- John Consoli, Mediaweek

NEW YORK The Parents Television Council is again going after one of its favorite targets, The CW television network, this time for not making the premiere episode of its new fall drama, 90210, available for advertisers to screen before it airs.

The PTC said if advertisers are not allowed to screen it, they might find after buying commercials in the show that it has story lines like current CW drama Gossip Girl, which the PTC said have "glamorized drug and alcohol use along with casual teen sex, including threesomes."

Arguing guilt by association, the PTC said, "If Gossip Girl is any indication of what 90210 will look like, advertisers have plenty of reason to steer clear of the show."

PTC president Tim Winter said the organization is "actively asking advertisers not to sponsor the show given the content that has been aired in previous CW programs and the fact that no content will be made available for an advance screening."

The CW responded to the PTC  in a statement: "Withholding the advance screener for 90210 has nothing to do with content concerns and everything to do with strategic marketing for the most anticipated new show of the fall season. 90210 has had strong demand and enthusiastic support from the advertising community since the moment the applause ceased at our 2008 upfront presentation."