Spanish Television Reigns as King Of Product Plugs

SPANISH TELEVISION REIGNS AS KING OF PRODUCT PLUGS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Aaron Patrick aaron.patrick@wsj.com and Keith Johnson]
Spain has more product placement and more commercial breaks than just about anywhere else. In prime-time evening hours, commercial breaks can last 15 minutes and contain up to 30 ads in a row, so long that some viewers forget what they're watching. Spain has permitted rampant product plugs despite a European Union ban on product placement and a limit on commercials. The rules aren't enforced in Spain because the EU can't directly enforce policy. Spain, unlike Germany and the United Kingdom, also doesn't have its own rules governing the separation of content and advertising. The rest of Europe is moving toward the Spanish model. New EU rules set to become law in the summer will let broadcasters decide when to schedule commercials and product placement. Spanish producers aren't complaining that the commercialism intrudes on art. Instead, they say it helps preserve local TV production at a time when many channels across Europe are airing U.S. shows at less expense.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117037477567695542.html?mod=todays_us_pa...
(requires subscription)