Undercover TV: 
Giving Viewers an Inside Look at Animal Abuse
Mat Thomas - The Animal World 

Americans watch a lot of television, but TV rarely shows how animals on factory farms actually live – and die. At best, such footage is spliced into a brief news story that may omit the most graphic footage for fear of alienating viewers. Showing nearly featherless hens packed into cages so tightly they can't lift their wings or a sow suckling her babies in the confines of a gestation crate isn't very appetizing. That's why viewers are much more likely to see commercials on TV presenting animals not as living creatures but as tasty food. 

Unlike typical television programming, Undercover TV goes all out to inform and educate people about our society's tragic mistreatment of animals. It's an exciting new program that goes behind the scenes of industries that abuse animals, and shows viewers the reality as seen through the eyes of undercover investigators. The show is produced by In Defense of Animals (IDA) and features video investigations provided by many different animal protection organizations, from large ones like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to small regional grassroots groups. Undercover TV gives their exposés a nationwide audience, and with it the potential to deeply impact public perception of animals. Champion vegan bodybuilder and IDA Vegan Campaign Coordinator, Kenneth G. Williams, hosts the program, introducing each segment.

Undercover TV has done episodes on factory farming, fur production, research labs, puppy mills, circuses, rodeos, and other industries that use animals. The footage is often shocking and hard to stomach. It captures on film some of the most extreme (but commonplace) human violations against animals: assembly-line slaughterhouse workers slicing the throats of conscious pigs and cows, fur farmers electrocuting and skinning minks, researchers tormenting monkeys, and circus trainers beating elephants with sharp bullhooks. People would be justifiably outraged if their beloved cats and dogs were treated so inhumanely. Seeing the terror on the faces of animals used for food, fabric, experiments and entertainment helps people realize that they are intelligent, sensitive creatures worthy of the same compassion and concern. 

Undercover TV already airs on over 50 public access stations across the country. It is in many of the largest U.S. cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta, meaning millions of viewers already have access to the show. Unfortunately, it doesn't air in Tennessee yet. Sorry if I got your hopes up, but I wrote this for a reason: Undercover TV is seeking a resident of Nashville to submit the show there. Then thousands of people in America's heartland could potentially see this compelling program that truly makes a difference for animals. Please contact info@undercovertv.org to find out how you can help. 

Undercover TV accepts video footage for future episodes. It is also aimed at inspiring others to make their own public access TV shows: relevant in Tennessee because most of its stations only broadcast locally produced shows. For more information about Undercover TV and to order a free sample episode on DVD or videotape, visit www.undercovertv.org.