For quite some time parents have been complaining about the lack of quality family television. In fact, an Association of National Advertisers 2009 poll reported than less than one quarter of parents say they are satisfied with their options.  As consumers, all we can do is avoid the programming we don't condone and hope our absence will encourage producers to work harder to get us back so they can sell more ad space. That plan has obviously not been successful.

Imagine my delight to learn that leading advertisers P&G and Wal-Mart are taking the high road and creating original programming that is family-friendly (by their terms anyway).  They say that they are having a harder and harder time finding programming that aligns with their brand values and appeals to their target audience--parents.  

According to a Wall Street Journal article, "Secrets of the Mountain" will air on NBC this April.  The two-hour movie will feature a single mom and her children in situations where family values like generosity and honesty are celebrated.  P&G is funding the production; Wal-Mart is the presenting sponsor.  Both will have products placed within the film and advertising running during commercial breaks.

What do you think about advertisers creating programming to feature their products and ads?  Is it a win/win for everyone or just another commercial intrusion into our home?