Barack Obama: Infomercial Star?

Barack Obama is taking his message to the TV airwaves in a big way. The Obama campaign is buying a 30-minute slot on as many as three major networks on October 29, six days before the Presidential election. The programs, which will air in prime time (8:00-8:30 Eastern), give Obama an extended forum to inform votes of his position on various issues. A decision as important as on which candidate to vote for President requires more information and elaboration than can be provided in a 30-second commercial or an orchestrated debate.

These “infomercials” will allow Obama to look into the camera and talk to Americans without questions from journalists or over the frenzy created by enthusiastic crowds. The TV buy is typical of the remarkable marketing communications strategy used by the Obama campaign that has utilized mobile media, blogs, and yes, even traditional mass media.

Link: Response This Week – “Obama Buys Half-Hour of Prime-Time Broadcast”

Author: Don Roy

Don Roy is a marketing educator, blogger, and author. His thirty-year career began with roles in retail management, B2B sales, and franchise management. For the past 22 years, Don has shared his passion for marketing as a marketing professor. Don's teaching and research interests include brands, sports marketing, and social media marketing. Don has authored over 20 articles in scholarly journals, co-authored two textbooks, and self-published three books on personal branding. Don is an avid hockey fan and enjoys running. He and his wife, Sara, have three sons. View all posts by Don Roy