Longer commercial television breaks might improve nation's health...

A relaxation of the rules by broadcasting watchdog Ofcom will mean longer commercial breaks during television dramas. This must be a good thing for the health of many television viewers (myself included), who slump in front of the t.v. for hours on end without taking a break in case they miss part of a programme.

Longer commercial breaks will mean that there's now definitely going to be time to go to the loo and make that cup of tea. Which will involve getting off the sofa and stretching our legs.

Julian Assange statement by Mark Stephens gives Swedish band Abba’s ‘Mamma Mia’ a boost

We should neither put Wikileaks founder Julian.Assange above The Law nor make him a victim of it. His success and his (alleged) misdeeds are all part of the same person. It seems fair and just that he should either be charged in this country. Or that some sort of guarantee be given by the Swedish Government that the whole thing will be 'aired' in as public a manner as possible, starting with any  'charges' to be made. Mr Assange might not like this and neither might the Swedish authorities; but how else will things pan out? Incidentally, I cannot see the necessity for anyone to stand bail for Julian Assange. Where's he going to go after all? Australia? At least he'd go at his own expense and the current advertising says ‘There’s nothing like Australia’. But I don't expect the 'Celebrity Lawyers' would like that. Incidentally, before I could watch the statement by Mark Stephens, Julian Assange's lawyer, I had to watch a minute or so of Abba’s ‘Mamma Mia’ advertising the West End show, ‘Mamma Mia’. Excellent product placement!

The Law is a Twit...

...to paraphrase the bloke who said 'The Law is an Ass'. I've just been listening to 'Law in Action' on Radio 4, link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/yqp9m/ , available for a few more days. They were talking about several seemingly important legal issues; one of which was the 'Twittering' that's going on outside the Courts about that nice, blonde, personable-looking young man who (to use typical legalese) on the one hand is an internet God. And yet, on the other hand, is alleged to have committed some heinous offences in Sweden. Now my knowledge of the Law is rudimentary at best; but can someone explain why this J.A. chap (even his initials are very similar to J.C.'s)can't go back to where he belongs (isn't that Australia?)At his own expense, of course; as I'm guessing he's made a few quid on this internet lark. Failing that, the video link to a possible trial in Sweden seems a good idea. Then, the whole thing will be public. After all, as a notorious 'secrets smasher', he should expect everyone to be taking an interest in the outcome of the trial. At least here, I've given the matter a little more deliberation than I might on Twitter, (Judgement pronounced in half-a-dozen words). The Internet makes twits of us all.

No such thing as a free teabag offer!

I noticed that a certain brand of tea carried a 'try me free' offer the other day; so I put one in my shopping basket at the supermarket.

When I looked at the small print, I noticed that the offer was 'Internet only' and that I had to give my bank account details in order to get a refund on the £1.75 which I had spent on the product. Alternatively, I could claim a 'free' pashmina (as long as I spent £3.99 on postage) or some garden seeds (also if I paid the postage).

If none of these alternatives were acceptable to me, I could let them 'donate' my £1.75 to the 'Rain Forests'. Now, faced with that choice, what kind of hard-hearted, anti-social 'miseryguts' is NOT going to contribute to such a worthy cause?

Me. That's who. I am annoyed with the makers of this tea and I have sent them an email to say I won't be using any of their products in the future. However,I am even more annoyed with myself for getting 'hooked' by such a 'too good to be true' offer.

Larry the Votecatcher

Either the Prime Minister is taking a P.R.leaf out of the U.S. President's book. Or there really are some big rats on the run at Downing Street (other than the ones we see coming and going on the news media).

The Clinton family and the Bush family paraded their respective dogs before the cameras and, undoubtedly, presented their owners to the voting public in a more human light. Maybe Larry the Cat will do the same for the Camerons.

However, like his owners, I'm guessing that Larry will be too well fed to concern himself with ratcatching. He'll probably catch quite a few voters though.

Wossy's joke about his own speech impediment at BAFTA's

Jonathan Ross (Wossy)jokingly referred to his own speech impediment as he hosted the BAFTA's on Monday evening at the Royal Opera House. As expected, 'The King's Speech' swept the board of awards and deservedly so. It's a legendary 'feelgood' film of the kind that doesn't come along often enough.

Wossy also makes people feel good (mostly). It's probably the secret of his success.
How far his success can be attributed to his (very slight) speech impediment is difficult to tell. But, as 'Showbiz Royalty' now, I doubt he'd want to get rid of it. In fact, it's probably a 'no bwainer'!

My Tv Ads | Compare the Meerkat

My Tv Ads | Compare the Meerkat

David Beckham - Good Samaritan or Style Icon?

David Beckham was dubbed a 'Good Samaritan' this week as he stopped to help a stranded motorist whose car had broken down.

The news reports were very clear about the age and make of the car driven by the stranded motorist - but there were differing (and competing) reports about the car driven by Beckham.

On the web page of a well-known and respected newspaper, the editorial quoted one make of car, whilst the advertising alongside it flagged another competing make.

It was a 'good thing' to stop and help and I am sure that, like the Good Samaritan in the Bible, the footballing Samaritan would not have done it for the extra publicity.

The media and car advertisers will do that for him!

The Meerkats 'Retirement Home' - so accurately drawn!

My Movies | Compare the Meerkat

Having spent more time visiting retirement homes than I ever wanted to, I can categorically assure you that the Meerkats 'retirement home' commercial is spot on in terms of accuracy. It makes me laugh and cry at the same time.  Such genius! I cannot stop replaying this ad over and over again. Maybe I am ready for the retirement home!

Product Placement in Films

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00f1336#media 


Click on this link for a discussion on 'You and Yours' (Radio 4) about Product Placement in Films. For example, would you believe that the film 'The Black Swan' has generated interest in recordings of the classic 'Swan Lake'?

Product placement in 'The Archers'

Oh dear! There's a storm brewing in the teacups of 'The Archers' characters at the moment. It's all thanks to a mention of 'Duchy Shortbread'. Duchy is the brand of shortbread produced by the Prince of Wales and I think it's really delicious. So does Ian, the Chef in 'The Archers' radio series (an 'Everyday Story of Countryfolk'). As he produces a pretty mean shortbread himself, this was praise indeed for the Prince's famous brand. Unless you were listening very carefully, though, you'd have hardly heard the word 'Duchy' as Ian barely whispered the word.

Nevertheless, it was enough to have listeners writing into the BBC. Many people think that the BBC should be above that sort of 'cheap' product placement.

It just goes to show that, even though most of the avid listeners of 'The Archers' are the wrong side of 30, quite a lot of them are not as doddery and 'over-the-hill' as you might think.

A blog about advertising, branding, marketing and selling.

'Part One' was spent working in mainstream Advertising and Marketing. 'Endofpartone' is where I comment on that time and also on things that strike me as interesting in those areas.

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