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New Report Looks Into Apple's Growing Promotional Presence Within Popular TV Shows
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To my great surprise, I am really enjoying 9-1-1. I noted the promotional consideration at the end but I didn't notice Apple products being used. I for one am glad that my MacBook doesn't have a glowing Apple. One of many reasons it has been my favourite Mac ever. Thank you for reading.
Yes, we're required to do this for legal reasons. No logos of any type can be shown on broadcast productions without prior legal clearance. This makes a certain degree of sense because obviously, if Microsoft is buying air time on that show, the last thing they'd want is for a super sexy character to be using an iPhone, then have to cut away into one of their commercials and have the MS product upstaged. Similarly, if Apple is providing the show with phones, they don't want to see them in the hands of a serial killer using the Maps app to facilitiate a murder spree. So all that stuff has to be agreed upon ahead of time.
Generally, the products that do make it on air are result of the prop master (or decorator) reaching out to their promo contact and seeing if the company is interested. If the show doesn't have a pre-established sponsorship, they may reach out to numerous companies. All shows like getting product placement, because it is less for them to have to buy/rent, so there is a mutually beneficial relationship. Back in the day, the show would be able to keep some of the product or buy it at a discount; but most frequently, they are now asked to return it. So the article is correct when it says that it costs Apple next to nothing. Just the cost of their product, which they can still re-sell as refurbished.
In terms of non-cleared products, prop masters or set dressers are usually responsible for greeking out these logos and the results are usually a product of how artful they are and how much they care. Occasionally, they will engage the art department to produce a custom greeking, and that's when you'll see a clearly made-up logo where the Apple is supposed to be. A few prop houses actually make custom vinyl decals for this exact purpose, but they don't look very good, in my opinion. Fun side note: Staples brand circular metallic pre-cut embossed labels match the back of MacBooks almost perfectly and are the exact size of the Apple logo. That's what I recommend if going the low-vis sticker route.
- Guy who's greeked a few notebooks.
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Jack: “Dang it Chloe - I need a visual of the enemy position!”
Chloe: “Sending to you now Jack...”
Jack: (looks down at iPhone X) “I’ll call you back..” (calls Tony)
Tony: “Hey Jack, this is Tony”
Jack: “I need you to arrest Chloe - she’s the traitor. I got an email from her with the tag ‘Sent from my Galaxy S9!”
Tony: “I should have known the moment she walked in carrying a Microsoft Surface! We’ll arrest her for treason right away!”
That’s precicely what I said in my post!
I’ve discussed this in other threads, but I find only in America can you find such a high level of evangelism towards commercialism and capitalism, as if commercialisation is the only way. Such product placements can be seen as deeply crass in other countries.
At least in the UK, Australia and Canada they have reasonably well-funded independent ad-free Networks (and I mean commercialism in any form is prohibited according to their charter) by way of BBC, ABC and CBC, so I think there’s a greater understanding and respect for the separation between content and advertising, at least among any self-respecting producer or director, which I consider Peter Jackson and George Miller to be.
Of course, we have commercial networks too, but I avoid those because if I ever so much as catch a glimpse of them all I sense is an assault of stupidity and loaded marketing. Once again, if I’m paying good money to see a film I expect it to be free of advertising and commercial sponsorship, which is why I almost never watch American-made Hollywood movies as very few of them ever are.
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This photo must be at least a couple of years old or these college kids are out of date with their "glowing apple" MacBooks. Having worked and studied at a major university for many years, this is how classrooms looked during the the period from 2006 until a couple of years ago - in my opinion, the peak days of the Intel MacBooks and MbP's (most of these look like 15 inch MbP's). This same class, these days, would be more evenly distributed, with about a 50/50 split between Macs and PC's.
A: I couldn't say if they loan stuff. They probably do. Even with the logo covered. The design still makes many people think Apple. The cost of the loaner/free equipment is hugely less the cost of product placement. You still get some advertising out of it.
B: Staff on set have laptops. Most of them are probably Macs. They are photogenic. If you need a computer for a shot and aren't being paid a sponsorship. Why wouldn't you just grab one which is available on set and cover the logo? Whenever I see that. I just figure they grabbed one of their computers on set and had one of the set builders slap a piece of tape over the logo. Same thing when you know an actor picked up a can of Coke even though their hand covers up the logo.
I think that in Buffy's middle seasons Willow did use an orange clamshell, and before that I think the desktop computers she was using were Macs as well, Performas and the like. But as stupid as it sounds in retrospect, it was the glowing Apple logo that caught my attention.
Lol, Apple has been ramping up their promotional campaigns which is usually a sign that they feel their product portfolio is underwhelming for sales. Steve Jobs said if a product is good it doesn't need advertising, obvious Apple doesn't feel their products are doing very well with all the latest ads and promotions, including the ones showing iOS 11 bugs.
he might have said that. but he also advertised his products just like the next company. Apple was no stranger to product placements while he was leader of the company. some of Apples most memorable commercials were while he was running the company. the iPod commercials, the Mac v PC commercials, even apples 1984 commercial...
his statement about products selling themselves was more about how good products are generally worth their prices and sell themselves. Steve Jobs was very much of the mindset that in order to command a premium price, you have to provide a premium top end experience, which sells itself. He was likely pissed off that while he was "away" apple's premium price point was there, without the quality that he believed that price should make.
Jobs very much believed that you don't automatically deserve ot be rich either. You get rich by making excellent products. you don't plan to get rich. it's just a by product of doing a good job.
something the current cabal of Apple execs seems to have forgotten
I was thinking in particular of an episode of 'The Mentalist' They had an office filled with iMacs, each one had a (badly applied) strip of gaffer tape across the length of the chin, covering the logo.
I'd have though if they'd have borrowed them from Apple, Apple would have said (or at least I would have) "Sure, as long as you don't cover the logo"
Or if they'd bought props, why didn't the just buy cheap generic monitors, they weren't working computers, just background furniture.