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Coca Cola best advertiser on TV in the US; GM worst: Parents TV Council
MUMBAI: The Parents Television Council (PTC) has released its annual list of Top Ten best and worst advertisers.
This ranks advertisers according to how frequently they sponsor wholesome, family-oriented television shows or those containing sexually graphic, violent or profane material.
PTC president L. Brent Bozell says, “Corporate advertisers share accountability for the tide of graphic and gratuitous sex, violence and profanity on television today. With their advertising dollars, they can choose to underwrite family-friendly television programming or they can elect to sponsor programs filled with raunch.
“Responsible broadcasting is possible, and this responsibility not only falls on the entertainment industry, but also on the sponsors. And from what we continually hear from most big corporate sponsors is that a responsible advertising practice is good for their business”.
The PTC’s list is based on each company’s prime time network television ad buys between October 2005 and May 2006. 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.
The 2006 Top Ten Best and Worst Advertisers are:
Best
1. Coca-Cola
2. Campbell Soup
3. Disney
4. Ford Motor
5. Cingular Wireless
6. Altria Group
7. DreamWorks
8. Schering-Plough Corp.
9. Darden Restaurants, Inc.
10. Sears Holdings Corp.
Worst
1. General Motors
2. Toyota Motor
3. Volkswagen
4. DaimlerChrysler
5. Target
6. GlaxoSmithKline
7. Nissan Motors
8. American Express
9. Apple Computers
10. Circuit City Stores
Bozell adds, “We applaud our top ten best advertisers for ensuring that families have wholesome television programming to watch. Companies such as Coca-Cola and Sears have helped to secure the commercial success of programs like American Idol and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
“We also applaud Ford for significantly changing its advertising practices. Last year, the company was on our worst advertisers list. This year, Ford is ranked the forth best advertiser, and is the only American car company on the best list. It’s also interesting to note that out of the top advertisers, six are automakers. Four of those are foreign automakers and sadly, all are on the worst list.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
