Unilever, Schering-Plough, and Johnson & Johnson Among the Best

Vonage, Reckitt Benckiser Among the Worst Corporate Citizens

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.

New Jersey is fortunate to have several great, responsible corporate citizens in the Unilever, Schering-Plough, and Johnson & Johnson companies.  Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of local corporations Vonage and Reckitt Benckiser, who have chosen to turn their backs on families by supporting television programming that contains foul language, gratuitous sex, and graphic violence.  Their representation sends a false message of our community and values to people around the globe. In the future, I hope that those companies at the bottom of the list will work to join the companies we are proud to call our own, here in New Jersey ,” said Crystal Madison, North Jersey 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.

► 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).