Are you Bot or not? Svedka's new ad campaign...

Svedka Vodka is launching a new ad campaign in which they will be featuring a female robot from the future who loves vodka. This fembot joins the ranks of ad characters including Mr. Clean, the Gieco lizard, the Pillsbury doughboy, and the Michelin man. The initial TV commercial, will double as a video clip online and is part of Svedkas new "R.U. Bot or Not?" campaign. The campaign is going to appear through mid-April, return in September, and run through most of October. The, "R.U. Bot or Not," campaign's budget is estimated at more than $20 million. This campaign includes television, print, online, and outdoor ads. These ads are being aired on Bravo, Comedy Central, E!, and FX. The Svedka is hoping that by airing these ads, that they will continue to boast sales to this already growing company.

But Svedka is not the only one to benefit from these ad campaigns. Media companies rely on these big budget ad campaigns to bring in a revenue. According to media scholars Croteau and Hoynes, "In broadcast media, advertising is the only substantial source of revenue." Furthermore, they contend that it is not surprising that the magazines we read are littered with full-page glossy ads and the articles are miniscule and buried amongst these ads. Likewise, TV ads often seem more clever then the shows they are surrounding. It is after-all the advertisements that pay the bills in the media business.

So what does this all mean? So what? Well I think it is important to understand the power that advertisement companies, such as Svedka, have when it comes to media. TV and magazines are, after-all, a business and they are in to make a profit. This profit does not come from the shows but rather from the advertisement companies. If the shows and networks are making their revenue from advertisements then they are in some way obligated to please these advertisers. I think it is important to understand this concept because often time the public thinks that programs should be aired according to their needs and wants. I am not saying that the viewers needs are totally ignored but it is important to realize that we are not the only ones networks are trying to please.