NORTHBROOK, Ill. (May 15, 2007) –
The
Parents Television Council™ asked Allstate
at its annual shareholders meeting today to
become a responsible corporate citizen and
dedicate its advertising dollars toward
sponsoring pro-social, family-friendly
programming instead of the sexually graphic and
violent programs that it has recently
sponsored. The following are excerpts of
remarks given by Glen Erickson, manager of
advertiser programs for the PTC, at the meeting:
“I am here today representing the
Parents Television Council, a non-profit,
nonpartisan group committed to protecting
children from sex, violence and profanity in
entertainment. I am here today because Allstate
consistently advertises on programming that
contains graphic violence, excessive sexual
content and foul language and we think this
needs to stop – now.
“Allstate is clearly a leader in
the insurance industry. Chairman Liddy, surely,
you understand how Allstate’s irresponsibility
in the media marketplace can undermine your good
brand name. It is a shame that Allstate cannot
demonstrate leadership as a responsible
corporate citizen as reflected in the support of
the company’s consistent pattern of advertising
on some of the most violent and vulgar
programming on television. It is clear to me,
and to the Parents Television Council’s 1.1
million members, that Allstate does not have
media guidelines in place to keep its name off
of programs containing graphic and explicit
content.
“Over the past year Allstate has
sponsored such shows as
C.S.I., C.S.I
Miami and
24
on the FOX television network.
24
is known for its extreme violence but one
episode in particular sponsored by Allstate
insurance stands out. In this episode, the lead
character Jack bites one of his captors and
spits out a piece of the man’s neck. The man is
shown lying in a pool of blood. In another
scene of the same show, a man is shot in the
knee and then the chest.
“The PTC’s message to Allstate is
this – your advertising dollars reflect your
corporate values. I doubt the Board of
Directors or the shareholders would be proud of
this program that your media dollars supported.
“I am here today to plead with
you, on behalf of millions of Americans, to stop
underwriting sleaze and adopt responsible
advertising guidelines that will keep Allstate
off of programming that contains foul language,
gratuitous sex, and graphic violence. Please
embrace your responsibility to society by being
an economic, intellectual and social asset to
the television viewing community. Is Allstate
in good hands?
“Will Allstate continue paying
for the ‘cultural sewage’ that is delivered into
our homes on a nightly basis? Or, will Allstate
be a responsible corporate citizen and dedicate
its advertising dollars toward sponsoring
pro-social, family-friendly programming?
“The Parents Television Council
would like your response to this question by the
first of June so that we may let our 1.1 million
members know whether or not Allstate is
dedicated to responsible advertising and not to
return to sponsoring some of the most offensive
and violent programming on television. I hope
that I will be able to tell them that Allstate
is adopting advertising guidelines that reflect
its corporate values.”
