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Brand Name Blurring

R

RadioMan203

Something that always made me wonder was when certain programs, namely on cable networks, would blur certain items to hide a brand name.

I've seen thing on Food Network and Cooking channel and laughed myself silly to see this on Discovery. I think it's totally useless to blur the badge of a Chevy or Ford product as most people would have to live under a rock not to recognize many of the popular models these manufacturers make. I've seen series on these networks run their course and blur the vehicle's brand badge and most times forget (or not care) about blurring out the license plate of said vehicle. I don't get it - why bother at all?

I suppose those who blur products shown in a cooking and/or kitchen setting may be done so not to imply any sort of endorsement. I've also witnessed an inconsistent practice on DIY/HGTV when their construction and renovation programs air as some product boxes are blurred and some aren't.

This thread was inspired by the Mouth Blur thread.
 
It can largely depend on two things:

1- The sponsor(s) of the given program
2- If the item being blurred or obscured is offensive or a blatant form of advertising.

Back in the day, MTV would blur things out like sports team logos or if somebody's baseball cap or shirt was an obvious drug reference (Snoop Dogg in the 90s?).
 
Being a cynic, I always figured that the producers or networks figured that if some brand wasn't going to pay them for product placement, they weren't going to give them "free" advertising - hence the blurring.
 
I've seen some places where the blurring makes sense, like license plates on cars, phone numbers for a local business, etc. where someone could get harassed if it was shown. Blurring drug references, obscenities, etc. also makes sense, but blurring sports teams doesn't to me.

On some home improvement shows they will always go into a certain store like Lowe's or Home Depot, probably because of having some sort of commercial tie-in. But even when it isn't I can tell when someone is in a Lowe's store in most cases because of my working in one, and Home Depot is pretty obvious as well.
 
I first noticed some clumsy attempts at hiding brand names on sitcoms in the '80s, in scenes set in the kitchen, on shows like 'Growing Pains' or 'The Cosby Show', you might see soft drinks, potato chips, or cookies with a very obvious logo/label..and one letter hidden('-epsi'.). ;D
 
That reminds me of an episode of "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" wherein the title character conjured up a soda for her friend; she tells him that witches had some kind of covenant to avoid trademark infringement, and says "want a Popsi?"

I have to agree that the brand burring is done to avoid showing competitors of sponsors. And speaking of Discovery shows, "Mythbusters" often covers up brand names on machines and vehicles with gaffer tape.
 
My favorite is the red and white soda can with "COLA" where it's obvious the LA is imposed over the KE.
 
anotherguy said:
I've seen some places where the blurring makes sense, like license plates on cars, phone numbers for a local business, etc. where someone could get harassed if it was shown. Blurring drug references, obscenities, etc. also makes sense, but blurring sports teams doesn't to me.

On some home improvement shows they will always go into a certain store like Lowe's or Home Depot, probably because of having some sort of commercial tie-in. But even when it isn't I can tell when someone is in a Lowe's store in most cases because of my working in one, and Home Depot is pretty obvious as well.
Click to expand...

Reminds me of a You Tube video of cop block in Illinois where the officer confronts the reporter accusing him of filming the license plates.

License plates when in public view can be filmed and broadcasted. However, one has to have a DPPA permissible purpose to obtain data from a license plate, which varies by state. California, for instance can only give out the first and last name and the address cannot be given out without a subpoena "Sam's Law" Named after the actress in My Sister Sam back in 1989.
 
The 80s sitcoms seemed to be the most offenders of the 'generic brand name' products. I remember people saying Seinfeld was "revolutionary" because they spoke openly about various brands and Jerry's cabinets were stocked full of actual products- not just Cola and Pancake Batter.
 
Note to justpassingthrough--

I noticed that too, the shameless showcasing of brand names. I read a piece about TV advertising, disclosing this practice as subtle advertising. Brands literally paid for prominent positioning of cookies on a kitchen counter, and cereal packages positioned in open pantries or breakfast tables during key scenes, each nakedly bearing the product logo. It wasn't only Seinfeld;happened alot on Home Improvement too.
 
There were instances of digital product placement - some episodes of "Still Standing" had boxes of Kellogg or Keebler products sitting prominently on the kitchen table or coffee table; that is, if you were watching it on SD. On the HD feed, the boxes were absent.
 
Lkeller said:
Being a cynic, I always figured that the producers or networks figured that if some brand wasn't going to pay them for product placement, they weren't going to give them "free" advertising - hence the blurring.
Click to expand...

like how ESPN makers the sponsors of bowl games buy advertising
 
Speaking of the HGTV home improvement programs: What I never understood is some of the show blurring paintings and (non-family) pictures on the walls when they are touring the home at the top (or recapping the changes at the end).

This is especially prominent when US HGTV brings in episodes from their Canadian sister network.
 
Tim-In-Houston said:
Speaking of the HGTV home improvement programs: What I never understood is some of the show blurring paintings and (non-family) pictures on the walls when they are touring the home at the top (or recapping the changes at the end).

This is especially prominent when US HGTV brings in episodes from their Canadian sister network.
Click to expand...

I think its because any work of art is copy written
 
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