TV Product Placement

Cavallino · 13 Sep 2009 at 00:21

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8252901.stm

Product placement is to be allowed on British TV shows, in a move expected to be announced next week.

Independent broadcasters will be allowed to take payments for displaying commercial products during shows.

The change is intended to bring in extra funds for commercial broadcasters. Experts believe it could raise up to £100m a year.

There are currently strict rules against product placement and this ban would remain in place on BBC shows.

Amleto · 13 Sep 2009 at 00:22

meh, bit of a non issue for me tbh. don't know what the problem is?

MikeHunt79 · 13 Sep 2009 at 00:24

to be fair, ITV have been in trouble for a while, so I'm not suprised to see things like this happening.

I guess if you don't like it, the best thing is just not to watch in the first place, it already happens in many films (eg 28 days later)...

Energize · 13 Sep 2009 at 00:25

Why on earth was it not allowed in the first place? Ridiculous regulations.

mame · 13 Sep 2009 at 00:31

There's a few films where EVERYONE has the same phone.

manic_man · 13 Sep 2009 at 00:32

As long as the BBC remains staunch thats fine by me, can't have other channels that can advertise but not allow product placement, thats just double standards.

Having said that, product placement is something that has cheapened the whole of the film making industry, I have no doubt that it will do the same for terrestrial TV.

Perhaps it's just me and my peers but not one of us can stand the obvious product placement you get in the majority of new films. I watch a film to suspend by own belief for a few hours, when I see somebody sipping a cool refreshing Coke in an obvious way, it instantly annoys me and turns me off to the film.

Sadly it is now part of the industry and isn't going to go away.

Deep · 13 Sep 2009 at 00:33

MikeHunt79 said:
(eg 28 days later)...

I haven't seen this in a long time but what placement did it have in it?

iRobot was one which had LOADS of Converse placement in it!

Volcs · 13 Sep 2009 at 00:34

Recent Bond films have been the one stop shop for PP.

Cavallino · 13 Sep 2009 at 00:37

I remember Minority Report had quite a few brand names in it?

So long as the placement is integrated into the viewing material and not something as blatantly direct as "BUY AN IPHONE NOW!!!" or something, then I will be ok

Buffman · 13 Sep 2009 at 00:40

The bond films are always the worst for sony tvs/blu ray/phones, I dont really mind product placement though I quite like it in films/games

.

MikeHunt79 · 13 Sep 2009 at 01:20

Deep said:
I haven't seen this in a long time but what placement did it have in it?

iRobot was one which had LOADS of Converse placement in it!

take a look at the scene where they loot the shop

antran · 13 Sep 2009 at 01:23

doesnt bother me, I rarely watch tv at all.

Deep · 13 Sep 2009 at 01:31

MikeHunt79 said:
take a look at the scene where they loot the shop

I'll have to crack out the dvd and give it a watch as i cant remember.
However if i remember correctly that scene is filmed near me!

joey1211 · 13 Sep 2009 at 01:33

Everyone and their dog will be using iMacs in the telly world before long.

CliffyBiro · 13 Sep 2009 at 01:36

Cavallino said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8252901.stm

Werewolf · 13 Sep 2009 at 01:37

Energize said:
Why on earth was it not allowed in the first place? Ridiculous regulations.

Because it can be very distracting, and I beleive works against the regulations regarding advertising times.

I suspect this is going to make Commercial TV in the UK just that little bit worse than it already is, suddenly everyone Corrie is likely to be using Nokia™ mobiles (complete with distinctive tone), the IT Crowd will have Cisco™ networks featured prominantly on every bit of networking gear, Ross Kemp will be running around in his Nike™ shoes etc.

I was watching Eureka the other day and the number of lingering shots on Cisco gear (complete with the logo) was silly, same with 24.

Steeps · 13 Sep 2009 at 01:42

On "watch" they blurred out the DrPepper can in spiderman when he was shooting webs at it, yet left every other billboard and advert in it. No idea why...

I'd rather have product placement than the program being disrupted every 15 minutes for a "break"

Greenlizard0 · 13 Sep 2009 at 01:43

Agree with distracting. We already have to endure adverts and programmes sponsored by X. Now there'll be glaring 10 second close ups of coke bottles and Sony Vaio laptops. I often find that American shows are odd like this, because while they're supposed to be part of a scene, the shot that's aired isn't as "natural" as it could be.

Steeps said:
I'd rather have product placement than the program being disrupted every 15 minutes for a "break"

This would be in addition.

MikeHunt79 · 13 Sep 2009 at 01:58

Steeps said:
I'd rather have product placement than the program being disrupted every 15 minutes for a "break"

Every program will still be disrupted every 15 minutes for a "break"

Wossi · 13 Sep 2009 at 02:09

Currently watching 30 Rock and some of the product placements they have in that are hilarious as they do it in a mocking way and at one point even asked if they could be paid straight away.

Have to say, the only film that has annoyed me with this is irobot, the whole film is one big product placement.