4 ms·

There are some workarounds. There are old shows, where the product placements are no longer relevant. "Mom! The Shadow says we should buy Blue Coal." (Yes, that

by dalke 10y ago

There are some workarounds. There are old shows, where the product placements are no longer relevant. "Mom! The Shadow says we should buy Blue Coal." (Yes, that's a radio show; how about the Zima sign in a Babylon 5 episode?) Or old shows which were funded by other sources, like Fraggle Rock. There are also foreign shows, like ones from the BBC, which aren't allowed to use product placement, or where the products aren't available local. That said, most kids want to watch what their friends watch. I doubt "The Vicar of Dibley" will be popular among US kids, making my proposal mostly theoretical. After thinking about it for a bit, if such workarounds prove popular, the provider will likely start inserting product placement into the shows digitally, after the fact. So, umm, nevermind.

mcphage 10y ago
> how about the Zima sign in a Babylon 5 episode? Seeing the Zima sign up in the Zócalo always makes me laugh.
- dalke 10y ago
  Apparently it was not product placement, but meant for laughter. I thought it was placement when I saw it.
jdietrich 10y ago
It's a tremendous pity that American children don't have easy access to BBC children's programmes. It's not just about advertising and product placement; the BBC has a strict public service remit. This commitment to public service is especially strong for children's programming. The difference in quality and tone is absolutely extraordinary, because entertainment is only part of the remit. Serious drama and factual programmes are a vital part of the schedule. Perhaps the clearest example is Newsround, the BBC's news bulletin for children. The programme includes the usual celebrity gossip and entertainment news, but it also explains complex and difficult topics. Today's headline stories on Newsround include the Juno probe, hurricane Hermine and the anniversary of the Great Fire of London. Newsround has covered the Syria conflict and the refugee crisis in detail. Enormous care is taken to communicate the seriousness of these issues without causing undue fear or distress. There are some things that only a publicly-funded broadcaster can achieve. I can't imagine that a commercial children's channel would commission a drama set in a Victorian orphanage (Hetty Feather), a documentary strand about the working world (All Over the Workplace) or a weekly book club. The BBC still upholds the Reithian values - to educate, inform and entertain. http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsround https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsround http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/tv/2016/cbbc_apr16.pdf http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulat...

by dalke 10y ago

mcphage 10y ago

> how about the Zima sign in a Babylon 5 episode? Seeing the Zima sign up in the Zócalo always makes me laugh.

dalke 10y ago
Apparently it was not product placement, but meant for laughter. I thought it was placement when I saw it.

jdietrich 10y ago

It's a tremendous pity that American children don't have easy access to BBC children's programmes. It's not just about advertising and product placement; the BBC has a strict public service remit. This commitment to public service is especially strong for children's programming. The difference in quality and tone is absolutely extraordinary, because entertainment is only part of the remit. Serious drama and factual programmes are a vital part of the schedule. Perhaps the clearest example is Newsround, the BBC's news bulletin for children. The programme includes the usual celebrity gossip and entertainment news, but it also explains complex and difficult topics. Today's headline stories on Newsround include the Juno probe, hurricane Hermine and the anniversary of the Great Fire of London. Newsround has covered the Syria conflict and the refugee crisis in detail. Enormous care is taken to communicate the seriousness of these issues without causing undue fear or distress. There are some things that only a publicly-funded broadcaster can achieve. I can't imagine that a commercial children's channel would commission a drama set in a Victorian orphanage (Hetty Feather), a documentary strand about the working world (All Over the Workplace) or a weekly book club. The BBC still upholds the Reithian values - to educate, inform and entertain. http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsround https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsround http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/tv/2016/cbbc_apr16.pdf http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulat...