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Clear Channel settles Times Square squabble

The flap between Clear Channel Spectacolor and Project Billboard, with the Marriott Marquis Hotel playing a strong supporting role, has been settled. Marriott's building will remain unadorned by any political-messages, consistent with its own policy, and Project Billboard (PBb) will get not one, but two prominent spaces for its anti-Iraq war advertising.

The antiwar group contracted for space in Times Square last December with an eye toward posting their message before, during and after the Republican Presidential Convention.

The message, "a bomb with the phrase "Democracy Is Best Taught by Example, Not by War" was rejected. The bomb imagery was cited as the reason, but when PBb offered to replace it with a dove, Marriott continued to block the ad.

PBb will use the dove image, and will have space described as prominent on the Conde Nast building (Broadway & 42nd St.) and the W Hotel (Broadway & 47th St.). A second message, a display totally the cost of the Iraq war, will be shown at the latter location.

In contrast to its reputation as a company which favors a conservative message, Clear Channel received nothing but praise for its handling of the situation from PBb. "These two new prominent locations will showcase our message in the busiest intersection in America," said PBb's Deborah Rappaport. "We are impressed with the options Spectacolor presented to us and appreciate their cooperation and flexibility."