• by Wayne Friedman , April 5, 2010

Two major consumer product brands, Procter & Gamble and Walmart, say viewers should be assured that advertisers have not forgotten about family programming: The companies are co-sponsoring two movies together to be aired on NBC. 

The first movie, "Secrets of the Mountain," will air Friday, April 16 at 8 p.m. The movie focuses on a public defender and single mother who takes her family to visit a mountain cabin they inherited from their eccentric Uncle Henry -- only to find themselves going on a big adventure.

After doing some research with the Association of National Advertisers' Alliance for Family Entertainment, P&G and Walmart decided to work together in creating the movie. They say its genesis was hearing from families that wanted TV programming they could watch together.

"It's important, now more than ever, to offer family-friendly programming on television," stated Paige Turco, who plays Dana James, the public defender/single mother in the movie.

P&G and Walmart's second movie, "The Jensen Project," is scheduled to air July 16 on NBC. The "Secrets of the Mountain" DVD and soundtrack will be sold together in one bonus pack exclusively at Walmart on Saturday, April 17, the day after the premiere.

Over its long history, P&G Productions has produced nearly 50 movies of the week, over three decades of "People's Choice Awards," 20 soap operas and a number of beauty pageants and variety shows.