There is an interesting piece on the BBC features site at the moment discussing product placement on TV - you can read it here - BBC News - Will product placement change TV? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12449502.
The article compares the US and UK experiences and suggests the concept of product placement is new to UK screens, but is it? As a paid for advertising activity this may be true but PR has been making use of product placement on TV for decades. As a lowly PR account executive working for Stanley Tools in the 1990's I was tasked with ensuring that Stanley products were used exclusively on all home improvements shows on TV; LDV vans were regularly driven around Albert Square by key characters and shows like '60 minute makeover' wouldn't exist if it weren't for the support of organisations prepared to 'place' their goods and services.
So while product placement may be a relatively new 'above the line' activity in the UK, it has been going on 'below the line' for years!
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