TV Product Placements in Spotlight

Posted by Carroll Trosclair Jul 16, 2008

The New York Times has brought the lingering controversy over paid product placements out of the industry-government closet and into the viewers’ world. Stephanie Clifford dragged the subject front and center July 14 in an article titled "Product Placements Acquire a Life of their Own on Shows."

Accompanied by a sketch of George Washington holding a bottle of Coke, the article detailed the growth of product placements from simple game show prizes to carefully-placed photos and sections of scrpt in today’s top-rated program--for payments of $100,000 and more.

Admittedly the article appeared n the paper’s "Business Day" section, but it is on the front page of the section, which draws readers from far beyond the business community.

The article may generate additional input into the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) upcoming hearings on paid product placements. The FCC is asking whether paid placements require tougher disclosure rules.

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