Underwriting Spot

An underwriting spot is an announcement made on public broadcasting outlets, especially in the United States, in exchange for funding. These spots usually mention the name of the sponsor, and can resemble traditional advertising in commercial broadcasting. However, there are legal restrictions, such as a prohibition of making product claims, announcing prices, or providing an incentive to buy a product or service. In the U.S., these restrictions apply to all non-commercial educational stations, and even for non-sponsoring companies and products. Donors who contribute funding can include corporations, small businesses, philanthropic organizations, charitable trusts, and individuals. Critics argue[who?] that these spots are a corrupting influence, and introduce the same commercial biases into Public broadcasting as exist the corporate media.