Television Wants to be Free

Tim Lee writes:  "Apropos last week’s discussion of “parasitic” technologies, Ars has a great survey of the surge in product placements on TV. In a nutshell, as TiVos have made it easier to avoid commercials, networks have responded by blurring the line between advertisement and content, placing products (and plugs for products) within the show itself.  ¶  Frankly, I think this is probably better for everyone, at least for certain types of TV content. Given a choice between sitting through 18 30-second commercials in a half-hour sitcom, or seeing 10 product placements in the course of the show, I would much prefer the placements. ..."  Link:  The Television Liberation Front