Comments on: Sign of Airline Desperation: In Flight Air Time for Sale http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:56:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight.html#comment-13320 Anonymous Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:36:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight-air-time-for-sale/#comment-13320 They have been trying to "feature" my company on the in-flight radio channel and TV program since 1995, and the airport stuff for the past 6-7 years. Always in conjunction with a famous name or impressive brand. Quoted price was about $30K. I am annoyed yet amazed at their creativity and persistence in finding and reaching me. They have been trying to “feature” my company on the in-flight radio channel and TV program since 1995, and the airport stuff for the past 6-7 years. Always in conjunction with a famous name or impressive brand. Quoted price was about $30K. I am annoyed yet amazed at their creativity and persistence in finding and reaching me.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight.html#comment-13284 Anonymous Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:16:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight-air-time-for-sale/#comment-13284 Recently flew on USAIR and they had the pilot pitch their credit card in a twisted folksy way for over ten annoying minutes. He'd go "shucks I know you don't need another card but...". <br/><br/>Here I am, flying into Orange County, Ca, the heart of debt laden misery and they're pitching more debt. Recently flew on USAIR and they had the pilot pitch their credit card in a twisted folksy way for over ten annoying minutes. He’d go “shucks I know you don’t need another card but…”.

Here I am, flying into Orange County, Ca, the heart of debt laden misery and they’re pitching more debt.

]]> By: JP http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight.html#comment-13276 JP Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:59:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight-air-time-for-sale/#comment-13276 If CNN is involved (ie, more than distribution), then I'm impressed. Things are indeed worse.<br/><br/>The guy that pitched me by phone was from http://www.wbrtv.com, which claims to be associated with CNBC & Fox. It took me a minute or two to figure out that I was in fact being pitched, because they start out by sending you a "assistant producer" to see if you're a good fit to their segments. Once I figured out that he didn't know a thing about video editing or production, I realized he was just a mislabeled salesman.<br/><br/>BTW, it was a great pitch. He had me completely convinced that I was being screened for an in-flight CNBC segment for at least two minutes. Or perhaps I'm just gullible. :) If CNN is involved (ie, more than distribution), then I'm impressed. Things are indeed worse.

The guy that pitched me by phone was from http://www.wbrtv.com, which claims to be associated with CNBC & Fox. It took me a minute or two to figure out that I was in fact being pitched, because they start out by sending you a "assistant producer" to see if you're a good fit to their segments. Once I figured out that he didn't know a thing about video editing or production, I realized he was just a mislabeled salesman.

BTW, it was a great pitch. He had me completely convinced that I was being screened for an in-flight CNBC segment for at least two minutes. Or perhaps I'm just gullible. :)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight.html#comment-13275 Anonymous Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:48:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight-air-time-for-sale/#comment-13275 "Our video programs play at 43 of the busiest airports and 2,000 of the busiest gates in the United States during the CNN broadcast."<br/><br/>So I've noticed. Although it takes a little extra effort, one can usually find a quiet place to sit away from the flashing colored screens and squawking drone of CNN's mindless pap.<br/><br/>Probably a lot of potential customers in prisons and mental institutions are absorbing every word, though. “Our video programs play at 43 of the busiest airports and 2,000 of the busiest gates in the United States during the CNN broadcast.”

So I’ve noticed. Although it takes a little extra effort, one can usually find a quiet place to sit away from the flashing colored screens and squawking drone of CNN’s mindless pap.

Probably a lot of potential customers in prisons and mental institutions are absorbing every word, though.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight.html#comment-13273 Anonymous Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:54:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight-air-time-for-sale/#comment-13273 Oh, I see.<br/><br/>IOUSA is not going to hell in a hand basket, its going to hell in an advertisment at 30,000 feet.<br/><br/>Greg Oh, I see.

IOUSA is not going to hell in a hand basket, its going to hell in an advertisment at 30,000 feet.

Greg

]]> By: Yves Smith http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight.html#comment-13272 Yves Smith Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:17:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight-air-time-for-sale/#comment-13272 Yes, but the point here is twofold:<br/><br/>1. Involvement of CNN, which gives this an air of respectability that it does not deserve. The language suggests this is interspersed with the regular CNN broadcast. The links clearly suggest that this is an established practice, but the flip side is the December promotion indicates they may be selling more airtime (ie changing the mix of infotainement to real news)<br/><br/>2. The fact that they found me suggests a certain amount of desperation. I use my business website as an alternative to a print brochure. For the type of consulting I do, I am not going to get hired via someone finding the consulting website over the Internet. Therefore, that site is neither well linked nor well indexed. Similarly, I don't subscribe to anything in print or over the Internet that would single that e-mail address as being associated with a small business owner/professional. Yes, but the point here is twofold:

1. Involvement of CNN, which gives this an air of respectability that it does not deserve. The language suggests this is interspersed with the regular CNN broadcast. The links clearly suggest that this is an established practice, but the flip side is the December promotion indicates they may be selling more airtime (ie changing the mix of infotainement to real news)

2. The fact that they found me suggests a certain amount of desperation. I use my business website as an alternative to a print brochure. For the type of consulting I do, I am not going to get hired via someone finding the consulting website over the Internet. Therefore, that site is neither well linked nor well indexed. Similarly, I don’t subscribe to anything in print or over the Internet that would single that e-mail address as being associated with a small business owner/professional.

]]> By: JP http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight.html#comment-13271 JP Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:06:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/08/sign-of-airline-desperation-in-flight-air-time-for-sale/#comment-13271 This is not new. Video companies have been hawking airtime on "entrepreneurial" segments on airplanes for at least 3 years, which is when I got my first solicitation. ("Share airtime with Alexander Haig!" ... I wonder what his cut was.) This is not new. Video companies have been hawking airtime on “entrepreneurial” segments on airplanes for at least 3 years, which is when I got my first solicitation. (”Share airtime with Alexander Haig!” … I wonder what his cut was.)

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