The Washington
Post has an interesting article about all the 'free' product
placement Apple has apparently received in TV shows and movies in recent years. The article states that Apple
doesn't pay for all that publicity, but the company won't discuss how their products end up helping CSIs track down
their suspect or how the iPod helps employees of The Office land a punchline.However, the article goes on to mention that product placement is often "arranged through some kind of barter in which the show provides exposure in exchange for products or services" - doesn't that mean the placement is still being paid for?
Semantics aside, let's hope the Hollywood writers and Apple's tech evangelist don't go too overboard; the producers of NBC's The Office "pride themselves on being real" and seem to understand proper placement: "Indeed, actors on the show's drab workplace set do not use snazzy Apple computers, but rather black, generic desktop PCs." Hooray for the real world.
[via Slashdot]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-17-2006 @ 10:07AM
Stefan Constantinescu said...
In almost every movie Angelina Jolie is in, she has uses Panasonic products. Product placement only works on the people in society who have no identity. They want to become like the people they see on TV, and like their friends.
Not to say the iPod isn’t a great product, it’s fantastic, just not my thing. If they wanted to make a real world simulation then they should come to my university where I would say it’s a 8/1/1 split. For every 10 students 8 have a dell, 1 has an Apple product, and 1 has a non-dell branded notebook. I have a ThinkPad.
If anything it’s just more advertising, good for Apple.
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4-17-2006 @ 10:46AM
Brendan said...
Just to clarify you are talking about apple computer are you? Or are your talking about that apple record company? I'm a bit confused here?
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4-17-2006 @ 11:02AM
John said...
I can't tell you how much fun it is to have my girlfriend point out that every other person on a tv show is sporting a Motorola RAZR. I get it, it's popular, you don't get a prize for being as cool as the chick from Alias, sorry!
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4-17-2006 @ 12:36PM
GmanMac said...
South Park's last episode. Characters are running around Fox network studios arguing over airing an episode of Family Man. There are clearly the distinct shapes and stands of Imac G5's and older G4 desktops on the desks.
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4-17-2006 @ 2:23PM
The Top Ramen said...
Actually Michael gives away an ipod in one episode and in another he travels to New York to do a presentation. It's a video presentation that he says he "edited on his mac".
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4-17-2006 @ 9:03PM
Jabbar said...
not everyone on the office uses PC's - ryan uses an iBook while everyone uses drab, black machines. i love that show.
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