Reflection 4: As Seen on TV—On Product Placements on Television

You may not realize it, but that episode of Ted Lasso or The White Lotus or Abbott Elementary you just watched may have contained embedded ads for a variety of products. The practice is called "product placement," the intentionally seamless integration of commercial products into the narrative of a film or television program. In fact, the practice dates back to the beginning of television, when programs were openly sponsored by major companies (e.g. Texaco Star Theater, The Goodyear Television Playhouse). Today, as viewers watch less commercials than ever, the practice is more covert, with many shows aiming to integrate products as organically as possible. As a result, you may not even be aware of the presence of these products. How do you feel about this? Should programmers be mandated to inform viewers of product placements or should a viewer be savvy enough to identify those instances on his or her own? Finally, are you more bothered by the most blatant or the most subtle of product placements?   

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Ted Lasso and The Morning Show Feature Tons of Apple Products—Here’s the Reason Why" (ShowbizCheatSheet)
• "Streaming Video Sites are Opening a Whole New World of Virtual Product Placement" (FastCompany)
• "Research: TV Shows Featuring Most Product Placement" (Advanced Television)
• "Ten Most Blatant Instances of Product Placement on TV" (Collider)
• "As Seen On: Six Ways Marketers Evolved Product Placement Strategy This Year" (MarketingDive)
  

Required:

• MLA Style, including works cited
  
• Approximately 500 words

Submission Window: Thu 12.1-Fri 12.9 (via Canvas)