Does Apple pay for product placement?

fishmoose · Dec 13, 2009

We all seen Mac's and iPhone's in TV-shows and movies and even video games. Does Apple pay for this or are there products just so popular in our culture that the producers wan't them in to be cool?

Most companies pays to be in movies and such but Apple isn't most companies so does anyone have any insight on this?

Sky Blue · Dec 13, 2009

Of course, it's advertising.

Peace · Dec 13, 2009

Apple officially denies placement ads but you be the judge.

http://abesauer.com/category/apple/

fishmoose · Dec 13, 2009

Peace said:
Apple officially denies placement ads but you be the judge.

http://abesauer.com/category/apple/

Hehe, take Entourage for example in that show there are iMac's everywhere. Sometimes they film from an funny angle so you can see the Apple logo and the persons face. Kind of strange if it's not paydfor.

Peace · Dec 13, 2009

Just an opinion mind you but when you see an Apple product on TV and it shows the logo it's a placement ad. When the logo is covered up it wasn't a placement ad.

David Letterman used a Macbook Pro the other night to "tweet".

Consultant · Dec 13, 2009

Most likely no. Many people that use Apple products are fans who want more people to use Apple stuff.

Some of them tried to get money for it, and tape up the logo due to the fact that Apple doesn't pay for it.

jemeinc · Dec 13, 2009

They absolutely positively pay for it, and have for a LONG time.. Apple was one of the first companies to really embrace this type of advertising.. With everyone TiVO'ing thru commercials these days it's a very good approach..

yg17 · Dec 13, 2009

jemeinc said:
They absolutely positively pay for it, and have for a LONG time.. Apple was one of the first companies to really embrace this type of advertising.. With everyone TiVO'ing thru commercials these days it's a very good approach..

So if I see a TV show character using a product I'm supposed to want to buy it

Commercials don't persuade me much, product placement persuades me even less. But at least commercials give reasons to buy the product. Sounds like Apple is wasting their money if you ask me.

miles01110 · Dec 13, 2009

Of course they pay for it. With a popular show, if Apple doesn't pay for it someone else will.

jemeinc · Dec 13, 2009

yg17 said:
So if I see a TV show character using a product I'm supposed to want to buy it

Commercials don't persuade me much, product placement persuades me even less. But at least commercials give reasons to buy the product. Sounds like Apple is wasting their money if you ask me.

Say what you like, but there's plenty of evidence that this type of advertising works.. Big department stores made news several years ago when they explained how they made sure the music they played was the most conducive to triggering a pleasant thought process into their customers heads subliminally.. I think that's a bit much- but they where armed with studies that prove it works..

It's not so much that you see someone using it and you want it as it is that you just see it.. In connection with other forms of advertising product placement is VERY effective.. It just is... Look around you- everywhere you go you see advertisements.. Look at things like the boards in a hockey game, heck, look at the risers on the stairs in that hockey arena- filled up with advertisements.. Now, I know that's a bit different from product placement but only because it's easier to slap a sign on those specific spots than it is the actual product..lol.. It's everywhere because it's effective.. I don't think by itself it's as effective, but there's no denying that as a part of an overall advertising campaign product placement is extremely effective- especially in terms of value for the cost..

jaw04005 · Dec 13, 2009

Apple, like every other company, pays for "promotional consideration."

IMDB even has a partial list:

http://www.imdb.com/company/co0014547/

Missing on that list is I know for sure Jimmy Fallon, but there's likely others. I know at one point they were a sponsor of Ellen.

SpaceKitty · Dec 13, 2009

I've seen shows such as Destination Truth where they have Mac Pros and black Macbooks where you can clearly see the MacBook name clearly on it.

Then there is Ghost Hunters where every laptop they use has a piece of tape over the logo on the lid. I have seen the MacBook Pro name below the screen on closeups though so it must be a logo thing on some shows.

dukebound85 · Dec 13, 2009

lol came across this show on disney, i carly that had macs but were not macs

researching on web, it appears they have ipods but call them "pear pods"

i guess they do this to not infringe on copyright apprently

i think its tacky

SpaceKitty · Dec 13, 2009

dukebound85 said:
lol came across this show on disney, i carly that had macs but were not macs

That's clearly the new iPear.

sypherod · Dec 13, 2009

I wouldn't be surprised if they are. I bet they pay for product placement to some extent even if they deny it.

jaw04005 · Dec 13, 2009

Peace said:
Apple officially denies placement ads but you be the judge.

Source? I've never seen Apple officially deny product placement. That's just a myth perpetuated by some members of the Mac community. As far as tech companies go, Apple's been involved in product placement heavily since at least the early 1990's.

Tharian · Dec 13, 2009

The Cinema Displays and MacBook Pros in Metal Gear Solid 4 surprised me. It was interesting; I don't think I've seen them in a game before. There was also an HP laptop in Resident Evil 5. wicked. Not.

-d

andrew upstairs · Dec 13, 2009

AFAIK, Apple doesn't pay for product placement in movies or TV, at least for anything I've worked on (and I've worked on a lot of stuff over the years that featured Apple products). However, they may provide the products.

Source: myself, who has worked in film for 12 years.

Tilpots · Dec 13, 2009

jaw04005 said:
Apple, like every other company, pays for "promotional consideration."

IMDB even has a partial list:

http://www.imdb.com/company/co0014547/

Missing on that list is I know for sure Jimmy Fallon, but there's likely others. I know at one point they were a sponsor of Ellen.

This should answer the OP's question.

andrew upstairs said:
Apple doesn't pay for product placement in movies or TV, at least for anything I've worked on (and I've worked on a lot of stuff over the years that featured Apple products). However, they may provide the products.

Source: myself, who has worked in film for 12 years.

Did the production companies keep the computers? Most likely. If so, that's a trade, and should qualify as "paid."

andrew upstairs · Dec 13, 2009

Tilpots said:
Did the production companies keep the computers? Most likely. If so, that's a trade, and should qualify as "paid."

No, they do not.

FX120 · Dec 13, 2009

If I recall, Dell and Apple were both credited on the TV show "24" for a while. I haven't really paid attention much lately however.

KingYaba · Dec 14, 2009

I just saw "Drag me to Hell" and they had Macs and iPhones everywhere. :apple:

Does Apple pay for product placement?

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