At the moment, it seems there’s a high level of confusion about how Web TV can be made to be profitable while still offering a fair deal to viewers keen to lap up the new Internet based experiences.
It seems NBC Universal think it may have found a way, but it means we’ll have to put up with a heavy amount of product placement in future output made for the Web.
CNet is reporting that due to a deal between the television company and the Omnicom Group, programming will now be designed solely to highlight a sponsor’s products.
Omnicom is a powerful advertising company, and it seems it is willing to pay good money to see its brands getting exposure on the Web, and using online video is another string to that particular bow.
Gemini Division
The first show to emerge from the deal is called Gemini Division, and will star Rosario Dawson. The planned sponsors are Acura, Intel, Microsoft, and UPS although how they’ll manage to weave product placements for all of those in to the show is beyond me.
The other fear of course is that it will impinge on the quality of the script, and turn viewers off with it.
Experimenting On Hulu
Gemini Division and the other product placement funded shows from this deal will likely be offered on Hulu straight after being completed.
Web TV clearly needs a solution to make it profitable enough to really take off, but I have my doubts as to whether product placements on this level will be the ultimate answer.
