Advertising & Obesity

American children have been supersized indeed. As recent films (Supersize Me, Fast Food Nation) suggest, the relationship between childhood obesity and fast food marketing may be a positive correlation of cataclysmic proportions. The World Advertising Research Center reports that 16% of American children are obese (not just chubby), and food/beverage advertising has been blamed for this undesirable growth in kiddy girth.

All fast food chain advertising has been under scrutiny in recent years for one thing or another--errant health claims, price point wars, distasteful creative strategies, unfair competitive claims, just to name a few. Rarely, however, do you see kids (in TV ads anyway) gorging on burgers or stuffing faces with french fries. Indeed, the fast food nutritionists have been busy finding new kinds of cooking methods to avoid trans fats, so the fast food emphasis has been on screen-size close ups of juicy burgers or happy families eating salads with Ronald McDonald.

The Federal Trade Commission is monitoring self-regulatory guidelines to avoid corporate squealing around health issues, but most fast food brand leaders are concerned about the longterm effects of boycotts, dietary changes, and the cost of changing the food chain paradigm.

The real question--from an advertising perspective--is how influential all this advertising for burgers, fried chicken and shakes? Does a commercial lead the horse (or child) to water (unhealthy food)? Is the messenger to blame?

I've seen the future... and the future is BLUE.

The Democrats have taken control of the House. There are two Senate races that are still undecided (as I understand it - the Virginia race is a “done deal” with a Democratic win, although the final results may not come out until December). If the Democrats can pick up two more Senate seats, they will obviously control the House and the Senate. Now imagine the 2008 election – and a possible Democratic win… a Democratic President, and a House/Senate controlled by Democrats.

What does all of this mean for broadcasters? If the Democrats run the show – what kind of regulation changes might broadcasters experience? How will Democrats handle issues of indecency, fairness, and programming?

Are you ready for CDA III?

Look into your crystal ball… how will it unfold between 2007 and 2012?

Google Radio, Google Billboards... coming soon... maybe.

Rumors have been surfacing about a possible Clear Channel buyout. CNBC recently reported that the Mays family had been approached to sell their controlling stake in Clear Channel to a private equity group. Several financial experts have suggested that Google is motivated to own at least a minority stake in CC. Adding fuel to the rumor mill, Google recently hired several “sales superstars” in New York, DC, and Chicago - these cream of the crop types have specific knowledge of major market radio sales.

Is Google good for terrestrial radio? Would Google add more or less diversity (programming voices not people) to the airwaves? How might Google influence CC’s Outdoor (billboard advertisement) presence on America’s Highways? Connections… YouTube and FM radio - possibilities, predictions…?