MAD MEN

BP Spends $1M a Week on Ads

Since well exploded.

Over the last few months, BP has had a public-relations problem, to say the least. But it isn’t for lack of spin. Since the Macondo oil well exploded in late April, BP has spent more than $1 million a week on television and radio advertising for a total of 18 weeks. The figure is expected to appear in the company’s report to the House of Representatives on Monday. Most of the spots feature company employees working on the cleanup process and explaining just how much BP cares about restoring the Gulf of Mexico. “In our advertising in the USA following the Deepwater Horizon tragedy,” a BP spokesman said, “our objective has been to create informational advertising to assure people that we will meet our commitments and tell them how they can get help—especially claims.