NEW YORK -

The cancellation of a popular CBS sitcom paved the way for the National Automobile Dealers Association to push an important safety message.

NADA officials explained that for the first time pedestrians walking past the CBS Jumbotron “Super Screen” in Times Square will see child passenger safety messages from the association.

The association recounted that a CBS representative approached NADA in early March with the unprecedented opportunity when space became available after the network canceled the TV sitcom Two and a Half Men starring Charlie Sheen. Normally, NADA said advertising on the CBS Super Screen is bought by companies like Microsoft and Coca Cola for between $80,000 and $100,000.

But the association indicated CBS opened up the newly available ad time to nonprofits with public service messages for a fraction of the price.

NADA explained the public safety message, “Let’s Keep Them Safe at Every Age,” reinforces its position as a leader in promoting child passenger safety nationwide and highlights the fact that America’s franchise dealers have inspected more than 1 million child safety seats during the past five years.

The association emphasized that it provides all of its members with guidance on hosting child safety seat inspections and safety events for the public at their dealerships throughout the country.

“NADA and dealers have been proud sponsors of child passenger safety for years,” noted Marcy Maguire, a New Jersey dealer and chairwoman of NADA’s Public Affairs Committee.

“Now, with this campaign we’re able to bring our message of support for child safety to the one and a half million people who walk through Times Square each day,” Maguire continued.

NADA’s 15-second commercial appears once every hour, 18 hours a day for 45 days on the screen that measures 26 feet by 20 feet and located at 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.

NADA’s public service announcement also will be running on April 19 when the NADA/IHS Automotive Forum takes place at the nearby Hilton in New York, “Giving attendees the rare opportunity to see such a high-profile NADA ad campaign in Times Square promoting the good work of the nation’s new-car and truck dealers," officials pointed out.