Product Placement

[British_Fan]

For some reason I was thinking of this the other day: British TV is quite strict on product placement during programmes - especially the BBC - with brand names covered up on Blue Peter and Big Brother for example, and the names of products on AYBS are made up, so how come during Monkey Business Mr Humphries mentions Bold, Surf, Daz and Persil?

(apparenly it's 1 bucket of Bold to 2 of canal water, and don't touch SDP - Surf Daz and Persil).

Are there any other brand names mentioned (excluding names of other shops)?

[Captain Peacock's Carnation]

Vim was mentioned for washing up cups.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Goblin and Hoover vacuum cleaners were mentioned in "A Bliss Girl"

[Diana Yarswick]

Bath Oliver water biscuits!

[Bangers&MrMash]

Maybe you can mention them but not show them.

[Melchett]

Speaking of the biscuits, didn't they actually show the biscuits in that episode? I think they were Carr's water crackers or something. Maybe that's the only time a real product appeared in the show? I think this was during "Shedding the Load"... the ones with unacceptable levels of mouse hairs in them?

[Tiddles]

Agar sp? Stoves are mentioned. In the ep where Mrs. Slocombe comes in dressed like a "witch". I remember posting a link to these stoves on the old board. Now I can't find anything on them. Maybe our Brit friends can help.

[Bangers&MrMash]

Aga. As in "Aga saga".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGA_cooker

[Tiddles]

Thanks, Bang! I was close! :wave:

[Dean]

For some reason I was thinking of this the other day: British TV is quite strict on product placement during programmes - especially the BBC - with brand names covered up on Blue Peter and Big Brother for example, and the names of products on AYBS are made up, so how come during Monkey Business Mr Humphries mentions Bold, Surf, Daz and Persil?

(apparenly it's 1 bucket of Bold to 2 of canal water, and don't touch SDP - Surf Daz and Persil).

Are there any other brand names mentioned (excluding names of other shops)?

I don't really have an answer to you, except that maybe things were different 35 years ago.

It would have been awkward and unnatural if they had said something like "cleaning liquid" rather than "Vim"...

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Speaking of the biscuits, didn't they actually show the biscuits in that episode? I think they were Carr's water crackers or something. Maybe that's the only time a real product appeared in the show? I think this was during "Shedding the Load"... the ones with unacceptable levels of mouse hairs in them?

Right you are Melchette. "Carr's Water Crackers" were the name and you were spot on. I tried to put a picture up for you but my FTP isn't working.

[Tiddles]

how come during Monkey Business Mr Humphries mentions Bold, Surf, Daz and Persil?





Since no one really had an answer for you I'll give it a go:

The "SDP" stands for "Social Democratic Party". The line was "Don't touch SDP". It's a play on words. Mr. H. and Mrs. Thatcher were discussing laundry. The names of the detergents were plugged in to detract from what the real initials spelled out. So a political joke was made, but it was double entendre or whatever you want to call it. Now a company like the Carr's Water crackers may have already been a sponser of the show, as were the aforementioned detergents. It may have been fully OK to mention a product or even show its packaging as long as they were actual sponsers. To mention or show products that were NOT sponsers would be giving them free advertising. If it were done on AYBS? it was done sparingly at best.

[British_Fan]

Since no one really had an answer for you I'll give it a go:

The "SDP" stands for "Social Democratic Party". The line was "Don't touch SDP". It's a play on words. Mr. H. and Mrs. Thatcher were discussing laundry. The names of the detergents were plugged in to detract from what the real initials spelled out. So a political joke was made, but it was double entendre or whatever you want to call it. Now a company like the Carr's Water crackers may have already been a sponser of the show, as were the aforementioned detergents. It may have been fully OK to mention a product or even show its packaging as long as they were actual sponsers. To mention or show products that were NOT sponsers would be giving them free advertising. If it were done on AYBS? it was done sparingly at best.

I understand the joke Tids, after all I'm from the UK so know why it was made, it just seems strange that brand names are used.
When AYBS was made there was no such thing as sponsorship, plus the BBC didn't use sponsorship back then anyway (unlike backhanders of recent years).

EDIT: I've just found the precis of some BBC editorial guidelines:
"We must never include a product or service in sound or vision in return for cash, services or any consideration in kind"
so as long as no one is paying you it's okay.

[Tiddles]

I understand the joke Tids, after all I'm from the UK so know why it was made, it just seems strange that brand names are used.

.

Because the joke would fall flat using names of detergents that were "made up".

[Dean]

I understand the joke Tids, after all I'm from the UK so know why it was made, it just seems strange that brand names are used.

if they'd used a made-up name, say Zim instead of Vim, people wouldn't have known what was being discussed. They'd have to have said something like cleaning liquid - and that wouldn't have seemed very natural.

[Tiddles]

In the case of using the "SDP" the detergent names just fit in there perfectly. Another main reason to use them.

[Tim]

Very plainly in front of Miss Brahms during a meeting was a roll package of Digestive biscuits. I think of it because I saw some in the grocery store, (and even some HobNobs which Thin Blue Line had mentioned.) and the brand was McVittie's, which reminded me in turn of The Agent.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Here are the "Digestive Bisquits" that Tim was talking about from "The Think Tank"

http://lordgreg.minki.net/Ad1.jpg

Here are the "Carr's Water Bisquits" that Melchette mentioned.


http://lordgreg.minki.net/Ad2.jpg

[Goldie]

Thanks for the pics Greg.. It helps jog my memory.. :biggrin:

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

You're very welcome Goldie !!!

[Melchett]

Yes, thanks for the pics Greg. The Carr's water crackers still pretty much look the same in US stores today!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

You're very welcome Melchett !!! :thumbup: