# Advertising the War **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 22, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419 "2003-03-22T20:22:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/1 "2003-03-22T20:22:25Z")
My husband was watching “March Madness” on CBS this afternoon at about 2:30. A commercial came on, with the CBS War Logo on the screen. The announcer said: “If you think you’ve seen Shock and Awe, you haven’t seen nothin’ yet! Watch CBS News tonight!” I really was appalled. Is this all this war boils down to for people? A realty TV show with cool explosions? The ad just struck me as incredibly callous . . . people are \* dying, \* for Christ’s sake! This is not fucking entertainment! It reminded me of a promo for \* Survivor. \* (“If you think the castaways have bickered, you ain’t seen nothin yet!”) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/2 "2003-03-22T20:24:18Z")
What good is having a war if it doesn’t get good ratings? ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/3 "2003-03-22T20:46:06Z")
Enjoy the coverage while you can. With the ratings the networks are getting, they’d be mad not to show the next war on pay per view. Even then, it seems to me that most discussion of this war should be conducted in Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/4 "2003-03-22T20:54:10Z")
Strangely, although the news channels are getting much higher ratings, they’re not happy at all. They can’t sell advertising, since they can’t guarantee slots to show the adverts. Their own adverts may be everpresent and crass, but it’s a financial disaster for TV channels: > [@](#): > > Yesterday all US cable news broadcasters moved to more or less blanket coverage of the war without commercial breaks, while the big US TV networks have suffered a wave of advertising cancellations. MasterCard moved to pull all its advertising off air for a week after the beginning of hostilities while the second biggest advertiser in the US said it will not advertise in any slots containing coverage of the war and will only return when “normal, family and entertainment programming resumes”. > > Sheraton hotels has also postponed the start of new campaigns and Toyota, one of the few advertisers to feature in Channel 4’s news programme last night, said it was shelving ads on the US networks. > > Telecoms group AT&T said it was “pausing” TV campaigns while American Express yesterday inserted a “war contingency clause” into its media buying contracts. > > Joe Mandese, the editor of US publication Media Markets Daily, estimated that six days of commercial-free coverage at national and local networks could displace $684m (£437m) worth of advertisements. > > The events of September 11 2001 cost the US media industry an estimated $300m as public sensitivity to the unfolding events led to many commercials being canned. For the second Iraqi war advertisers have had longer to consider their reaction and the resulting revenue drop could be steeper and last longer. > [@](#): > > The specially extended version of the ITV News, which began an hour before Tony Blair’s address to the nation, ran right through from 9.00pm to around 10.07pm uninterrupted by a single commercial message … The loss of seven minutes of advertising will have cost the network millions of pounds. > [@](#): > > ITV has committed around £5.5m to covering the cost of the war that is widely expected to come to an end in April. > > US reports said American networks were facing a possible loss of $300m as advertisers such as Mastercard, Toyota and Proctor & Gamble deferred or cancelled advertising. (all quotes from the **Media Guardian** ). ---
**Author:** ![ganglian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@ganglian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganglian)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/5 "2003-03-22T20:59:39Z")
Yeah it seems that way. It seems to be more about the ratings war between the News Networks than about the war itself. The way it’s being conducted I think they should repackage the format. It should be like a Football forcast or maybe a reality show. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/6 "2003-03-22T21:01:32Z")
> [@](#): > > MasterCard moved to pull all its advertising off air for a week after the beginning of hostilities while the second biggest advertiser in the US said it will not advertise in any slots containing coverage of the war and will only return when “normal, family and entertainment programming resumes”. That’s downright amusing. Family entertainment= coverage of murders, rapes, and celebrity trials. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/7 "2003-03-22T21:01:32Z")
[War Eats Into BasketBall Ratings!](http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/tourney03/2003-03-21-tv-ratings_x.htm) (USA Today) Jeez, I guess this whole thing might be getting _serious._ ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/8 "2003-03-22T21:07:51Z")
> [@](#): > > **WAR SPECIAL** > > US led troops attack Bagdad. Live footage of urban warfare. > > Tonight, 21:00 - 01:00 > > Only $19.99 > > Push red button to buy, or call customer services. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/9 "2003-03-23T09:12:13Z")
Well, apparently, the folks in charge of product placement have found a way to get their message across while the war’s going on. Did you see the Baskin Robbins uniform that Victoria Clarke was wearing during the afternoon briefing? ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/10 "2003-03-23T20:45:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*Well, apparently, the folks in charge of product placement have found a way to get their message across while the war’s going on. Did you see the Baskin Robbins uniform that Victoria Clarke was wearing during the afternoon briefing? \*\* You’re kidding, right? I can just see it now . . . Newscaster: “Fighting still continues along the Euprates river . . . but let’s take a moment to enjoy a cool, refreshing Coke. It’s the Real Thing!” Or, “The soliders are beginning to experience fatigue . . . they should eat a Snickers bar to boost their energy.” Perhaps they could cover the soldiers’ uniforms with logos like those of race-car dirvers. The butt of a gun would be a good place to stick a logo sticker. If the army says no, they could electronically place logos on the sides of tanks like they do on the boards around the arena in hockey games. ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/11 "2003-03-23T20:57:13Z")
I thought this war was going to be about those propaganda slots, with all those students saying they support the war: “I support my country” “If America’s gonna fight, I’ll support them” “I support whatever they think is right” Etc… fade to some bullshit slogan in appropriate red, white, and blue. Shit like that always makes me gnash my teeth. My roommate said “I thought it was so funny – those shots of Baghdad looked just like a vegas show!”… I didn’t even bother telling him how disgusting that comment was. I’m so glad I’m moving. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/12 "2003-03-23T21:01:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*You’re kidding, right? \*\* Only slightly. That was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the outfit she was wearing. (If you missed it, it was a jacket pink on one side and brown on the other. She was wearing a gray turtleneck sweater, and the whole thing reminded me of Neopolitian ice cream, and I was going to post a tongue-in-cheek rant about it until I saw this thread. Oh, and wait till after the war’s over and CNN and others are advertising their “Shock and Awe!” DVDs and videos. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/13 "2003-03-23T21:09:06Z")
Oh, and in case you missed it, [here’s a link to the offending jacket in question.](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030322/170/3ld5x.html) ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/14 "2003-03-23T21:45:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*Oh, and in case you missed it, [here’s a link to the offending jacket in question.](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030322/170/3ld5x.html) \*\* Dear God, that has to be the ugliest piece of clothing I have ever had the misfortune to lay eyes on. Did the circus have a yard sale? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/15 "2003-03-24T01:18:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*Dear God, that has to be the ugliest piece of clothing I have ever had the misfortune to lay eyes on. Did the circus have a yard sale? \*\* That I don’t know, but I do know the outfit has been pretty much [reviled by everyone.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=3177085) ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/16 "2003-03-24T05:50:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*You’re kidding, right? > > Perhaps they could cover the soldiers’ uniforms with logos like those of race-car dirvers. The butt of a gun would be a good place to stick a logo sticker. If the army says no, they could electronically place logos on the sides of tanks like they do on the boards around the arena in hockey games. \*\* Hehe. I had this “idea” too. Product placement would be great for this war. Have fatigued looking soldiers refreshed after drinking an icy Pepsi Blue, Place the tres chic Target bullseye logo electronically onto buildings about to be hit by the tanks, Employ a few special effects to make the Euprates river look like a chocolate milk river, with Hershey Bars forming a chocolate bridge across it and little chocolate tanks crossing over it–all on live TV…all these are golden opportunites for product exposure are being lost!! ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/17 "2003-03-24T06:37:46Z")
Not to mention endorsements from soldiers and pilots and such. “After a hard day of dropping Bunker Busters, nothing picks me up like a Coke. Heck, after one Coke, I’m ready to fly 10 sorties!” ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-the-war/163419/18 "2003-03-24T06:44:46Z")
Ah, but doesn’t that word " **sortie** have rather a **French** sound to it? 🙂