Watchdog Assails Product Placement

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Media buyers are bristling at a consumer watchdog organization’s efforts to require that TV networks “prominently disclose” product placements as they occur.

Commercial Alert, founded by Ralph Nader, said in a petition to the Federal Communications Commission last week that “pretending that this is just [part of] ordinary programming rather than paid ads … is an affront to basic honesty.”

Laura Caraccioli-Davis, vp/director of Starcom MediaVest Group Entertainment, said, “It’s unrealistic to say, ‘Look here, product placement.’



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