Parents Television Council Launches Connecticut Chapter

General Mills Makes List of Best Corporate Sponsors

LOS ANGELES (August 8, 2007) – The Parents Television Council™ released its ranking of the “Top Ten Best and Worst Advertisers” on television. This annual report ranks advertisers according to how frequently they sponsor wholesome, family-oriented television shows or those containing sexually graphic, violent or profane material on broadcast television.

“I am proud to say that General Mills is based here in our community. The members of the Minnesota PTC Chapter commend and applaud the General Mills corporate leaders, employees and shareholders who support family-friendly television programs in the past year,” said Phyllis Plum, Minnesota Chapter Director.

“Television sponsors contribute to the television culture, either in a positive or negative way, by what programs they choose to support with their advertising dollars. We applaud those on our best list because they are contributing to the well being of millions of families by choosing to be responsible sponsors. It’s a good business decision to be responsible, as we’ve seen recently demonstrated by Disney and the Hallmark Channel in choosing to ban smoking in their films and by McDonald’s decision to remove a rapper who consistently uses derogatory language in his act from its concert tour. More companies need to follow suit and realize that their ad dollars do more than showcase their company -- they are a tacit approval of the television show’s content. Those on our worst list have sponsored some of the most heinous content on broadcast television, including shows that depict sadistic torture and drug use, discuss themes of bestiality, oral sex, and other sexually graphic dialogue, describe horrific crimes against children, and use foul language,” PTC President Tim Winter said.

“We call on our members and all concerned parents to consider whether their dollars will go toward a company that supports wholesome family entertainment or toward a company that helps underwrite sexually graphic and violent programs during prime time. Sponsors must be held responsible for the programs they support and applauded when they choose wisely.”

Top Ten Best and Worst Advertisers

The PTC’s list of the “Top Ten Best and Worst Advertisers” is based on each company’s prime time network television ad buys between October 2006 and May 2007. Each company listed purchased at least 25 ads on prime time bradcast programs. Companies with the most ads on PTC-rated green lighted shows were ranked the best, and those with the most ads on PTC-rated red lighted shows were ranked the worst. To see each prime time show’s rating, please visit http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/familyguide/main.asp.

Best	Worst
Procter & Gamble Walt Disney Co. Ford Motor Company Unilever United States Viacom, Inc. McDonald's Corporation Johnson & Johnson Schering-Plough Corporation [Products include: Afrin, Claritin, Nasonex, Dr. Scholls, Lotrimin] Coca-Cola Company General Mills, Inc.	Toyota Motor Sales Inc. General Motors Corp. Limited Brands, Inc. Payless Shoe Source Vonage Marketing, Inc. Volkswagen of America Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants [Parent company of: Dunkin' Donuts] Reckitt Benckiser PLC [Products include: Clearasil, Lysol, Spray and Wash, Air Wick, Woolite, Jet Dry, Glass Plus, Electrasol, Easy Off] GEICO, Inc. Bayer Corp.

► To compare this ranking to 2006, Click Here.

To schedule an interview with a PTC representative, please contact Gavin Mc Kiernan at (213) 403-1300 (ext. 2866).

The Parents Television Council™ (www.parentstv.org®) is a non-partisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment. It was founded in 1995 to ensure that children are not constantly assaulted by sex, violence and profanity on television and in other media. This national grassroots organization has more than 1.3 million members across the United States, and works with television producers, broadcasters, networks and sponsors in an effort to stem the flow of harmful and negative messages targeted to children. The PTC also works with elected and appointed government officials to enforce broadcast decency standards. Most importantly, the PTC produces critical research and publications documenting the dramatic increase in sex, violence and profanity in entertainment. This information is provided free of charge so parents can make informed viewing choices for their own families.