"Frogleg" > wrote in message
...
> On 4 Jan 2004 00:52:33 GMT, wrote:
>
> >"Paul M. Cook©®" > wrote:
> >
> >> Sometimes it really is all commercials all the time. FoodTV has taken
on a
> >> format in which many of its shows are nothing more than pure
advertising.
> >> Take "The Best Of." What company could want better advertising with a
> >> guaranteed demographic? I strongly believe all those many hotels,
inns,
> >> web sites and other mom and pop companies fork over wads of cash to be
> >> featured on those shows. I'd never boycott them for that reason mind
you
> >> but things like stealth advertising really frost my cookies.
> >
> >I don't get that sense when I watch those shows. Anything's possible, but
> >without some evidence, I find it doubtful that these businesses pay for
> >being mentioned on Food Finds, etc.
>
> I don't watch these often, but don't they say something about viewers
> nominating their favorite places and food items? The Food Finds are
> often quite small operations without, one assumes, enough $$ to lure a
> TV show to their fudge shop. True, the restaurant or producer receives
> publicity ('though with many features showing people lined up outside,
> it seems they don't need any extra), and takes a hit for having a TV
> crew hanging around for a day or 2. I doubt Gourmet magazine is paid
> when featuring the restaurants of a city or type; why should FoodTV be
> different? The revenue is in the *real* advertising, not the feature
> stories.
Not advertising? How about the myriad of shows where they feature "unheard"
of companies selling novelty items like southern pickle relish, habanero
jam, pralines or bloody mary mix? They don't have lines around the block.
And at the end of the show is a phone number and or web address where you
can buy their hideously overpriced wares. 16 bucks for a pound of apple
butter? Paleaaaaaaaaaaassssssse!
Paul