CorinaWrites

I’ve been on a mission to determine if MTV is promoting condom use, safe sex, etc, and if not – why? I truly don’t understand. For further info, see my prior articles: “Does MTV Provide Condoms For Reality Show Castmates?” and “Update on MTV’s Real World Condom/STD/Pregnancy Contract Stipulations!“

This article on the MMAFA (Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association) blog caught my eye, though it doesn’t offer an explanation. It just seems to be further proof of MTV’s reluctance to associate with condoms, despite their seemingly comfortable association with promiscuity. The article, titled  “Kicking vice: Bellator prohibits sponsorships from poker sites and Condom Depot“, delved further into the matter. I am not at all familiar with the world of televised fighting championships, but I definitely agree with the points made:

Bellator Fighting Championship enjoyed considerable coverage when they announced the move to MTV2 from their previous home of Fox Sports Network. The announcement was received with questions ranging from differences in average viewership between the networks to which day the events would be broadcast. Left out of the conversation was the change in sponsorship opportunities for Bellator’s fighters.

MMAFA.tv has learned from sources close to Bellator Fighting Championship that the promotion is no longer allowing its fighters to receive sponsorship from poker sites and Condom Depot. Sources indicated that the move was requested, if not necessitated, by the MTV2 network in an effort to keep their station more suitable for teenagers and young adults.

Some agents and managers find the move to be hypocritical given the age demographic and other offerings on the MTV network. One agent said:

“[Bellator] says that it’s because MTV2 isn’t an acceptable audience for either sponsor. But look at the demographic they pull: males 19 – 35. So I don’t believe a word of it, because the majority of the people in that demographic are legally capable of gambling. What about Condom Depot? I mean, have you seen some of the stuff that’s on MTV2? Have they ever seen Skin (sic – show is called Skins),  that show they have where underage kids are having sex with each other?”

In my earlier articles, I did look into how LifeStyles condoms offered to sponsor Skins after many advertisers cut their association with the risqué show. TMZ said that a rep for LifeStyles told them:

We are considering advertising during ‘Skins’, as it provides the opportunity to impart a responsible message about safe sex to an audience who clearly needs to understand the implications of their actions. (Condom Company: ‘Skins” Needs Our Protection!, TMZ.com)

Click “read more” at right to read more!

That happened in January, but I don’t know if a decision was ever made. I can’t handle watching that show, so I’m not sure what goes on with their advertising. It is clear, though, that LifeStyles is on board with supporting MTV’s various “stars”. Per the article on their website, “Jersey Shore‘s Snooki Birthday Party Event“, they sponsored Snooki’s birthday party in New York (November 2010), which had some other Jersey Shore and reality TV participants from MTV, E!, and Bravo. That resulted in these images, which I am wholeheartedly in favor of!

Back to the MMAFA article. It ended with this quote, attributed to “an agent”, which perfectly sums up the issue:

I just think the whole thing is funny. They’ve done plenty of shows at casinos. Are they going to have to hide that too? What’s so bad about condoms anyway? Condom Depot could act to counterbalance all of the sexualized programming on MTV2. Does Bellator have a problem with the practice of safe sex?

It sounds to me like MTV is the one with the problem, not Bellator, but I really don’t know much about that company or their take on the matter. Thoughts? I would LOVE to hear from MTV, LifeStyles, Condom Depot, Bellator, or anyone else with thoughts on this matter. I have no interest in gaining personal fame on the interwebs, but I truly believe that this issue is important, and it could be really beneficial to the kids, teens, and young adults that watch MTV.