Caught! ESPN drops cheaters ad

NEW YORK, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Listen up rogues: Sports channel ESPN asked its local affiliates to stop airing an ad for a Web site that makes a love connection with would-be cheaters.

Amy Phillips, a spokeswoman for the Disney-owned ESPN confirmed that the sports channel has asked that its affiliates to stop running an ad for AshleyMadison.com, but wouldn't say why, said ABC News, also owned by Disney.

Noel Biderman, the president of AshleyMadison.com, said he thought "a double standard" was applied to his company as far as advertising goes, ABC reported Monday. He said ESPN is "inundated" with ads for alcohol, which he said was "responsible for health issues and ultimately death."

"Somehow I'm immoral and everything else is OK," said Biderman, who said the company, based in Toronto, was spending more than $1 million this summer to run the ad on channels, including CNN, MSNBC, Fox, Fox News Channel and Spike.

For $49, AshleyMadison.com members create profiles and send e-mails and instant messages to each other.

While AshleyMadison.com's frequently asked questions says the company doesn't encourage straying, it exhorts on his home page: "Life is Short. Have an Affair."