Telus sorry for ad that compared not having HD TV channels to not standing for national anthem

CALGARY – Telus is apologizing after what the company says was a five-year-old ad caused a brief stir on social media on Saturday.

The ad’s text read that not having the most HD sports channels is like not standing for the national anthem.

A Calgary-based Twitter user posted a picture of the ad, calling it both dumb and offensive.

The company has apologized and said the ad is several years old and shouldn’t have been running.

A Telus spokesperson said the company believes the ad was a poster from a 2012 campaign that was somehow left up in Calgary’s Saddledome.

Erin Dermer said the ad was being removed and steps were being taken to ensure no others were still in circulation.

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“This ad was part of a targeted campaign from 2012 that promoted HD television channels to hockey fans in B.C. and Alberta; it should not have been up,” Dermer said in a written statement.

“We thanked those who brought it to our attention on Twitter and are removing the ad from the arena concourse now. We are incredibly sorry for the error.”

In recent months, NFL players have been demonstrating against discrimination in the U.S. by kneeling, sitting or locking arms through the U.S. national anthem before games. Last year, former quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the movement, which has been harshly criticized by President Donald Trump.