While the Duggars' new TLC show "Jill and Jessa: Counting On" is rating very well on the network, advertisers are evidently still not keen on having their brands associated with the huge family in the wake of eldest son Josh's major molestation scandal from last year.
A report by In Touch Weekly said that at least six companies have asked TLC to pull out their ads from the show after they purchased large advertising buys from the network that did not specify which shows the spots would be aired on.
According to the company representatives, they were surprised to see their spots airing on the show but have since advised the network that the show was part of their list of exclusions.
Among the companies who expressed disappointment over their names being associated with the show are Cici's Pizza, the UPS Store, Verizon Wireless, Pure Michigan, Whitewave Foods, Choice Hotels and Mattress Firm, brands that project a wholesome image to their target markets.
According to David Johnson, CEO of Strategic Visions, advertisers will not be quick to jump in on the Duggar fame given the magnitude of the scandal affecting the family.
"The Duggars are radioactive right now. People will see that this new show is just a desperate ploy by the Duggars to reclaim the spotlight and hopefully make some dollars off the public," he speculated.
For its pilot episode which aired on March 15, the show managed to attract 1.9 million viewers who were curious to see how the family has been holding up since their show 19 Kids and Counting was cancelled, IBTimes reported
The pilot episode showed the married Duggar sisters focus on their new families while the rest of the siblings seem occupied with hobbies.
Josh's wife Anna also appeared in the first episode to talk about the challenges her family faced with her husband's infidelity.
