ABC television buys "stealth commercial" radio time

[ovidsen]

The next time you hear your favorite radio morning crew talk up a TV show, question just how much of their chatter reflects their own opinions:

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ radio talk slips into gray area

Radio listeners were treated to liberal doses of watercooler chat about the season premiere of “Grey’s Anatomy” on Q100 and V-103 Thursday morning. What most listeners didn’t know, however, was that the chat was being paid for by ABC, the drama’s TV network.

Yes, when Q100’s Melissa Carter and Jenn Hobby enthusiastically dished about their advance peek at the show’s season premiere, it was an ad. Further muddying the waters, “Bert Show” members Bert Weiss, Jeff Dauler, Carter and Hobby also interviewed “Grey’s” actress Kate Walsh on-air.

Weiss told Walsh he considered her show to be the best on television. He added: “And I’m not being paid to say that.” (We’re assuming he was cracking an inside joke.) Hobby serves as the show’s “Entertainment Buzz” reporter while Carter is Q100’s news director.

http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/peachbuzz/index.html

It's the 3rd item in the link. Free registration required.

[northzax]

1. WHAT? PR Flacks paying for coverage?

NEVER. I am shocked. shocked, I tell you. psst- don't tell Captain Renault about the gambling either.

[KurtNYC]

2. Parallel story: "Radio audience buys iPods"

radio as we knew it is dying a slow death. MP3, pod-casting, etc.

Embedding ads and political commentary (as Dennis Quinn on 101.9 does) only hasten the demise.

[ovidsen]

3. I think this is illegal

It's been 20 years since I worked in local radio, but back then FCC rules required that commercials be identified as such. Anybody else know?

[Selatius]

4. I know there are most definitely laws against the government doing this

Who was that guy a year or two ago who got caught accepting money from the Whitehouse to shill for Social Security privatization or something else Bush wanted?

I don't know if the anti-propaganda laws apply to corporate enterprises though.