Re: Commercial protection

[Chuckigo@att.net]

Paul asked:
>>> The other night on WHDH I saw six car ads in a row.  
I've noticed that commercial protection doesn't seem to 
be used much these days, especially with car ads...<<<

you're not alone in noticing... i recall asking one tv 
sales type about these instances a few years back.  at 
that time, what was offered was "...foreign and domestic 
manufacturers..." and "auto and truck" were, at that 
time, not considered competition, vis a vis product 
protection in spot content.
now, it does seem that it's gotten to the "2 nightclubs 
in the same break" scenario, where one will see 1) 
domestic truck  2) foreign auto  3) SUV (any type) 4) 
foreign truck  5) domestic auto and then something else 
tossed in, maybe a competitor's domestic truck to round 
out the break.
the same thing happens often in radio, especially now 
with many stations adopting the "2 breaks per hour" 
thing.  you'll have a car & restaurant at the front of 
the break, and a car & restaurant to round out the 
break, with some personal improvement product slipped 
into the middle, along with a spot for Ames or Lowes.

the bottom line on these instances?  it's the Bottom 
Line.  the only bad money out there is money that 
doesn't go into OUR Station's bank account.  never met a 
sales wease, er, account exec to ever say "no" to a 
dollar... at least one associated with a non-
controversial subject/product.

- -Chuck Igo