Product placement coming to a TV near you!

Heroes was kings of it. All computers were Dell, with logos fully visible. Occasionally there would be a random shot of someone dropping an insignificant item on a desk next to a monitor with the logo on it.

If Soaps do this, surely it will mean just a lot more scenes in the local shops. You can already see brand names in the shop in EastEnders, just now the manufacturers aren't getting paid.

Trouble is, tell people that the BBC are being paid by chocolate bar manufacturers to show a product and they'll be asking for a reduction in the cost of a TV Licence!

It won't happen, the BBC isn't part of the new rules, neither are certain genres like childrens and news programmes

ITV still failing to realise that money for product placement wouldn't come out of thin air:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a204175/corrie-product-placement-worth-gbp330k.html

£330k a week equivalent to around one ad break, but anyone with any brains could see the value of ad time would fall if money is spent on product placement .

I would think it would increase the value of ad time as those product placers, would want to reinforce their product placing in the shows, with ads around the shows.

I've just made that assumption up off the top of my head, but I felt I needed to make an assumption up off the top of my head to counter your assumption off the top of your head.

Anyway, you could use your argument for only showing one ad a week.

Well there were reports a few weeks back that OFCOM were considering changing the rules so commercial channels wouldn't have to sell all their advertising time as they could increase revenue by reducing supply.

I assumed that like when sponsorship was introduced there would probably be restrictions on advertising placed on those using product placement. I hope we don't see our often quirky (though sometimes highly irritating) sponsorship bumpers replaced with generic "This programme is bought to you in association with..." intros to shows as seen in other countries.

OFCOM's proposals on how to deal with it:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consumer/2010/06/ofcom-publishes-product-placement-proposals/


I've softened my stance on product placement itself, but completely disagree with the idea of highlighting that it will feature in the forthcoming show, especially if it means more unnecessary on-screen junk. A mention in the credits would be more than satisfactory.

A DOG is a stupid idea. They don't do that for swearing, nudity or violence (the voiceovers don't always mention these during the idents)! I don't understand why they think this is going to be a life changing moment for viewers. At the end of the day it's going to be like walking into a shop and seeing a small section dedicated to a special offer or something. Surely Ofcom are only making people more aware of paid for brands by doing this. You won't be able to watch the programme without thinking "Is that paid for? Is that paid for? Is that paid for?"

And I'm interested by "Ofcom is also proposing to liberalise some of the rules relating to TV sponsorship". Does this mean that they've finally realised that viewers don't see sponsorship as anything but an advert placed closer to the start of a programme?

I'm guessing maybe that they'll allow sponsors to include references to prices and offers, which currently aren't allowed.

The OFCOM consultation: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/bcrtv2010/

Can't figure out how on earth you respond to it - they say you can fill out a form online, but I've only found the radio one.

Corrie used product placement in the recent DVD, it wasn't all that noticeable, just made it feel more real (a cab parked in front of a Harvey's store, Roy cleaning a BBQ with Jeyes fluid, a character drinking Horlicks)

That's what I was thinking too, it's silly that they've never been able to really.