# Do companies make alternative versions of commercials tailored to specific locations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017 "2002-07-26T22:31:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017/1 "2002-07-26T22:31:35Z")
I’ve noticed a lot lately that commercials from national companies have been using my city a lot lately in the commerical: Like “Oh, yeah, I’ll take the trip to Cleveland”, etc. I’ve been seeing it all the time, and thought it was strange - so I was wondering if companies make multiple versions of their commercials using different cities in the dialog and displaying them appropriately? Since using the name of your home city can grab your attention sometimes, it seems like the tactic might have some validity. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017/2 "2002-07-26T23:31:31Z")
The only ones I can think of are for products that have different names in different parts of the company (e.g. Hellmann’s/Best Foods mayo) or two separate divisions of the same company that have similar product lines (e.g. Carl’s Jr. & Hardee’s). Then, of course, you have the promos for your local news presented by the network’s news anchors (NBC does this quite a lot). ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017/3 "2002-07-27T00:20:25Z")
I know Jack in the Box just recently did this with their baseball antenna balls. (I’m assuming they did anyway. Can’t imagine how popular Oakland A’s antenna balls would be elsewhere in the states.) I always wondered the same thing. There was an old 800-COLLECT ad or something that showed their blimp flying past the Golden Gate bridge and other SF landmarks. I wondered if it was San Francisco everywhere (which is supposedly picturesque) or if all the major metropolitan areas got a different commercial. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017/4 "2002-07-27T00:22:32Z")
Yes, Jack in the Box did make regional antenna ball commercials. When I heard that they did one in Anaheim that didn’t feature the Padres, I felt sort of cheated. But then reality set in. Of course they did multiples!!! That was the commercial I thought of first when I read this thread title. ---
**Author:** ![jbird3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@jbird3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbird3000)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2002, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017/5 "2002-07-27T03:52:43Z")
There’s this commercial for a car, the Honda Civic, I think. They advertise “You can drive from city X to city Y on a single tank of gas”. On an LA TV station I get, the cities are in the southwestern US. On a Canadian station, the cities are in BC. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017/6 "2002-07-27T05:31:59Z")
When Dodge was introducing their new (at the time) pickup style I went to Texas for work-related training, and noticed the different style of commercials on television and radio there. Much more “cowboy” in tone and content. The trucks seemed much more popular there, too. I live in Northern California, btw. Volvoland. 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![mazzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mazzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazzer)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2002, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017/7 "2002-07-27T06:45:56Z")
Texas is the most common geographical area for commercial “tailoring.” California is second I believe. Most common types of ads to be tailored are cars, beer, and fast food. In fact, in Texas you can hardly find a car or beer ad that doesn’t mention the state in some way. Retooling of country song lyrics is popular. (“Ford is the best in Texas, dah-nuh-NUH.”) Beer bottle labels for Bud, Miller, and Coors all mention Texas (“True to Texas”) and have the state outline incorporated in somehow. I’ts all enough to make a feller tear up with pride. (Which is why they do it.) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2002, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017/8 "2002-07-27T07:18:51Z")
Now that you mention it **chriszarate** , the state outline and the “Lone Star” thingies were pretty popular down there. BTW; does _anyone_ really like that nasty beer? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![mazzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mazzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazzer)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2002, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017/9 "2002-07-27T07:24:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*BTW; does _anyone_ really like that nasty beer? > \*\* :eek: WHAAT??!! Lone Star is THE BEST. Cheap, cold, smooth, and there are rebuses under the caps. Anyway, it is a beer for Texans and I’d rather prefer you didn’t drink it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2002, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-make-alternative-versions-of-commercials-tailored-to-specific-locations/121017/10 "2002-07-27T07:30:36Z")
What about Crest White Strips? The last tableau in their commercial says it’s in Hartford. I’m suspicious that this is a nationwide thing because a) So many people have no idea where Hartford is and b) It’s in horrible shape. So has anyone noticed the Crest White Strips commercials to be tailored, or is this our biggest moment in the sun since Brodie mentioned the Whalers in _Mallrats_? **SenorBeef** I think you’re talking about the airline tickets commercial with the two hot women, one of whom doesn’t want to fly with the a-hole. That one says Cleveland out here in CT.