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Warning: You are watching a lot of ads

The FCC is looking closer at TV advertising and will consider whether more disclosure is necessary. Steve Henn repors on how many ads U.S. TV viewers are being subjected to, and how the FCC could help get a clear message across.

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TEXT OF STORY

Scott Jagow: The FCC is taking a closer look at advertising in the age of Tivo. Specifically, product placements in TV shows. Steve Henn has more.


Steve Henn: How many ads have you watched on TV today? Robert Weismann at Commercial Alert says chances are, you have no idea.

Robert Weismann: It’s impossible that anyone knows.

Shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition include hundreds, even thousands each year. Weismann wants the FCC to require clearer disclosure. Picture something like a tornado alert scrolling across your screen when a character heads to a fast-food joint.

Man in Ad: These guys, they’ve been working all day, they have to be really hungry.

Woman in Ad: You’re probably right. So I had an idea . . . ha ha, Wendy’s!

But Dan Jaffe at the Association of National Advertisers hates this idea. He says the FCC can already require disclosures at the beginning or end of a show, but:

Dan Jaffe: They need to use their authority — if there are problems in this area, it’s a problem of enforcement.

Product placement is already a $3 billion revenue stream for broadcasters, and its growing at more than 30 percent a year.

In Washington, I’m Steve Henn for Marketplace.

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