HIV and Viacom

Viacom is in the midst of a three-year program in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation to increase HIV awareness through Viacom's various media outlets, including: CBS and UPN; cable networks MTV, BET, VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, TV Land, Nick at Nite, Showtime, Spike TV and Comedy Central; and 183 Infinity Broadcasting radio stations in the top 50 markets. An Associated Press report published on ABCnews (a Disney outlet), says:

. . . Kelli Lawson, executive vice president of corporate marketing for BET, says Viacom's outreach efforts are effecting change.

In a survey of blacks conducted by Kaiser last August, among 18-to-24-year-olds exposed to Viacom's campaign, half said they had discussed safe sex practices with their partner because of the Viacom campaign.

And nearly 77 percent of that group who were sexually active said they were more likely to use a condom because of the campaign.

Maybe Disney will now take up the challenge?