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Wow. This is actually allowed on American television?

neiltc13

neiltc13

macrumors 68040
Original poster
May 27, 2006
3,128
28
I'm watching last night's episode of Monk - Mr Monk and the UFO. Mr Monk has just been asked where he is staying while in Nevada and he replies "at the Sleep Inn" and I had a little giggle to myself because I thought this was one of those crazy made up things they put in TV shows and video games (like Pro Laps in Grand Theft Auto). Pretty witty I thought.

The next scene comes on:

ZZ7E4C3382.jpg


Is that the ® symbol there? Yeah, it is. I googled "Sleep Inn" and it turns out it's a real hotel chain operating in the USA. This is incredible to me - the main character has mentioned the company's name AND its main 'product' has now appeared prominently in the middle of the screen. Why is this legal in the USA?
 
Why wouldn't it be?

It's advertising. Sleep Inn apparently paid for the writers to use their hotel chain.
 
r.j.s said:
It's advertising. Sleep Inn apparently paid for the writers to use their hotel chain.
Click to expand...
Don't be so cynical. The writers might just really like Sleep Inn® and/or that Sleep Inn® was integral to the plot line.
 
In the UK Ofcom regulates the communications and media industries, and in their broadcasting code it states this:

10.1 Broadcasters must maintain the independence of editorial control over programme content.

10.2 Broadcasters must ensure that the advertising and programme elements of a service are kept separate.

10.3 Products and services must not be promoted in programmes.
This rule does not apply to programme-related material.
(See Rule 10.6.)

10.4 No undue prominence may be given in any programme to a product or service.
“Undue prominence” may result from:
• the presence of, or reference to, a product or service (including company names,
brand names, logos) in a programme where there is no editorial justification; or
• the manner in which a product or service (including company names, brand
names, logos) appears or is referred to in a programme.

10.5 Product placement is prohibited.

Meaning of “product placement”:
Product placement is the inclusion of, or a reference to, a product or service within a programme in return for payment or other valuable consideration to the programme maker or broadcaster (or any representative or associate of either).
Click to expand...

So this wouldn't be allowed to happen in the UK at all. I didn't realise that other countries were so lax in this area - surely this sort of thing is bad for viewers?
 
.Andy said:
Don't be so cynical. The writers might just really like Sleep Inn® and/or that Sleep Inn® was integral to the plot line.
Click to expand...

No they weren't I watched the episode and they actually got a "REAL" inn for the show to use. Never new it was disgusting for a show to use an actual ITEM for the show. Tons of shows do it, it is simple, increase realism and possibly they are paid for half the stuff if lucky. It is not illegal nor should it be, it is just basic advertisement at that or maybe it was an actual inn where they were shooting so they decided to use it?

You just reading too much into nothing

How is simply having an actual inn in the show that is real be bad for the viewers? Will they have a stroke at the realization that their are product placements in shows?
 
neiltc13 said:
In the UK Ofcom regulates the communications and media industries, and in their broadcasting code it states this:



So this wouldn't be allowed to happen in the UK at all. I didn't realise that other countries were so lax in this area - surely this sort of thing is bad for viewers?
Click to expand...

We're numb to it. Or if we bother to notice it at all, we laugh at it.

Apple isn't above it, either, assuming Alec Baldwin flashing an iPhone wasn't gratuitous...
 
bartelby said:
Why?
Click to expand...

Well the more vulnerable people watching the show (children, elderly or people who are not able to make a clear judgement on what is happening on screen) may believe that the product is being endorsed by the character or company.
 
neiltc13 said:
Well the more vulnerable people watching the show (children, elderly or people who are not able to make a clear judgement on what is happening on screen) may believe that the product is being endorsed by the character or company.
Click to expand...
GASP!

The horror!
:rolleyes:
 
neiltc13 said:
Well the more vulnerable people watching the show (children, elderly or people who are not able to make a clear judgement on what is happening on screen) may believe that the product is being endorsed by the character or company.
Click to expand...

The product is being endorsed ...
 
neiltc13 said:
Well the more vulnerable people watching the show (children, elderly or people who are not able to make a clear judgement on what is happening on screen) may believe that the product is being endorsed by the character or company.
Click to expand...

And those kind of people think anything on TV is real, fictional or not.

Look at all the folk who think TV characters are real people.
 
neiltc13 said:
Well the more vulnerable people watching the show (children, elderly or people who are not able to make a clear judgement on what is happening on screen) may believe that the product is being endorsed by the character or company.
Click to expand...

And if they think that then what? Will they call their local congressmen?:confused::confused:

I honestly don't see a problem here.
 
How is this surprising at all? Take apple for instance, they have a whole warehouse full of device (computers, screens, iphones etc) ready to ship out to movie and tv studios to appear in shows and films.
 
NT1440 said:
How is this surprising at all? Take apple for instance, they have a whole warehouse full of device (computers, screens, iphones etc) ready to ship out to movie and tv studios to appear in shows and films.
Click to expand...

Yes, House M.D. is full of Apple products ... Do you think they just happened to be there?
 
neiltc13 said:
Well the more vulnerable people watching the show (children, elderly or people who are not able to make a clear judgement on what is happening on screen) may believe that the product is being endorsed by the character or company.
Click to expand...

Wow. Keep watching American TV. You will be simply astounded at the sheer amount of product placement/advertising that happens during shows. Not to mention that every thirty-minute show has even minutes of commercials intertwined.

It has gotten so ridiculous, that even shows like "The Deadliest Catch", which is pretty much a reality/documentary-style show have things like "The Duracell Catch". No, they can't just tell you what each boat caught, they have to let you know that Duracell paid to have their name on that part of the show. I *HATE* it, because Duracell has absolutely nothing to do with catching fish, and I just hate seeing ads on everything (this is but one in a line of examples)

The you have the Budweiser Half-Time Report, the Nike scoreboard, and the worst: with the new technology that can overlay graphics like it's actually part of the action, you get rotating commercial logos ON THE FIELD. I mean, really?

No, the US is an advertising mecca. It is everywhere. I don't mind someone drinking a certain beverage, or using a certain computer, or walking into a real-life hotel chain in a show...that shows somewhat reality. But out-of-character blatant advertising during shows is annoying.

EDIT: While I don't agree that it should be illegal because unsuspecting people (naïve people) might fall into some sort of trap, I just think blatant product placement shouldn't be done because it's freakin' annoying.
 
samiwas said:
Wow. Keep watching American TV. You will be simply astounded at the sheer amount of product placement/advertising that happens during shows. Not to mention that every thirty-minute show has even minutes of commercials intertwined.

It has gotten so ridiculous, that even shows like "The Deadliest Catch", which is pretty much a reality/documentary-style show have things like "The Duracell Catch". No, they can't just tell you what each boat caught, they have to let you know that Duracell paid to have their name on that part of the show. I *HATE* it, because Duracell has absolutely nothing to do with catching fish, and I just hate seeing ads on everything (this is but one in a line of examples)

The you have the Budweiser Half-Time Report, the Nike scoreboard, and the worst: with the new technology that can overlay graphics like it's actually part of the action, you get rotating commercial logos ON THE FIELD. I mean, really?

No, the US is an advertising mecca. It is everywhere. I don't mind someone drinking a certain beverage, or using a certain computer, or walking into a real-life hotel chain in a show...that shows somewhat reality. But out-of-character blatant advertising during shows is annoying.
Click to expand...

My favorites are always crap like "This home run brought to you by Chevy" as if Chevy really had anything to do with a batter hitting a home run :rolleyes: "This home run brought to you by steroids" would be more accurate.
 
neiltc13 said:
I'm watching last night's episode of Monk - Mr Monk and the UFO. Mr Monk has just been asked where he is staying while in Nevada and he replies "at the Sleep Inn" and I had a little giggle to myself because I thought this was one of those crazy made up things they put in TV shows and video games (like Pro Laps in Grand Theft Auto). Pretty witty I thought.

The next scene comes on:

http://www.neilchristie.com/dump/ZZ7E4C3382.jpg

Is that the ® symbol there? Yeah, it is. I googled "Sleep Inn" and it turns out it's a real hotel chain operating in the USA. This is incredible to me - the main character has mentioned the company's name AND its main 'product' has now appeared prominently in the middle of the screen. Why is this legal in the USA?
Click to expand...

This whole thing drives me nuts, I mean in some TV shows they cover the apple logo although anyone would know.

the thing which is funny a show "Boston Legal" covers the logo on laptops the lawyers use but on one episode a lawyer get dumped for an iPhone and they keep mentioning the iPhone lol
 
So under this apparent law, no TV show could ever use any branded product?
Nope, you can't use that desk from IKEA.
Nope, you can't use that computer.
Nope, you can't use that car.
You have to make it all yourself from scratch.
:confused::confused::confused:
 
This happens because of DVRs.

If people didn't skip commercials, there would be less reason to put product placement in.

Ask yourself why TV channels now put ads for other shows on DURING a different show. Not during commercial break, but a big 25% of the screen, distracting ad.

I don't miss TV. I only see it when I go visit my folks, and it's very distracting when you're trying to watch something and the channel overlays a bunch of crap about something else.
 
.Andy said:
Don't be so cynical. The writers might just really like Sleep Inn® and/or that Sleep Inn® was integral to the plot line.
Click to expand...

Lol, this reminds me of I think Wednesday's Red Eye. They were talking about the Lockerbie bomber being released, and he was wearing a Nike cap in the video they were showing, and they called it the "ultimate product placement."
:D

mickbab said:
So under this apparent law, no TV show could ever use any branded product?
Nope, you can't use that desk from IKEA.
Nope, you can't use that computer.
Nope, you can't use that car.
You have to make it all yourself from scratch.
:confused::confused::confused:
Click to expand...

Last time I checked, Ikea stuff doesn't have big IKEA print on it.
 
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