• Multichannel News, Thursday, August 9, 2007 11:30 AM

Conservative group The Parents Television Council has released its latest list of "Top 10 Best and Worst Advertisers" on TV. The ranking reflects what the group considers wholesome shows and those with sex, violence or profanity. Among those with high marks were Walt Disney Co. and Viacom, while Toyota and General Motors got low grades. The list is based on each company's prime-time network ad buys between October 2006 and May 2007.

"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," says PTC president Tim Winter.

But "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." Others on the "best" side include Procter & Gamble, Ford, Unilever and Schering-Plough Corporation, while Payless Shoes, Vonage, Volkswagen, Dunkin' Donuts and Geico were among the "worst."

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