Direct to consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical ads are only allowed in two countries across the world, the USA and New Zealand. In 2015, Big Pharma spent $5.4 billion in DTC ads. The major TV networks, CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox received most of this. At the top of the list was CBS with $511 million.
So do the ads work? A 2011 Report by the Congressional Budget Office found that “Drugs with DTC ads had nine times more prescriptions than those that did not.” Yes, these ads are driving customers!
But the advertising spend is just one piece in a full court press in order to influence news programs. Award winning investigative journalist, Sharyl Attkisson shares details of what she calls “pushback” from corporate interests while she worked at CBS. In her book, Stonewalled, she details many examples such as Ford Explorer rollovers with Firestone tires. She also talks about pharmaceutical companies, which you'll hear in the episode.
