In today's New York Times, MTV Refuses Antiwar Commercial:

MTV has refused to accept a commercial opposing a war in Iraq, citing a policy against advocacy spots that it says protects the channel from having to run ads from any cash-rich interest group whose cause may be loathsome.

Nonetheless, viewers in New York and Los Angeles will be able to see the rejected spot from Not in Our Name starting today on MTV's "Total Request Live" and "Direct Effect," because its backers did an end-run around the channel by buying time on local cable providers.

A scene from an antiwar ad, directed by Barbara Kopple, who has won two Academy Awards for documentaries. The ad was rejected by MTV.

As other advocates have butted up against similar policies prohibiting advocacy ads at most national television channels, they have increasingly resorted to making local buys. A few minutes of commercial time are reserved each hour for local cable operators or broadcast affiliates.

Guess its up to the Internet to spread the word. Television ads may dry up, democratic candidates may clam up, but we'll all be here. Dissent will go on.