Railroad T.V Commercials

[Overmod]

Yes, but also entertain this thought: Who is consuming the good or service being advertised, and is that person more, or less, likely to do so if compelled -- either by necessity or misguided morality -- to watch the message because the sponsor has been so "kind" as to pay for it? (Note that even the word 'sponsor' seems to have died out of discussions; richardy doesn't even use it)

Channel-changers have already decided the value of the message, and it is somewhat unlikely that they will make a positive purchase decision from that message.

Advertisers get tax deductions for marketing expenses, and in any case once they've paid it's immaterial (on a free channel) how many people do, or don't, listen to their message. In the old days of TV, more was made of the fact that sponsorship allowed the program to be aired -- and that patronization of the sponsor (presumably) would reflect the effectiveness of the advertising and hence (if a bit indirectly) allow the program to continue.

Having spent considerable time and expense developing advertising business models for open PVR/DVR standards, I can speak with a certain amount of experience on what will, and won't, translate into meaningful responses to advertising -- and what forms an effective advertising message has to take in order for 'zappers' to watch it -- which is by no means the same thing as getting them to purchase the product, but is a necessary precondition...

One of those methods is generally NOT compelling folks to watch them, and that includes by making it inconvenient to remove them from a program stream when undesired.

Internet sites are often "supported" by pop-up and banner ads. Are you suggesting that I should routinely click through on these (and incidentally pick up cookies and more) to reward the advertisers for having made it possible (in part) to access the site? My answer: yes, I'll do that when the support is meaningful, no, when it's just opportunistic. Same for radio and TV.

Sure, there are places that push models work. But in almost all cases, any alternative programming (sans push) rapidly gains market share. Over 200 million people CAN be wrong about this, but it's highly unlikely it makes a real difference to advertiser success when they are...

[richardy]

The next time you change the channel when a commercial is broadcast please entertain this thought. Who is paying the cost of producing and transmitting this signal to me? It is not the fee you pay for cable or satellite service and if you are watching an over the air broadcast station the signal is free to you. I again ask who is paying the freight? THE ADVERTISERS BUYING COMMERCIALS!! The same is true for radio, when you are driving down the road listening to your favorite song, the advertisers made it possible.

When you receive your next issue of Trains magazine remember it is the advertisers that made the magazine possible, not your small subscription fee. If you had to pay the real cost of producing the media and delivering it to you, you probably could not afford the bill.

[dldance]

ericsp - thanks for the loco info

dd

[Anonymous]

Two things, the DHL train isn't any kind of xOFC except maybe FOFC, freight-OFC. Only people who frequent this forum would think that it was some sort of special train. The ordinary person will quickly identify it as a train bringing in a lot of DHL local delivery vans!

As for "Talk about misleading advertising!!!!" ads are like politicians promises; it is only surprising when they turn out to be true!

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

Who the heck watches commercials?

Well, there is one commercial that was good

http://www.dieselinnovations.com/vids/icebreaker.wmv

Adrianspeeder

Talk about misleading advertising!!!!

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dldance

did anyone catch what locomotive/markings are pulling the DHL VOFC (Van on Flat Car) train in their latest commercial?[?]

dd

There have been at least two threads on this. It is the Fillmore & Western GP30 still in Arizona & California Railway paint. Its listed on their website, they show the location as Parker, AZ.

http://www.fwry.com/productions_home/credits_1.html

[dldance]

the DHL VOFC is just an ad thing. I think that most of the "train" you see on TV is digitally rendered (replicated) from one or two cars. The look on the UPS guy's face is real though.

[Junctionfan]

Is that a regular type of train or just an advertising ploy?

[dldance]

did anyone catch what locomotive/markings are pulling the DHL VOFC (Van on Flat Car) train in their latest commercial?[?]

dd

[Anonymous]

I haven't seen them on television, but have seen them on their website though. They are pretty cool, especially the Point of View one. It's neat when it shows the train going out on that bridge and then it speeds up the video and the NS logo comes up.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe

All I know is that when I see a commercial, I change the channel.

Gabe

I feel your pain!

[JoeKoh]

I like the commercials that ns has put out.Have seen the up commercials too.Csx might start out their commercials with "who we are" and I'll take 10 percent for the marketing idea.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Grand Canyon Railroad has two commercials, one with the steam engine and one with the diesel.

[miniwyo]

I have only seen a UP commercial and only a couple of times I guess i live too far away from other lines to see their commercials.

[wcfan4ever]

I have seen UP and NS commercials and Amtrak but that was it. No other railroads have commercials that I have seen. I would sure like to see what CN brewed up for a commerical. (It prolly shows a CN train hitting a mudslide, then rolling down the hill into a shop, closing a shop moving work elsewhere, then scrapping the engines and all the cars on the train, then abondoning the line for no good reason...something like that) Then they say at the end: Ship CN!

[Junctionfan]

Any CSX marketing executive take note. You need a supermodel on some AC6000CWs with Jim Carrey telling jokes or at least Micheal Ward saying that he cares about improving P.R-that's funny enough.[:D][:D]

[Junctionfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

Who the heck watches commercials?

Well, there is one commercial that was good

http://www.dieselinnovations.com/vids/icebreaker.wmv

Adrianspeeder

Unless its funny, has something to do with trains or has hot women on it with little clothing on, I don't watch it.

[adrianspeeder]

Who the heck watches commercials?

Well, there is one commercial that was good

http://www.dieselinnovations.com/vids/icebreaker.wmv

Adrianspeeder

[AntonioFP45]

Haven't seen any CSX commercials.

Hope they work on their credibility before airing one!

[gabe]

All I know is that when I see a commercial, I change the channel.

Gabe

[AntonioFP45]

You're correct! NS has had some pretty cool commercials. Been doing it for several years. At least they've been working their PR. There latest efforts to foster a "positive" working relationship with passenger rail's a good example.

BNSF also had a commercial. Was rather quick. Silhouette of a unit train or intermodal with some big units pulling at speed.

[Anonymous]

CN rail HAS crap commercials they like to run, I don't particularily like them.

[Junctionfan]

Has anybody noticed that NS is running alot of commercials lately particularly on the business channels? UP sometimes runs one of theirs too.

Does anybody know if the others advertise on the t.v and if so when?