Shameless OLN Product Placements

homeycheese

I was just commenting on another thread of all the shameless "product placements", like the equipment profiles, that are being shown on OLN's telecast.

Their coverage has become one big "infomercial" considering the end of the LA gravy train is only 2 weeks away.

How many product placements can you find that aren't pure advertisements? How about the laptop prominently displayed in front of Al Trautwig?

JohnO

At least they're covering it, which is a lot better than I remember. When I started cycling in the late 1970's, live coverage of any cycling was just a distant dream. Had to read about the TDF a week after it was finished.

Believe me, if product placement is the price of getting live coverage, place away.

I don't think live coverage will completely die off post Lance. There are a number of competitive American cyclists now, and while it won't displace other sports, it has achieved a following over here that won't go away. Lance got me back on a bike after 15 years off.

thebluetrain

I remember in 86 when Lemond won the TdF. All we got was a weekly wrap up on Sundays on CBS or ABC. I cant remember which. I was happy to get that much.

segamartinez

Agree that I can deal with the promotion as long as I get coverage. I guess you could say I'm one of the prototypical Americans who only follow the TdF...but that's mostly because it's the only extensive coverage we get over here.

In '99 I started watching the Tour and came to realize what a great sport it is. It's pretty aggrivating that you have sports "experts" on TV shows saying they won't recognize cycling as a sport because they used to ride a bike when they were a kid - I used to play basketball and baseball as a kid, does that mean these sports don't count, either?

I wish they would show the Giro and Vuelta, but I also understand about ratings and overall interest in the sport here. It's funny how sports commentators and everyone else who follows sports over here can dismiss cycling without even knowing what it's about (other than "riding a bike"), but NASCAR (which is the king of shameless promotion) is cool?

The fact is I would eat up any coverage we can get over here - it just happens that the TdF is about all we get (other than subscribing to a few magazines and going on forums).

babylou

That's funny because I remember the coverage being NBC. I sure do love cable TV! I think the first year the USA had any cycling coverage was the year Zoetemelk won the TDF...1980 I think.

Dead Star

Emigrate to Europe. Plenty of Cycling fans/TV coverage here

thebluetrain

This is from Lemonds personal website. I was half right.

In 1986, Greg LeMond, despite being constantly threatened by his own teammate, Bernard Hinault, became the first American to win the largest single annual sporting event in the world, the Tour de France. Millions watched on CBS Television as Greg's historic victory catapulted him into the media spotlight.

TrekDedicated

I mean this in the nicest way, 'SHUT THE HELL UP'.

You get to listen to Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen commentate the world's greatest sport. For the three hours it's on tv (multiple times a day) you get to watch cycling. And I guess you aren't really absorbed in the race if you pay attention to all the 'informercial' stuff. They gotta pay the bills.

There is just no pleasing people.

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rejobako

LOL! Honestly, I can understand those who get annoyed with the constant marketing with which we are bombarded every time we access a media. On the other hand, I've never been able to marshal much resentment, knowing, as you just pointed out, that if OLN doesn't make a profit through its tie-ins, maybe there is no Le Tour televised next year. With no Armstrong for them to slaver over, I'm already shuddering at the likely prospect they'll ditch the Tour for more re-runs of rodeo competitions.

homeycheese

LMAO, you make my point completely, "TREKDEDICATED." I understand paying the bills and have commented numerous times on this board about this being a business. Do you really think coming to this thread to show your ass contributes anything? You took it upon yourself to login, choose the thread and read the comments. Get a clue.

As for 3 hours of coverage, LOL. We get about 20 minutes an hour of substance and the rest is infomercial. I'm not turning off my TV though, just musing for others on this board how they feel about.

Lighten up, Francis.

TrekDedicated

Yes, I'm 'showing my ass' , I've got over 550 posts on this board, so I show 'my ass' a lot. I contribute, I was riding Treks way before Lance was winning all the time. So, I built my loyalty long before. So don't hound my name.


20 minutes of substance? You obviously do not listen to Phil or Paul, these guys are the best commentators ANYWHERE. The things you learn from them are amazing.

By me coming to this thread, I'm showing that people like you complain about getting any exposure about the sport. Hey! I know what, why don't you go watch Sportscenter for the highlights! You'll get all the TdF info in 15 seconds! With women's tennis commercials interlaced. Whether you accept it or not, cycling especially, relies heavily on sponsorships. So if you want your cycling, make due. And since you have probably never had to deal with sponsorships for cycling, I wouldn't expect you to understand. Least commercials like Mitchum "If shaving your legs etc etc" are hilarious. Being in America, where cycling is still trying to build its fan base on tv, they need to get funding. You should be glad tampons,periods, and adult diapers are sponsors and ask for air time. If that was the case, then yes, HC, I would agree with you, but since sponsors are relevant I don't mind.

Meanwhile, the rest of us watch OLN, for the scenery/landscape, riders interactions, attacks, learning new things about the sport, commentary, and seeing our sport thrive.


With love,

TREKDEDICATED


*Flame away*

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homeycheese

I'm sorry you're so terribly confused. First, the thread was on product placements, not commercials. Second, there is no disregard in any of my posts for the great work of Phil and Paul (you must have dreamed that up so you could add to your vast collection of posts.) Third, I've both dealt with sponsorships as a cyclist and now as one who writes the checks, so get the sanctimonious chip off your shoulder and clue in to the substance of the thread.

Lastly, as is the case in my comment of 3 hours of TV does not mean it all contains meaningful content, the same could be said for your 550 posts.

BTW - do a little homework on tv viewerships / ratings / Q-Scores, cultivating fan bases and the marketing efforts of those involved before you make an uninformed comment like "Being in America, where cycling is still trying to build its fan base on tv, they need to get funding." It clearly shows you do not understand the business side of the equation and what marketing companies like OLN and Discovery are all about.

strummer_fan

I think the problem most people are referring to, are the "advertorials".

They have an OLN "journalist" do reports on "the technology of the tour" and "behind the race" that are supposed to be part of the coverage, not part of the commercials.

These pieces are supposedly to enlighten both newbie fans and veterans about some of the behind the scenes stuff. Some pieces are interesting. I watched a video clip online about Hutchinson tires. It was aimed at fans probably less familiar with cycling gear than most of us on this forum, and it almost could have squeaked by as a legitimate "background" piece, but the clincher (no pun intended) was at the end, when the presenter said something like...(not an exact quote)

"Hutchinson puts this amount of care into all of their tires. Maybe that's why Lance has never had a flat in Six Tour Victories."

I think that sort of tie-in is what the posts in this thread were complaining about.

I own dozens of videos with Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen doing commentary on the Classics and Grand Tours, and I only wish that this OLN coverage had more of Paul and Phil, and fewer of the Advertorials and no big-mouth, no-brain Al Trautwig.

Cheers...

rejobako

Respectfully, if you are that marketing savvy and aware of "the business side of the equation" for these companies, why does it cause you so much consternation when they maximize their product placement opportunities?

In the meantime, I suspect we could compile all the television that's ever been broadcast since Vladimir Zworikin patented the TV camera tube and not find 3 hours of "meaningful content".