Find Out
Which Companies are Sponsoring Objectionable Content and Which are Promoting Family-Friendly
Programming
THE ISSUE
"The first step is to understand that
TV is just a delivery system for ads. The only programming that really matters
to those in power is the commercials (except on pay cable channels like HBO,
where nothing matters except how many people subscribe). The success of a show
is not measured by how good it is, or who says they loved it, or even how many
people watch. A show is a success if the people who watched it go and buy the
products that were advertised during the commercials. It is all about what is
being sold and (just as important) who is doing the buying. That is why shows
like 7th Heaven - which was the highest rated show on the WB network for
years - was never considered as much of a success as Buffy the Vampire Slayer
or Dawson's Creek, two lower-rated shows on the same network. The
perception was that the audience for the latter two shows had more money to
spend, so advertising rates were higher, and therefore the shows were more
profitable. It might not seem fair, but viewers need to understand that the
most-watched shows aren't always considered the most financially successful."
- Dean Batali, lead writer for That '70s Show and former writer for
Buffy the Vampire Slayer [Behind the Screen, a book about Christians in
Hollywood]
We are continuing to hold corporate sponsors accountable for the content of the
programs they support with their advertising dollars. PTC representatives
attended national corporate shareholder meetings for Target, Capital One,
Circuit City, Yum! Brands, and Viacom (5 of the top 10 worst advertisers) to ask
them to discontinue their sponsorship of some of the most offensive content on
television. We also attended the Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney and J.M. Smuckers
Company shareholder meetings to applaud them for making responsible sponsorship
decisions.
TAKE ACTION
Below
is a list of advertisers who need to hear from you. The companies listed in the
left hand column have been actively striving to maintain a family friendly
advertising policy. The companies listed in the right hand column need a little
bit of encouragement to incorporate better standards into their policy. Please
click on the link to our most recent press release or correspondence regarding
each company for more information. Then, please take a few moments to write to
them about their sponsorship decisions. You can find contact information for
these advertisers and talking points to help you write your letter
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
broadcast 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.
►
more
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
Dunkin Brands
Reckitt Benckiser
PLC [Products
include: Clearasil,
Lysol, Spray and Wash,
Air Wick, Woolite, Jet
Dry, Glass Plus,
Electrasol, Easy Off]
In
the past, Burger King has frequently used "edgy" imagery in its TV
commercials. But now, the fast-food chain has partnered with
Nickelodeon to use the beloved children's cartoon character
SpongeBob SquarePants in a degrading ad drenched in smut and sexual
innuendo. ►
more
At the Walt Disney Company annual shareholders meeting, the Parents Television Council praised the company for its tradition of providing wholesome family entertainment, but cautioned Disney about risqué advertisements, marketing its stars on adult-oriented programming, and the direction of ABC Family Channel. ►
more
Jack
in the Box has
pulled a ‘Jekyll and
Hyde’ on families:
it wants families to
eat at its
restaurants, but yet
it sponsors some of
the most graphic and
anti-family friendly
programming on
television today.
Millions of parents
are counting on Jack
in the Box and other
TV sponsors to
realize that they
play a fundamental
role in keeping the
most shocking,
graphic and
gratuitous material
on the air; and that
these types of shows
contribute to a
negative media
culture for our
children. Jack
in the Box can
change, and we urge
them to do so.
►
more
Over
90,000 members and three
Texas grassroots chapters of
the Parents Television
Council denounced the
Houston NBC affiliate, KPRC-TV,
for airing an ad during the
Super Bowl for
AshleyMadison.com, a dating
service for married people
looking to cheat on their
spouses. ►
more
The
Parents Television
Council issued an
urgent call for
cable choice and put
advertisers on
notice after a
graphic
self-mutilation
scene appeared on
the FX Network
program
Nip/Tuck.
The show, which
depicted a woman
using an electric
carving knife to cut
off her own breast,
aired at 10:00 pm
EST (9:00 pm
CST/MST) on January
27, 2009. ►
more
Quiznos is
the PTC's Worst Advertiser of the Month
Quiznos has been identified as the PTC’s Worst Advertiser of the Month
because of their continued sponsorship of such programs as Nip/Tuck, Dirt, Dexter, Family Guy, Two
and a Half Men, American Dad, and
Swingtown.
Company Sequesters PTC Representative in a
Room and Denies Permission to Speak
At the Limited Brands shareholders
meeting, a Parents Television Council
representative was sequestered from the
other shareholders in a separate room and
was not permitted to speak during the
meeting. Other shareholders in the general,
public meeting room were permitted to ask
questions. The PTC intended to request that
Victoria’s Secret ads be limited to airing
during certain hours on television when they
will not be as easily seen by millions of
children. Parents regularly contact the PTC
to express their concerns over racy and
revealing Victoria’s Secret ads that have
been airing during primetime broadcast
hours. The PTC is now investigating its
options given this blatant – and what
appears to be intentional – disregard for
shareholder rights.
►
more
►
To read
excerpts from the intended statementclick here.
At the IHOP
shareholders meeting in Glendale today, the
Parents Television Council called on the
corporation to decide whether the television
shows its Applebee’s brand advertisements appear
on are in step with IHOP’s hard-earned family
image.
►
more
At the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder
meeting in Omaha on Saturday, May 3, the
company was pressed on whether its
television advertising dollars reflect
its corporate values. Father Val Peter,
executive
director emeritus of Boys Town, spoke on
behalf of the Parents Television
Council
urging Berkshire Hathaway to reconsider
placing GEICO brand advertisements on
shows like “Dirt” and “The Sopranos.”
►
more
►
To read
excerpts from Father Val Peter's statement
click here.
Parents Caught Off Guard by Inappropriate Blue Pill
Ads
At today’s Pfizer Shareholder
meeting, the Parents Television Council asked the
company to reconsider placing its adult product
advertisements during family-oriented television
shows. PTC Director of Corporate Relations Glen
Erickson spoke during the meeting.
►
more
►
To read
excerpts from Mr. Erickson's statementclick here.
FIND OUT WHO SPONSORS THE BEST
AND WORST TV SHOWS:
The 50+ crowd is the fastest growing market segment in the U.S., with projected
growth from 76.1 million adults in 2000 to 97.1 million by 2010 -- an increase
of 27 percent (U.S. Census, Populations Projections Program, 2000)And based on a
study conducted by AARP and RoperASW in 2002-'03, the 50+ market's loyalty for
brands in various categories is often on par with the 18-49 market, which means
that they're just as fickle when it comes to brand loyalty as the young
demographic, but with substantially more income. In fact last year alone, they
spent nearly $400 billion on things like travel, apparel and beauty products.
And with 10,000 people turning 50 every day, their spending spree is just
starting." - Over 50% of the PTC's 1.1 million members are 50 +.
Parents Television Council,
www.parentstv.org, PTC, Clean Up TV
Now, Because our children are watching, The nation's most influential
advocacy organization, Protecting children against sex, violence and
profanity in entertainment, Parents Television Council Seal of Approval,
and Family Guide to Prime Time Television are trademarks of
the Parents Television Council.
New to the PTC?
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