observe actual, real-world ads in three specific medial categories: (i) Cable TV: You will need to have access to a popular cable channel – not one of the broadcast networks (i.e., not ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, or Fox). This includes channels like ESPN, The Food Network, MTV, HGTV, etc. NOTE: For this assignment you must have access to cable television stations through a cable or satellite company – NOT a streaming service (or online)!! In other words you cannot watch a show through a streaming service or online.
(ii) Print Media – Magazine: You will need to have access to an actual print magazine. This does not include companies’ publications (ad circulars), catalogs, or online content from a magazine.
(iii) Support Media: Take a look at what is actually considered support media (i.e., you can’t just decide that something is support media). Keep your eyes open – this should be an ad you actually see as a consumer, not one you’ve researched on the web.
Answer the following questions: In your paper make sure you are thorough in your analyses and answers.
A. Cable TV: (You cannot use “streaming” platforms for this assignment)
Select a popular cable channel – not one of the broadcast networks (i.e., not ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, or Fox). Analyze the ads that appear in the commercial breaks during one program (show) on this one cable channel. Provide specific and detailed answers to the following questions:
1. What cable network did you watch? What program did you watch?
2. What products/brands ran commercials (ads) during the show (be specific, detailed and thorough)?
3. Analyze and discuss the similarities and/or differences in the products and brands that ran commercials during the program.
4. Describe the commercials (ads) with respect to relevant marketing communication, creative, and message factors (you might, for example, consider the ads’ objectives, target market, creative appeal & execution style, length, use of celebrities, etc.). You don’t need to describe every individual ad – describe the ads overall as a group, but specifically using concepts from class.
5. Do these commercials (ads) differ from those that would be found on shows running on the broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, or Fox)? How? Why? Be specific.
B. Print Media
Choose an issue of a magazine and analyze it from an advertising perspective:
1. What is the magazine and issue?
2. Who is the target audience? – describe in terms of demographics, life style, etc. of its readers
3. Provide a detailed analysis of the following: What percentage of the magazine’s total pages is devoted to advertising versus editorial content (i.e., stories, articles, columns) – be specific and detailed (i.e., count ads/pages). Is there a clutter problem (Hint: check what this refers to!) in the magazine? Why or why not?
4. Report on the specific breakdown of the types of products and services advertised in the magazine (be specific, detailed, and thorough). Why do you think these specific advertisers are attracted to this particular magazine?
5. How might the magazine’s editorial content (the stories/articles, columns) influence readers’ processing of, and reactions to, the ads? Make sure you fully explain/discuss your answer.
C. Support Media
Describe the best ad in support media that you actually saw in this period (must be an ad you saw, not one researched on the Web).
1. Where/when did you see the ad?
2. What specific type of support media is it.
3. Discuss why you think this ad was effective (i.e., justify/explain your answer).