- Because Our Children Are Watching
- Join the Cause
- Donate
Written by PTC | Published November 18, 2020
LOS ANGELES (November 18, 2020) – In a nod to its 25th anniversary this year, the Parents Television Council has announced the winners of its Best and Worst Advertisers of the past 25 years. The list is comprised of companies that have historically advertised on programming that is safe for families, and those that have sponsored some of the most explicit TV programs.
“The way we consume TV has changed dramatically over the past 25 years, but what has not changed is that advertising dollars remain the lifeblood of most television programs and video platforms. This year our annual list of Best Advertisers recognizes those companies that have consistently and steadfastly demonstrated a corporate commitment to sponsoring TV programs that are generally safe for both adults and children to watch. We applaud them for their principled 25 year commitment to families. On the other hand, those companies on our Worst List have unfailingly sponsored programs containing volumes of sex, violence, and/or profanity,” said PTC President Tim Winter.
“Businesses demonstrate their corporate values not so much by their words, but by their deeds. This especially includes the TV programs they choose to sponsor. Not only does adopting and abiding by a strong media-buying standard improve the entertainment media landscape for children and families, there is immense financial benefit to the corporation for doing so: Research proves that ‘ads seen in TV-G rated programming score substantially higher in generating attention and purchase intent than commercials appearing in television shows with TV-14 and TV-MA ratings.’
“We know that many consumers choose to support corporate brands that put families first. As we enter the holiday shopping season, we call on families across the nation to return in kind that standard of care by purchasing goods and services from companies on our Best list, and by eschewing the products offered by those companies on our Worst list,” Winter concluded.
The Parents Television Council’s Best and Worst TV Advertisers from 1995-2020
BEST |
WORST |
1) Walmart |
1) Target |
2) Coca-Cola (other brands include Dasani, Smart Water, Simply Orange, Minute Maid) |
2) Yum! (parent company of Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell) |
3) Procter & Gamble (parent company of Always, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dawn, Downey, Febreze, Gain, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Luvs, Pantene, Tide, Vicks) |
3) Unilever (parent company of Axe, Dove, Hellmann’s, Knorr, Lipton, Lux, Degree, Sunsilk, Surf) |
4) General Mills (parent company of Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totino’s, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Haagen-Dazs, Cheerios, Trix, Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms) |
4) Limited Brands (Victoria’s Secret) |
5) Ford |
5) Toyota |
6) Smuckers (parent company of Jif, Crisco, Hungry Jack, Dunkin’ Donuts, Meow Mix, Milk-Bone) |
6) Sprint/T-Mobile |
7) TJX (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods) |
7) Kohl’s |
8) Wendy’s |
8) AT&T |
9) Clorox (parent company of Brita, Burt’s Bees, Fresh Step, Scoop Away, Formula 409) |
9) Subway |
(3-way tie) 10) Dairy Queen 10) Google 10) State Farm |
10) Burger King |