State-of-the-art technology wasted on Deal or no Deal mugs

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The only reasons I can think this super-advanced technology is being used is to allow the sponsorship to appear as soon as possible, or to remove it easily from repeats.

I think they've recorded episodes up till November, so that'll be why.

I can't imagine they'll ever put it on the mug in reality as you'll always going to need clean versions, for a time when they're being repeated and the deal is over.

Surely the time has passed? Channel 4 should move on and commission a new series of Fifteen-to-One. I'm sure William G. Stewart could have a sponsor superimposed on to his tie or something.

You could superimpose a McDonald's staff tie on the one he'd wear. It would be far more creative, and effective.

Trips to see the Elgin Marbles? Or something reminding pensioners they can benefit from Winter Fuel Allowance?

You could combine the two of course: "Keep your Elgin Marbles warm this winter with your Winter Fuel Allowance". It would have to be spelt out letter-by-letter for the pensioners to see it, but it wouldn't be too different from Countdown.

Here's me thinking the state-of-the-art technology was cloning a person on-screen...

http://www.channel4.com/media/images/CorporatePortal/Benji/2012/Features%20and%20Factual%20Entertainment/PG%20Tips_A2.jpg

This was covered by Australia's Media Watch last year along with product placement in general. An interesting idea although I wonder how valuable it is given it's got to be noticable enough to be worth doing in the first place, but not stick out like a sore thumb?

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3527875.htm for anyone interested in the programme's transcript/video (skip to around 4"30' for the company who do the inserts).

'Firsts' usually do quite well regardless of the prominence, purely on the basis of the mentioning in news reports. Take the coffee machine on This Morning as an example- it was the first product placement on British TV and was reported across various news outlets throughout the day. Not bad promotion for £100k, and the coffee machine was barely visible on screen. The cash machine on Corrie was also reported for being the first in a drama/soap, again good promo for Nationwide regardless of the actual product.

PG Tips may be aiming for the same sort of effect because it's the first British use of such technology, but whether it gets reported or not is another matter entirely. It isn't necessarily the placement itself that draws the attention.

It shouldn't matter though as unlike standard sponsorship deals PP will likely remain as in most cases they have a physical presence, and are not added in post production.

Talking of Deal Or No Deal... if you haven't seen todays episode, best not to click the spoiler...

Damn, I clicked.