Health & Fitness: Ads That Shatter an Old Taboo

Fear over AIDS puts condom commercials on TV

AIDS, the terrifying disease. Condoms, the most widely available safeguard against the spread of the sexually transmitted illness. Those combined facts have shattered the long-held taboo against advertising such prophylactics on broadcast television. While some cable systems have carried condom commercials, ABC, CBS and NBC have steadfastly refused, contending that the ads would offend some communities. No local station would broadcast them either -- until now. First San Francisco's KRON-TV, an NBC affiliate, announced it would end its ban, and plans to start airing three 15-second spots for Trojan condoms in February. "Someone had to break the ice," said Station General...

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