Mediaweek article which gives the various 30-second spot pricing ahead of the Fall lineup. In particular, it talks about a new 30-second spot record for network television: American Idol will cost you $705,000 for 30 fleeting seconds of an audience that - arguably - are the LEAST receptive to advertising. Coupled with all the product placement...it's a commercial cornucopia of proverbial snake-oil love.
The question you should be asking is exactly how in this day and age of unprecedented fragmentation, proliferation, ad-skipping, choice, media and non-media alternatives, we should be in a position to be setting records with the oldest trick in modern times ('er second to prostitution that is)?
In a related story, American Idol announces its new 7 day lineup:
Monday - the prelogue and voting for the theme of the week
Tuesday - the theme of the week results show plus previously unaired outtakes of Paula and Corey Clark in secret collaboration with their publicist to boost their careers
Wednesday - the least watched show: the actual show
Thursday - the results show
Friday - the making of the results show
Saturday - the auditions you saw, but we just thought showing them to you in a different sequence would fool you into thinking you never saw them before
Sunday - a William Hung Christmas Special titled, Making sure your Tree this year is Well Hung. Martha Stewart Guest Stars.
