Story perspectives

NESN Pulls Platner Ad, Collins Campaign Calls Tactic

5/26/2026

Summary

Graham Platner Ad Removal

NESN removed an ad for Graham Platner that aired during a Red Sox game.
Platner, a veteran challenging Sen. Susan Collins, blamed private-equity firms for ruining the Red Sox and pledged to reverse the curse.
NESN said it removed the spot because third-party intellectual-property rights were unauthorized.
The Collins campaign called the removal a focus-shifting tactic and said the ad is not subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) airing rules.

Summary

Portnoy Questions Endorsement

Dave Portnoy publicly asked why Platner’s Senate campaign expected his endorsement.
Portnoy said his New England sports fan ties meant he was not recruited for political promotion.
Platner’s team said a Red Sox-themed ad aired on May 23, 2026 during the game.
The campaign later said the spot was cut off midway and posted on May 24, 2026 that the campaign had started running the ad during the Red Sox game.

History

Historical Context

After networks refused political spots for Super Bowl XLII in February 2008—citing equal-time rules and a sold-out inventory—candidates turned to local NFL-Sunday buys, each 30-second slot costing about $2.7 million. The pattern resurfaced when NESN pulled Graham Platner’s Red Sox ad in May 2026, echoing the long-standing clash between campaign tactics, broadcast policies, and league ownership.

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Graham Platner Ad Removal

NESN removed an ad for Graham Platner that aired during a Red Sox game.
Platner, a veteran challenging Sen. Susan Collins, blamed private-equity firms for ruining the Red Sox and pledged to reverse the curse.
NESN said it removed the spot because third-party intellectual-property rights were unauthorized.
The Collins campaign called the removal a focus-shifting tactic and said the ad is not subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) airing rules.

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