The Virtuous Circle of Product Placement in Apple's TV+ Shows

[atomic.flip]

I've always wondered why they do that. Cover the logo in movies. Is it because of trademark issues?

No, actually it is done by various studios / production houses to ensure no vendor who isn’t paying for placement receives free advertising.

Apple is notorious for being absolutely unwilling to pay for product placement or advertising to third parties. Though those things may have softened / increased under Tim Cook.

 

[CarlJ]

I haven't seen any in Snoopy...

In the next episode, Snoopy spends ten minutes trying to get Siri's attention with "Hey Siri" in beagle.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

I haven't seen any in Snoopy...

It's Magical and Revolutionary, Charlie Brown!

 

[paul4339]

That is first Homepod I have seen in the wild.

I guess it depends on the environment... most managed environments don't like smart peripherals hanging off their network. It is the first time, however, I've seen a Homepod set 'in front' of the screen on the edge of the table, which looks like just a ridiculous product placement ... unless the guy just unpacked it, or is using it to put his ashtray on top of.

 

[Macaholic868]

Though they are mostly preaching to the choir Apple TV is coming to platforms outside of Apple’s own hardware so why not engage in some free advertising?

 

[ebernet]

I am not confused by this placement at all. It is very common in press and TV production to use Apple products. Even after Microsoft teamed up with NBC it was a while before the iPads on desks on new shows on MSNBC were replaced with Surface tablets. For a while they propped iPads on the inside of Surfaces. Microsoft had to PAY and give Surfaces to the NFL to have them use them. In the entertainment world of actors, producers, etc. iPhones have a MUCH higher share than the standard population (Apple is viewed as luxury by many, and that sometimes pays into the vanity of said demographic). I'd be WAY more surprised to see Android phones then I would to see iPhones. As an example, I bet you the PERSONAL devices of all 3 lead actors in the Morning show are Apple based. If anything, I would more presume paid product placement if the products were NOT Apple products...

 

[mcdj]

So Apple TV+ is really just long form advertising for Apple, that I’m paying to watch. FML.

 

[Abazigal]

Not seeing the issue.

In the first episode of the morning show, I spotted a few iPhones, and Apple Watch, a desk full of iMacs, maybe an ipad or two, and that’s pretty much it.

Hardly what I would call excessive.

Oh I get it. There’s a double standard because it’s Apple. The goalposts are always moving.

 

[Alan Wynn]

For what purpose?

It plays music. I included a link so you could read about it. People have them in their offices to play music.

Are they just for modern decoration and not even plugged in?

No, they are there to play music. Some people have them in stereo pairs to output sound for their TVs (many of which have Apple TV’s attached.

 

[adnbek]

I've always wondered why they do that. Cover the logo in movies. Is it because of trademark issues?

Because Apple usually refuses to pay for product placement. So when studios use their products anyway they resort to that. Kind of a way of saying “your product could’ve been here”.

So apple is using subliminal advertising, so sneaky.

I don’t think you know the definition of that word. There is nothing subliminal about it.

 

[garylapointe]

If you did a show that covered my life, you'd get WAY more on-screen time of Apple products.

I'm not sure what brand clock-radio they keep showing, but my alarm in the morning is:
my Apple Watch alarm going off about 5 minutes before my iPad alarm, which is about 5 minutes before my iPhone alarm goes off. That's not even including later alarms with names like "you need to head out" and "you better be out of the house by now!"

My classroom timings are run by 23 alarms that go off during the day to take attendance (x2), 5-minute reminders before specials (art/music/etc.), reminders at the time of the special and 5-minutes before pickup and again at the time, same for lunch/library, and another half-dozen for kids who go to other rooms throughout the day, and that's just what I can recall. That's not even counting the number of times I look at the time or glance down for the temp/weather. Setting timers during the day or other helpful tools.

Plus, I get messages from parents throughout the day (guess how I view them). Post attendance from my MacBook. Kids practice reading on RazKids on the iPads (and ask them for me countless times throughout the day). We use an app called Class Dojo where students earn (and lose) points for behavior. Every time I do these things you'd see an Apple product.

And if we take an exercise break during the day, we load up GoNoodle on the AppleTV.

In the teacher's lounge, the teachers are probably 2/3 Apple and people are constantly checking our devices and passing them around sharing photos.

If you watched this much Apple screen time during a show (any show), you would say it's over the top and unbelievable amounts of screen time. That said, it would be insane the amount of Apple-time that ended up on the cutting room floor.

While I was typing this, my Apple Watch just alerted me that there is a new episode of The Morning Show available. I'm actually kind of disappointed with this message as I finished watching that episode on my AppleTV (while using my iPhone as a remote control) about 20-minutes ago, it seems like Apple should know I already watched it.

 

[I7guy]

Most likely. And traditionally, they also drive German cars.
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Because it's ADVERTISEMENT, not entertainment - and in this case, people even PAY to watch that advertisement.

In Germany, we have laws that regulate that kind of subconscious manipulation - which it is. TV shows actually must carry a visible ADVERTISEMENT banner on screen when they contain a certain level of product placements.

Typically there is a note in the trailer of the show that reads similar to: "promotional consideration given by....". So now what's the issue?
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So apple is using subliminal advertising, so sneaky.

Yep, sneaky subliminal advertising. You go Apple. Let's see how many unsuspecting customers will now open their wallets due to your sneaky ingenuity.

 

[cosmichobo]

The last thing I need in life is more TV shows that hold no significance what so ever.

Do consumers really need more TV?

Humans need entertainment. For most people, it is a necessity of life. We've been telling stories to one another for thousands upon thousands of years, and dramatising those stories for just as long.

Television has become the most popular medium to share and absorb entertainment. "Television" of course now being a term to simply represent the visual/audio medium that we absorb using various devices in an environment of our choice.

Do we need more TV? Yes. Absolutely.

Significant TV? Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I listen to the younger generation talk about their own absorbance via social media platforms and shudder inside, but I'm from a bygone era, fed on a mixture of new content plus a bucketload of repeats, interspersed with commercials. I like to think I'm media savvy having made the leap to Netflix 3 years ago (har).

Last night I watched "Supersize Me" with my son - a movie made in 2004. It noted the billions of dollars invested in television, radio and newspaper advertisements by McDonalds et al, and the volume of advertisements that children are exposed to during tv ad breaks. My kids however have predominantly now grown up with streaming, or back catalogues from my own collection. So - they don't face this bombardment that free-to-air still suffers under.

Product placement certainly can be effective, or else companies wouldn't engage in, and pay for it. It allows the advertiser to better reach their target audience than a broadstrokes commercial tv ad campaign. But when my kids have been exposed to commercial breaks, versus watching their television ad-break-free - I certainly notice the difference in their sudden intense desire to obtain a promoted product.

 

[Jim Lahey]

I think many might be missing the obvious here. Why would Apple PAY the competition to use their products instead of just using their own? Using other devices in these shows would be beyond dumb.

 

[Glideslope]

I wonder if the EU is going to investigate them for anti-competitive issues.

Nah, just plate some Valencay, Bavarian Blue, or Blue Vinny next to a Mac and they will never notice.

 

[Abazigal]

I wonder if the EU is going to investigate them for anti-competitive issues.

What’s anticompetitive about promoting your own products?

And 13 likes for this comment as this time of quoting.

Seriously, what is it about criticism surrounding Apple that cause people to suddenly lose all semblance of common sense and critical thinking?

 

[Gasu E.]

Always impressive when you can read "product placement" and "virtuous" in the same headline.
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So apple is using subliminal advertising, so sneaky.

Nothing subuyliminal applebout it.

 

[bobob]

My overall view of Apple's jump into video/movie production is that it is a bad idea.

I sincerely doubt that Apple would have the market cap it has today if armchair CEO's had been running the company.

 

[iSayuSay]

How is this even news?

1. Apple funded and produced all these shows so a few placements are normal and to be expected
2. Especially for Morning Show, those characters are already considered successful. So owning a bunch of Apple products and accessories, and throwing it away like garbage are perfectly normal.
Why would Alex, or Chip uses a Xiaomi phone if their annual salary is in the scale of millions? Nothing out of place here.
3. Fortunately we don’t see Apple placement in “See” episodes. Despite the fact it could probably show a rusty iMac or iPhone floating on a river flow. Or maybe Jerla put a brand new, shiny iPad Pro and AirPods inside the kids’ box because WHY NOT?

So again, everything is still in context. No need to panic!

 

[nickgovier]

.

 

[MacBH928]

I didn't read the article, but Apple has been on movies/shows for a long time like maybe late 80s. This is not new

 

[PabloGS]

Hmm, I haven’t seen any Apple products in For All Mankind. Wonder why that is?




/s

True, but the first few episodes had remarkable Apple references! I was like...

SPOILER ALERT:
Here‘s one I can recall right away: In Episode 3 or 4 Deke Slayton is sitting in his office literally advertising the Apple Watch explaining, he couldn’t go into Space due to his Arterial Fibrillation.

There were some more Apple references... Should I ever rewatch the series, maybe I’ll compile a list.

 

[cardfan]

I sincerely doubt that Apple would have the market cap it has today if armchair CEO's had been running the company.

No doubt. The market cap would be much higher. But Tim made too many mistakes.

 

[I7guy]

No doubt. The market cap would be much higher. But Tim made too many mistakes.

I know. He really screwed up big time. Amirite?/s

 

[Abazigal]

No doubt. The market cap would be much higher. But Tim made too many mistakes.

I agree. The Mac Pro should have been cut that much faster. But he decided to throw them a bone in the end. 😉