Will TLC have trouble finding advertisers for Sarah Paliin's reality show?

Advertising Age reports that TLC's usual advertisers may shy away from a show hosted by Sarah Palin:

Ad buyers are already suggesting that the show may not attract advertising from big marketers that need to appeal to the broadest possible audience. Smaller players, on the other hand, may see opportunity.

(Sarah Palin demonstrates how she will help the Discovery Channel get the Alaska wildlife to stay still for the cameras)

"Conservative companies don't want to ruffle any feathers," said Ira Berger, director-national broadcast, at Dallas independent Richards Group -- referring to risk-averse major marketers, not political persuasion. "But if you're the number-seven brand in a six-company category, then why not shake it up and take a chance?"

Flare-ups over politically tinged remarks in news programming have also made some marketers more cautious. The brouhaha over Glenn Beck at Fox News last year -- as well as the hot-button debates that run on NBC Universal's MSNBC -- prompted Clorox Co. to say last August that it would no longer run ads on any programming in the genre.

Advertisers may also have to be convinced whether the new program fits with TLC, a cable channel that is usually centered on family, parenting, home projects, cooking, weddings and fashion, not polarizing political personae or hikes under the Northern Lights. TLC saw 2009 ad revenue fall 1% to about $296.3 million from about $299.4 million, according to WPP's Kantar Media, a tracker of ad spending.

In tough economic times, "a lot of cable networks are walking away from their brands and trying to get ratings," said Mr. Berger. "They'll do anything they can do to get ratings and it's a short-term fix, but I think it's really hurting many networks in the long term," because such stunts often draw broader audiences that don't stick with the channel.

Critics have already pointed out that Ms. Palin's track record on the environment doesn't necessarily pair up with that of Discovery Communications, TLC'sTreeHugger.com. Ms. Palin, on the other hand, has come to be associated with the chant "Drill, baby, drill," for advocating the drilling of natural gas and oil in her home state.

It seems clear to me that TLC may have to get a little creative in their search for advertisers.  And the key to their success is in understanding the "Sarah Palin brand".

For instance I do not know how they can go wrong with products that help the average Christian, homeschooling mom get Palin's amazing "The bigger the hair, the closer to God" hair volumnizer.

And what would "whore hair" be without "slut shoes" to round out that naughty school librarian look that Sarah Palin made famous during her 2008 failed bid for Vice President? Of course to really pull off the look of a failed Alaskan governor you simply must have a clear vision of what opportunities lay ahead.

Not ALL of the advertised products will have to do with accessories however, some might go a little deeper. And some perhaps a little deeper still.

Of course for those viewers who REALLY want to follow the "Sarah Palin path to success" there is one product that is an absolute MUST HAVE to begin their journey. 

I believe that if TLC follows these simple guidelines they will have little problem attracting advertisers to promote their products on Sarah Palin's "Look What I Shot in Alaska" reality show.  Right up until she gets tired of doing it and walks away halfway through the eight episodes.