its not just viewers

Apparently its not just the viewers of television shows who are fighting against product placement. Hollywood actors and screenwriters unions staged a joint protest of product placement according to a Washington Post article on Feb 9 . The unions wanted to attend an advertising summit addressing branded environments and product placement. Their argument is that if actors and screenwriters have to wright and read scripts with advertising woven into them they should have a say in the extent to which products can be promoted. They believe that the advertising limits their ability to be creative and professional The unions have threatened to file a complaint with the FCC if they are not given a say.

In opposition, producers are contending that it is hard to believe that they are seriously interested in maintaining creative freedom when one of their main complaints is that they want compensation for product placements in their shows.