Posted by Erin Zimmer, July 22, 2008 at 6:15 PM
In recent weeks, anchors on KVVU, the Fox affiliate in Las Vegas, sat with McDonald’s iced coffees as they broadcasted the "news-and-lifestyle" portion of the morning show. But as reported by the New York Times, they weren't from an early morning drive-thru trip. In fact, the anchors hardly touched the cups.
It's part of a six-month product placement deal where the on-air cast will join their new iced coffee friends, but not during the "straight news portion," said KVVU news director Adam Bradshaw; just during the lightweight stuff between 7 and 9 a.m. Other stations owned by the Meredith Broadcasting Group may have logoed cups from the Golden Arches soon too. What if a report involves Big Macs or happy meals? During conflicting coverage, the ad agency promises to remove the cups.
Adieu to an old media era of generic mugs that made me picture a friendly coffee maker in the staff kitchen.
Posted by Erin Zimmer, June 28, 2008 at 11:00 AM
In Brazil, Volkswagens no longer run on gas—they run on beer, milk, and tomatoes. Popular ad agency BBDO skipped the glossy pages and billboards for these cute storage units, as part of the German auto company's "for every kind of load" campaign.
After the jump, check out some Volkswagen ads of yesteryear. Spoiler: There are no milk cartons involved.
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Posted by Erin Zimmer, June 27, 2008 at 12:00 PM
The Czechs aren't particularly known for their desserts. Honey cake and poppy seed pastries are fine, but Czech car manufacturer Skoda goes to the next level with this frosted, chocolatey, strawberry-layered replica of the Skoda Fabia model. For four days, master bakers turned batters into backseats and red jelly into tail lights to construct this edible, life-size car. It's "full of lovely things," the company promises, knowing that cake could rightfully get that point across. So effective, the ad even won gold at the Cannes Lions 2008 International Advertising Festival for best "Product & Service" entry.
Watch the auto body construction as Julie Andrews sings "My Favorite Things," after the jump.
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Posted by Sarah Wolf, June 2, 2008 at 2:45 PM
What's better than Scratch 'n Sniff? That would be Peel 'n Taste. These edible strips of film, which currently appear in ads for Welch's grape juice, are apparently an incredibly effective form of product promotion. Among consumers willing to put a mysterious piece of paper in their mouths, the flavor strips vastly increase the likelihood that they will purchase the juice, according to a study by Starch Communications. And the ad is just as influential on those who merely remember seeing it, influencing them to tell their friends about it or buy the product themselves.
The flavor strips' success has prompted a bevy of big-name clients to sign on with Peel 'n Taste creator First Flavor, including Sunny Delight, Campbell's Soup, Kellogg and Skyy Vodka—though why anyone would want to taste nonalcoholic vodka remains a mystery. Even more disgustingly, a Florida anti-smoking campaign has commissioned a strip that tastes like the bottom of an ashtray. But despite these unappetizing new twists, the prevalence of these ads is likely to increase. "We can imagine a day when you walk into the grocery store and there are [flavor strip] dispensers down the aisle," said First Flavor president-CEO Jay Minkoff.
Posted by Sarah Wolf, May 29, 2008 at 12:00 PM
These advertisements might be meant to encourage Swedes to wake up from their absurd dreams with coffee from McDonalds. They might simply be the product of a deranged mind. Either way, Sweden could evidently use the caffeine. Video after the jump.
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Posted by Robyn Lee, May 16, 2008 at 2:00 PM
The disturbingly huge wings in this ad are probably due to someone getting too carried away with Photoshop rather than New York being a vendor for gigantic mutant chickens. But $6.99 for 10 giant chicken wings—each piece large enough to feed two people—would've been such an awesome deal. [via Photoshop Disasters and Boing Boing]
Posted by Erin Zimmer, May 12, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Artist's rendering of the future of sports, which unsettlingly resembles the extreme commercialism and marketing-controlled future depicted in comedy movie Idiocracy.
Looking at a WNBA jersey will soon make your subconscious crave a greasy Southern-style chicken sandwich. As part of an ad campaign for their Chick-Fil-A-ish creation, McDonalds is branding all fourteen WNBA team jerseys with the Double Arches. The iconic logo will also sneak up on pole pads, seat backs, on-court decals and other courtside signage during the league's season-opening week. When asked if other corporate sponsors could soon nab jersey space, WNBA President Donna Orender responded with the late McDonalds adage. "It could happen." [via AdAge]
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