New Nickelodeon Show Dubbed "A Walking And Talking Ad" For Skechers

[DToTheJ]

An activist group has filed a petition with the FCC to block the upcoming Nickelodeon cartoon "Zevo-3" which stars characters from ads for Skechers shoes and is being developed by a company known as Skechers Entertainment. The group fears that this show will pave the way for cartoons starring the likes of Ronald McDonald and that children’s entertainment will become inundated with ads.

More info:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/fcc-...a-walking-and-talking-ad-for-sketchers-shoes/

 

[cd637299]

I thought that with the series "Linus the Lionhearted" & "Hot Wheels," this was settled....is cable TV different?

cd

 

[azumanga]

While the Federal Trade Commission has some restrictions regarding children's advertising, programming sponsored by advertisers and featuring its characters is okay, as long as it meets FTC standards.

As for the FCC -- they have no jurisdiction over cable.

Of course, in the past, Nick broadcasted TV movies starring Barbie and Bratz. And as for "cartoons starring the likes of Ronald McDonald", there is a direct-to-video series, "The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald", produced by Klasky Csupo.

In regards to "children’s entertainment will become inundated with ads" -- remember Saturday morning or weekday shows featuring "Pac Man", "GI Joe", "Transformers", "Teddy Ruxpin" and even Rubik's Cube? It's already done.

 

[nickelodeonfan97]

This is nothing new - back in the 80's, practically every show on Saturday Morning broadcast TV was based off a line of toys, like mentioned above.

A show based on a line of sneakers DOES sound really stupid, though.

 

[cd637299]

You are soooo right....how could I forget?

There was supposed to be an animated series or movie based on the characters from the Funny Face soft drink mix...wonder what became of that?

cd

 

[DToTheJ]

This is nothing new - back in the 80's, practically every show on Saturday Morning broadcast TV was based off a line of toys...

Actually, the difference here, I believe, is that rather than the cartoon being based on a popular top-selling toy, the cartoon is promoting a popular brand of non-toy, one might say. (Are "Zevo-3" toys even on sale yet? That's what I'm getting at here.)

 

[mjlarochelle]

Thanks to the First Amendment, there is nothing the government can do about it. This isn't Canada or China we're talking about where the government decides what you can and can't see.

 

[nathannah]

Thanks to the First Amendment, there is nothing the government can do about it. This isn't Canada or China we're talking about where the government decides what you can and can't see.

Exactly, and rather than talk about this show the CCFC just has to let the show air for its thirteen weeks and fade away quietly like every other new Nicktoons Network show has since ever.

For example, have you been hearing about that awesome NFL Rush cartoon which has swept the nation with NFL Rush viewing parties and NFL Rush merchandise being bought all over the place? Of course not; it's a ridiculous half-hour infomercial for the NFL (apparently the plot revolves around the protagonist trying to get some rune made up of the NFL team logos by episode 13) that every other kids network (even those with some NFL connecton) rejected, and probably being killed in the ratings by everything else on TV.

Trust me, Skechers is getting punishment enough. The likely thing that happened; Zevo-3 was supposed to air on Nick, their audience testing came out very negative, and yet they had these episodes still to air. It's not even promoted on Nicktoons Network's front page, so even without this organization making hay about them being an infomercial this is pretty much Nick airing a show on their lowest-tier network solely to get a couple million more dollars of ad revenue out of Skechers.

 

[azumanga]

...have you been hearing about that awesome NFL Rush cartoon which has swept the nation...? Of course not; it's a ridiculous half-hour infomercial for the NFL (apparently the plot revolves around the protagonist trying to get some rune made up of the NFL team logos by episode 13) that every other kids network (even those with some NFL connecton) rejected, and probably being killed in the ratings by everything else on TV.

Apparently, it's so bad, that even the NFL Network refused to air it.

And by the looks of the plotline, no wonder everyone nixed it.

...the difference here, I believe, is that rather than the cartoon being based on a popular top-selling toy, the cartoon is promoting a popular brand of non-toy, one might say. (Are "Zevo-3" toys even on sale yet? That's what I'm getting at here.)

Trust me, Skechers is getting punishment enough... It's not even promoted on Nicktoons Network's front page, so even without this organization making hay about them being an infomercial this is pretty much Nick airing a show on their lowest-tier network solely to get a couple million more dollars of ad revenue out of Skechers.

That being said, chances are it'll also be difficult to find on the schedule, as, most likely, it'll be listed only as "Infomercial" or "Paid Programming".

Not to mention that the FTC may be paying close scrutiny to the infomercial, as it is slanted towards kids that may not know better.

 

[flytrap]

Remember shows like Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake and Pound Puppies and wasn't there also a show based on "My Little Pony". I used to hate those girly cartoons.

 

[TexasTom]

Thanks to the First Amendment, there is nothing the government can do about it. This isn't Canada or China we're talking about where the government decides what you can and can't see.

First amendment rights for commercial speech are more limited than for other types of speech -- that's long established law. It's the reason why it's legal to tell lies in political discourse, but commercial advertising (other than political ads) that contains false statements can be regulated and controlled by the government.