHILDREN WERE EXPOSED TO MAN ON A POSTER DOING NOTHING OFFENSIVE AT ALL IT WOULD CORRUPT THEM MORALLY AND CAUSE THEM TO SHOOT PEOPLE!
Submitted by TW99 - April 30, 2008 at 2:35 pm -0500
Ive seen ads on buses for movies that are violent and explicit that I myself find offensive, yet they have no problem displaying those. Another fine act of hypocrisy.
Submitted by Icehawk - April 30, 2008 at 2:36 pm -0500
Oh well there goes jackies latest bid to protect (ie control) the world and shape it to his views.
It is good to see SEPTA showing some backbone but as mentioned earlier it is probably a matter of who is paying and how much SEPTA stands to make. So no kudos
Submitted by GRIZZAM 512 - April 30, 2008 at 2:42 pm -0500
HAHA! You suck, Jackie boy!!!!
Submitted by Altair - April 30, 2008 at 3:32 pm -0500
Score one for the first amendment fuckers!
Submitted by Dick Ward - April 30, 2008 at 4:18 pm -0500
I always said Philly was a badass place.
Submitted by Dalorei - April 30, 2008 at 4:31 pm -0500
There's a SEPTA bus stop right across the street and a train station just up the street from me.

I gotta go see what's up.
Submitted by DJ Sessum - April 30, 2008 at 4:51 pm -0500
From article
"The game may be offensive, but the ad is not."
EXACTLY!!! Whodathunk? Dur dur dur!!!!!!!!
:-P
Submitted by GoodRobotUs - April 30, 2008 at 6:21 pm -0500
'Today Florida!, Tomorrow...er... Florida!'
Submitted by StealthKnight - April 30, 2008 at 6:52 pm -0500
Whooo hoooo! SEPTA for the Win. Smart thinking saves SEPTA from money losss and missing out on huge revenue. Never force your beliefs on your neighbor.
Submitted by LaxGamer - April 30, 2008 at 9:23 pm -0500
Thank you Philly, way to stand up for free speech.

Odds Jack-o slams them and says they were bribed by R*?
Submitted by Alanna - April 30, 2008 at 10:24 pm -0500
As a philly resident, college student, and gamer, while i'm glad to see the ads not being taken down, I know SEPTA will do anything for money. God knows, they get enough of mine every day. They'll sponsor anything for a buck. But, I do question the city's decision to post enormous GTA billboards in really crime ridden areas ... I feel like that's asking for bad publicity. There's a huge one at Broad St and Erie Ave in North Philly, I see it every day on the bus and wonder if it's a good idea. What happens to Rockstar the next time a kid gets shot near there?
Submitted by Shadow Darkman, Anti-Thesis of Jack Thompson, - May 1, 2008 at 6:58 am -0500
@LaxGamer

Odds Jack-o slams them and says they were bribed by R*?


One TO forty-seven octillion, three hundred sixty-five septillion, one hundred forty-six sextillion, seven hundred eighty-nine quintillion, four hundred fifty-one quadrillion, three hundred forty-seven trillion, eight hundred ninety-four billion, six hundred fifty-seven million, eight hundred ninety-five thousand, two hundred thrity-six.

Pretty good chance he will.
Submitted by damnedyankee - May 2, 2008 at 1:46 pm -0500
When JT tries to X%#$ with SEPTA's revenues then it gets personal. Fares are high enough as it is.

Monetary motives aside, score one for the birthplace of the Constitution!

'Sides, I've always secretly suspected that Liberty City was really Philly and not New York. But that's just me.

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GamePolitics ShoutBox

Posted 07/18/08 at 10:32pm
Paul T. Farinelli: Seriously, i haven't been so awe-struck by someone's sheer audacity in...ever!
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:45pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : And I can take "No" for an answer.
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:45pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : JT is such a tool. He thinks he can have his way just because he's a Christian. Listen up, Jackie-boy, I'm a Christian, too.
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:09pm
Paul T. Farinelli: Also, I must say that Jack honestly looks like a serial killer in that pic. (not saying he is one, just that he looks creepy)
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:08pm
Paul T. Farinelli: Jace was apparently polite.
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Posted 07/18/08 at 07:48pm
Jack Wessels: If not then... Damn...
Posted 07/18/08 at 07:48pm
Jack Wessels: Hey Dennis, I know you can't share the videos JT sent you, but was there perhaps even a slight amount of sarcasm in his replies?
Posted 07/18/08 at 06:21pm
tallimar: ... news story so much as a punch line.
Posted 07/18/08 at 06:21pm
tallimar: breaking story: JT hates on game dev, news at 11... id find that interesting to watch only to the point that JT isnt a ...
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BlackIce: I absolutely refuse to read about that Wanker Cameron
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:52pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : BTW, anyone see the new JT story Dennis put up?
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:51pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : IDK about that, Grizzam. Who knows if it did or not?
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:49pm
GRIZZAM PRIME: So yeah. E3 hath sucked ballz apparently.
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:42pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : @BlackIce: But I'm not gonna do it, because I have no reason to do it.
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:36pm
BlackIce: No wait.. That's Beemoh that i'm thinking of. KN licks people too.
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:36pm
BlackIce: @Shadow Darkman: He's only trying to get you to call him an annoying dick.
Posted 07/18/08 at 12:07pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of: @Rodrigo: You can tell him. Spoilers get more negative attention than they deserve, anyway.
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Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of: *evades Zippy's lick and slaps him* Dude, I'm a guy, and I'm straight. Go find a girl to do that to.
Posted 07/18/08 at 10:38am
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: LOL, I don´t know if I can tell you more, because spoilers.
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