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Here's How Apple Strategically Places Its Products In Apple TV+ Shows

AlexESP said:
I bet we’re 3 episodes away from watching the sighted discovering an old Mac in “See”.
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Oh I fully expect Apple to have prominent placement in season 3 of For All Mankind given the next time jump. Naturally you wouldn't have seen them anywhere near NASA at that time, but they still managed to sneak one into the bedroom of a teenage girl because of course even though it made more sense for her to have a CoCo, VIC20 or even a Commodore64 at that time.
 
Honestly, I don't notice the branding.
People using and talking about Apple products in real life is normal. My boss and coworkers say FaceTime every day.
Would you prefer fake devices and reimagined words to describe facetime?
And a dark colored Mac and iPhone is nothing in the realm of product placement.
Can you spot the product placement below? I know it's subtle.
article-2271685-1747A8B9000005DC-127_638x402.jpg
 
Johnny907 said:
Oh I fully expect Apple to have prominent placement in season 3 of For All Mankind given the next time jump. Naturally you wouldn't have seen them anywhere near NASA at that time, but they still managed to sneak one into the bedroom of a teenage girl because of course even though it made more sense for her to have a CoCo, VIC20 or even a Commodore64 at that time.
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We all know that Hari Sheldon's Encyclopedia Galactica will be on an iPad Pro.
 
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macsound1 said:
Honestly, I don't notice the branding.
People using and talking about Apple products in real life is normal. My boss and coworkers say FaceTime every day.
Would you prefer fake devices and reimagined words to describe facetime?
And a dark colored Mac and iPhone is nothing in the realm of product placement.
Can you spot the product placement below? I know it's subtle.
View attachment 1830508
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I see the product, I just can't tell if it's made by Zebra or Bic because of how she's holding it.
 
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And in tomorrow's news: water is wet.

I guess none of you have ever seen a Korean show...

I actually find the product placement in Ted Lasso (haven't watched any of the other shows) more subtle for most parts than many other shows that use product placement - or the lack thereoff (big fat stickers on Macbooks and iMacs for example, who again are you trying to kid?)
 
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Duane Martin said:
Busted? Edited out of? Let me help you with that. Screens on devices in TV/Film are typically replaced with a VFX in post-production. So whomever created this graphic missed the notch, or more likely just didn't bother with it, and then nobody caught it. That happens all the time, by the way. It is not a conspiracy.

While we are getting our facts straight (I know, I know, no room for facts on MacRumours, just emotion and feigned outrage) S02E06 there is an Apple computer in For All Mankind.

Product placement has been around for a very long time, and selectively placing products has as well. It is not unusual for the "good guys" to use Apple products and the "bad guys" to use other. I think the first time I noticed the trend was in Buffy the Vampire Slayer but it was not invented there. Check out Chuck where you can see the computer product placement sponsor change over the seasons.
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1) You're speaking of "burn in." Yes, I'm aware of the very common technique, thanks. I'm also aware given the fact it's just an overlayed image they could have just as easily included the notch as not. This was an intentional choice, not a tech restriction.

2) If you feel the need to imply emotional spew over observational fact, maybe tone down the snark. Unless hypocrisy is your thing, then by all means. I also did not imply it was a conspiracy, nor did anyone else I'm aware of, but it was an intentional decision that Apple was rightly called out for. Having used the technique many times in the past (I'm a photographer/videographer, it's how I make a comfortable enough living to afford Apple products) I'm intimately aware of the abilities and limitations of the technology, so when I speak of it know those comments come from a place of knowledge and experience. Do yours?

3) Yes I caught that inclusion of an Apple II and mentioned it above, also pointing out it barely made sense but at least Apple didn't go full gonzo product placement and try to sneak some Apple II's into NASA, which would have been hilarious.

4) Odd that you mentioned Chuck but didn't go after the Subway angle, as that would have been a much better analogy.
 
avatar77 said:
In the most recent Ted Lasso, the product placement was over the top. I guess you don't have to be subtle when you're paying all the bills.
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Yup. Across the board season 2 of TL has been a big big failure. I absolutely loved season one. Season two has made me shelve my jersey and popcos.
 
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Duane Martin said:
I must have missed that episode of For All Mankind. Curious which one that was in?

A) "I just tend to notice" is called confirmation bias and is common. It is worth being conscious of as you appear to be, though.

B) "Tim and Co" (see A above) Apple has been doing product placement long before Tim Cook increased the value of Apple by 1200% in 10 years. Now that Apple is producing (or paying for productions) we are clearly going to see more product placement. I will not argue that there have not been a few placements that may have gone too far; hopefully they can find a happy balance while the pendulum swings.

In the earliest days of television most shows were paid for by a single sponsor and their products appeared, or were referenced, shamelessly throughout. Commercials on broadcast television came about because it allowed more freedom for the content that was created and, well, commercials made more money for the broadcasters. Now we see things swinging back again. Everything old is new again.
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Actually product placement on TV shows and in movies has never stopped, so I haven't' seen a pendulum swing. From vehicles (usually sorted by good guys v. bad guys) to phones on the desk, cigarettes being smoked for no apparent reason, wine selections, and so on. I notice these things, but it doesn't bother me because we have always lived in a commercial society.
 
Duane Martin said:
I must have missed that episode of For All Mankind. Curious which one that was in?

A) "I just tend to notice" is called confirmation bias and is common. It is worth being conscious of as you appear to be, though.

B) "Tim and Co" (see A above) Apple has been doing product placement long before Tim Cook increased the value of Apple by 1200% in 10 years. Now that Apple is producing (or paying for productions) we are clearly going to see more product placement. I will not argue that there have not been a few placements that may have gone too far; hopefully they can find a happy balance while the pendulum swings.

In the earliest days of television most shows were paid for by a single sponsor and their products appeared, or were referenced, shamelessly throughout. Commercials on broadcast television came about because it allowed more freedom for the content that was created and, well, commercials made more money for the broadcasters. Now we see things swinging back again. Everything old is new again.
Click to expand...
Actually product placement on TV shows and in movies has never stopped, so I haven't' seen a pendulum swing. From vehicles (usually sorted by good guys v. bad guys) to phones on the desk, cigarettes being smoked for no apparent reason, wine selections, and so on. I notice these things, but it doesn't bother me because we have always lived in a commercial society.
 
I guarantee a lawsuit is brewing on this... "Why does Apple get to only promote their products in their shows on their streaming service?!"

Seriously. Apple can't do anything these days LOL.
 
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It's funny that Apple should be called out on this. As an old guy, I've seen this most of my lifetime. My marketing class in 1976 discussed this "new form of advertising - product placement" in detail.

When I watch the NFL games, I don't see anyone trying to coverup the big, bold "Microsoft" plastered on every product on the sidelines. That is what happens when you pay for a "partnership". I don't see how that is any different.
 
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Soccerrick10 said:
It's funny that Apple should be called out on this. As an old guy, I've seen this most of my lifetime. My marketing class in 1976 discussed this "new form of advertising - product placement" in detail.

When I watch the NFL games, I don't see anyone trying to coverup the big, bold "Microsoft" plastered on every product on the sidelines. That is what happens when you pay for a "partnership". I don't see how that is any different.
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I think that the difference is that this time the producer, the promoter, and the advertising company are all the same. NFL and Microsoft are two different entities.
 
I haven't gotten around to watching Ted Lasso yet but thanks so much for spoiling what appears to be a major plot point.
 
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We've only watched a few Apple TV+ shows but the product placement in them is on the verge of ridiculous. Like, every show and every episode features apple products. There's so little shame in it that the constant reminder makes me want to cancel the service.
 
Johnny907 said:
Oh I fully expect Apple to have prominent placement in season 3 of For All Mankind given the next time jump. Naturally you wouldn't have seen them anywhere near NASA at that time, but they still managed to sneak one into the bedroom of a teenage girl because of course even though it made more sense for her to have a CoCo, VIC20 or even a Commodore64 at that time.
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I'm off topic, we watched season 1 of For all Mankind and it was decent. But season 2 took a hard turn to the weird/odd. Couldn't watch it after the 3rd episode.
 
alpi123 said:
Yes...?

What else do you expect from a tech company, who also happens to make shows now? To feature the latest Galaxy phones? LOL
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Anyone who has watched Korean media may have noticed that it's dominated by Samsung phones.

Or see how Fox movies have featured Fox News, or Warner movies featured CNN. Etc, etc.

We're all fortunate Jeff Goldblum saved Earth from the aliens in Independence Day (1996) with his PowerBook 5300. Apple ran a companion tie-in ad with that movie.

Product placement has been a part of media for so long, I don't see how this rates as any sort of news, even on a slow day. It's jarring to watch old movies and see the old logos from familiar companies.

Because it has been so commonplace, what's really noticeable now is when logos are blanked out, for other reasons relating to why that's done. It's almost a mildly amusing game to see how the set decorators try to block out the Apple logos. Most of the time it's a simple circle, but some get creative and make them into other fruits like pears, animals, and such.

As far as the "villains don't use Apple products" thing?

I'm pretty sure Poppy Adams wasn't one of the "good guys" in Kingsman 2, and it's clear she's holding an iPad Pro. Maybe Matthew Vaughn has more juice (or cojones) than Rian Johnson. :D

poppy.jpg
 
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ryanasimov said:
And everyone always has a current-gen (current for when it was recorded, that is) device. A new season always brings insta-upgrades for everyone.
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You don't think the extremely wealthy people of Ted Lasso wouldn't get comped new products (in the case of players) or be on leasing plans? I'm hardly rich and I get a new iPhone every year on my plan.
 
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