Race-based competition on Survivor: Cook Islands doesn’t faze many Canadian advertisers

Down south, the decision to divide contestants on Survivor: Cook Islands by race was followed by an advertiser walkout by Home Depot, Campbell Soup, P&G, Coca-Cola North America, Johnson & Johnson and even General Motors, which has sponsored the show for 12 seasons. But when the series' 13th season premieres on Global tonight (8 p.m. ET/PT), few Canadian advertisers will be distinguished by their absence.

Says Helena Shelton, senior VP broadcasting operations for Toronto's MBS, 'We advised all our clients that the Survivor teams were going to be based on ethnic lines. Some pulled out, some did not, and some did but then changed their minds.' As for the series' Canadian broadcaster, Brett Manlove Sr., VP broadcast sales & marketing for CanWest MediaWorks, says 'there has been a consistent flow of interest for the series from Canadian advertisers.'

In other Survivor news, Rogers and CBS Paramount International Television just inked a deal that will allow Rogers Personal TV customers to access the new season via VOD.
By Staff 
September 14, 2006

Down south, the decision to divide contestants on Survivor: Cook Islands by race was followed by an advertiser walkout by Home Depot, Campbell Soup, P&G, Coca-Cola North America, Johnson & Johnson and even General Motors, which has sponsored the show for 12 seasons. But when the series’ 13th season premieres on Global tonight (8 p.m. ET/PT), few Canadian advertisers will be distinguished by their absence.

Says Helena Shelton, senior VP broadcasting operations for Toronto’s MBS, ‘We advised all our clients that the Survivor teams were going to be based on ethnic lines. Some pulled out, some did not, and some did but then changed their minds.’ As for the series’ Canadian broadcaster, Brett Manlove Sr., VP broadcast sales & marketing for CanWest MediaWorks, says ‘there has been a consistent flow of interest for the series from Canadian advertisers.’

In other Survivor news, Rogers and CBS Paramount International Television just inked a deal that will allow Rogers Personal TV customers to access the new season via VOD.