LOS ANGELES (October 4, 2011) – The Parents Television Council® marked the end of NBC’s “The Playboy Club” following the network announcement that it is cancelling the program after just three episodes. Leading up to and during the show’s run, PTC carried out an aggressive campaign that included calling on its members and other concerned citizens to contact local NBC affiliates, and asking advertisers whether the Playboy brand aligns with their corporate image.

“Bringing ‘The Playboy Club’ to broadcast television was a poor programming decision from the start. We’re pleased that NBC will no longer be airing a program so inherently linked to a pornographic brand that denigrates and sexualizes women,” said PTC President Tim Winter.

“Since much of the new NBC leadership comes from the cable industry, we are hopeful those making programming decisions will consider more carefully the difference between the publicly-owned broadcast airwaves and a subscription service like cable. The network’s decision to air this series was a violation of the public trust that comes with the privilege of holding a broadcast license.

“We are grateful to every member of the public who responded to our call to take action against this attempt to mainstream a brand that is synonymous with the pornography industry. We hope other broadcasters heed the important lessons of this programming debacle,” Winter concluded.