Mr. Rooter and Mr. Rooter of Canada announced a 2002 television advertising campaign worth a combined $2.5 million. The budget includes $1.9 million in commercials set to run 21 weeks in the United States, and $150,000 in commercials that will air for 15 weeks in Canada.

The U.S. campaign will include more than 1,000 spots and will air on NBC's "Today Show," A&E, TNT, TBS, TLC, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Lifetime, Food Network and The Weather Channel. Print ads will also be published in restaurant trades. Meanwhile, Mr. Rooter of Canada will air commercials almost 3,500 times, appearing on Discovery Channel, HGTV, Prime, The Women's Network, Food Network, Showcase, The Weather Network, Global Toronto and Global Vancouver channels.

"Nothing speaks like the power of television," said Mike Bidwell, president of Mr. Rooter. "And in 2002, Mr. Rooter will be building our brand on more networks than ever before."

Saunders-Ream Marketing- Communications Group, of Dallas, is handling the creative direction on the commercials. The campaign will include 30-second spots and 15-second spots that will be televised during the spring and the fall of 2002.

Established in 1968, Mr. Rooter is a plumbing and drain cleaning franchise with more than 200 U.S. and 100 international locations. It is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group.