Brands in the Entertainment Arena

The invention of Tivo and similar tools are forcing brands to get creative to reach their target audience. Product placement has begun in this new advertising era, with companies now going as far as creating their own reality shows and building their own theme parks. Some brands are going out of this world, by using the Internet to advertise their brand on the virtual world, Second Life.

H&R Block has done just that by creating a virtual office in Second Life. Paula Drum, vice president of digital marketing, discusses what this online presence has done for their brand. Many consumers were ranting when their Blackberries blacked out for 12 hours. This week in Brand Rant we explain the cause and effect of this brand blunder. Midwest Airlines is in the Brand Spotlight for flying high, even when AirTran offered $345 million for the company.