Name-brand products make regular appearances on television shows, where they are typically written into a drama, comedy or reality program. “American Idol” viewers, for example, have come to expect to see a Coke cup in front of a judge on the show, Simon Cowell, as he berates contestants.

But TV news?

In recent weeks, anchors on the Fox affiliate in Las Vegas, KVVU, sit with cups of McDonald’s iced coffee on their desks during the news-and-lifestyle portion of their morning show. The anchors rarely touch the cups.

Executives at the station, one of 12 owned by the media company Meredith, say the six-month promotion is meant to shore up advertising revenue and, as they told the news staff, will not influence content.

The arrangement does raise questions about potential conflicts between the intended message and news content. The ad agency that arranged the promotion said the coffee cups would most likely be whisked away if KVVU chooses to report a negative story about McDonald’s.

Neither the agency nor KVVU would reveal the price of the six-month deal.

The logical outcome of nutball economics. Everything is reduced to its commercial value.




  1. jccalhoun hates the spam filter says:

    According to this article, the best part is that the iced coffee isn’t even real. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jul/21/eye-opener-pitch/

    Out of curiosity I went to the KVVU website and did a search for McDonalds and guess what? I didn’t see a single negative story. http://www.fox5vegas.com/search/form.html?qt=mcdonalds
    (Including one about the launch of the specialty coffee…) A lot of those appeared before the advertising deal started so it seems like the channel doesn’t just do product placement but fluff stories…

  2. GregAllen says:

    How long until we have product placement IN THE ACTUAL NEWS?

    Like our soldiers wearing Nike logos?

  3. CountSmackula says:

    Sad that Eideard posts yesterday’s BoingBoing news LINK as today’s Dvorak news.

    Oh, yeah… never miss a chance to slam anything conservative. (Even though “local” Fox stations are no more asinine than any other local station.)

  4. Mark Parker says:

    #33 LOL! I can see it now: This CIA water boarding is brought to you by Evian. And unlike this helpless prisoner, Evian is “untouched by man, perfect by nature.”

  5. crazyguy says:

    #35 – You’re a complete asshole. What the fuck is your point idiot?

  6. CountSmackula says:

    #37- Idiot? If you READ the comment, you’d understand my point.

    p.s. Asshole? Look in the mirror. Et voila!

  7. jbenson2 says:

    Go the way Fox has and stay highly profitable,

    or

    go the way the floundering NY Times has and see a whopping 82% drop in 2nd quarter profits.

    I’m thirsty for some iced coffee.

  8. ChrisMac says:

    boingboing? no thanks

  9. James Hill says:

    I’m more disappointed that he goes to BoingBoing than that he posted a day old article.

  10. Mr. Fusion says:

    #35, CountSmuck,

    This is NOT a news blog. Read the headline, This is Dvorak Uncensored. A general interest blog.

    Don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out.

  11. dodgema says:

    Fox? Vegas? Need one know more?


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