TALK SHOWS LOSING ADS
By Adnews Staff
U.S.-based Procter & Gamble is starting to find talk TV too distasteful to be associated with. The consumer goods giant pulled all advertising from several nationally syndicated TV talk shows at the beginning of October, after asking them in the spring to raise their standards according to guidelines developed by P&G. The budgets involved were in the millions of dollars. In addition, the company is telling other talk show producers it expects changes. P&G is unhappy with gratuitous sex, foul language and references to violence. P&G isn't the first company to take a stand against the excesses of talk TV. Unilever pulled its ads from two shows earlier this year. Sears, Roebuck & Co. cut its ads from some talk shows because they were becoming increasingly controversial.