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Ad Nauseaum: The Effects Of Product Placement On The American Television Industry

Ad Nauseaum:
The Effects of Product Placement on the American Television Industry

In an era that arguably will come to be defined for its incredible technological advancements, the entertainment industry has certainly not gone unaffected. With devices and innovations such as the Internet, the Video iPod, the web-capable cellular phone, and TiVo, entertainment such as television programming is available and accessible through an encroaching number of formats. Throughout most of its history, the economy of the television industry was relatively straight-forward; producers would create shows, the networks would choose when to air them, and advertisers would pay for commercial time for segments in between the programs. While this set-up still remains unchanged, in today’s digital age, utilizing only this form of advertising for television shows is no longer as effective or profitable as it was in the past. Technological advancements have given viewers an unprecedented amount of control in terms of what they watch and when and how they watch it, rendering them capable of enjoying television programs commercial-free through their DVRs or Video iPods. In response to this, television producers, networks, and advertisers have had to work together to create new ways of reaching viewers through various forms and degrees of product placement, so that brand messaging is embedded into a television show’s content and is thereby unavoidable by the viewer. A significant amount of controversy has erupted over the sharp increase in television product placement, with some parties arguing that this covert form of advertising is deceptive and dangerous to viewers who may not realize that they are being advertised to. It is my intent to effectively assess and evaluate this argument, as evidence suggests that product placement it has become something of a necessity for the survival of the television industry and, while certainly more subliminal than the original form of television...