View Full Version : Bomb threat? Or just an ad campaign gone wrong?
AaronK
01-31-2007, 08:01 PM
Seems Turner Broadcasting is in serious trouble after an ad campaign for a cartoon went terribly wrong and got mistaken for a bomb scare in Boston.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/01/suspicious_pack_1.html
Both Governor Patrick and Mayor Mennino have promised to look into legal action against Turner for the commotion that occurred due to this including traffic jams, road closures, subway closures, and water closures.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Kairho
01-31-2007, 08:10 PM
Paranoid, knee-jerk reactions.
Unless the blinking boxes with wires sticking out of them under bridges and highways turned out to really be bombs...
lamott2k
01-31-2007, 09:02 PM
Apparently there are a bunch of nervous Nellies in Boston.
Big L., I think you would be too, if they x-rayed one of those boxes next to the hospital you were in, and it looked like a bomb. :rolleyes:
lamott2k
01-31-2007, 09:20 PM
You're talking to a guy who had to endure hours of smelling a gas that everyone thought would incinerate the city with the mere strike of a match a few weeks ago. Trust me, if anyone knows about panic it's me. lol It's just sad that there are no Aqua Teen Hunger Force fans in Boston that would have realized what those things were before the panic.
jfrenaye
01-31-2007, 09:56 PM
Here is a photo of one of the "ads" being removed.
http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Third_Party_Photo/2007/01/31/1170282492_9493.jpg
Now, I can see where the little dud is giving the finger, but it definately looks electronic and would cause concern for many.
I question how they remained a week without being noticed in multiple large cities.
The ad is fine, but i question how TBS was able to erect provate advertising on structures that are owned by municipalities. Usually they would be on a billboard, but it appears that they were put on structures that are a "part" of the roadway.
Kairho
01-31-2007, 10:18 PM
According to news accounts this evening, the "devices" have been in place there for about 2 weeks. And in about 10 other cities, too. Makes one wonder why it took hours before somebody spoke up.
lamott2k
01-31-2007, 10:27 PM
According to news accounts this evening, the "devices" have been in place there for about 2 weeks. And in about 10 other cities, too.
*Sighs* I swear we are so on our own. :mad:
bodega
01-31-2007, 10:47 PM
I just do not get these stunts by radio stations. Don't they check with their lawyers first? A few days ago a woman lost her life to a stupid contest and while this one does not appear to have injured or killed anyone, businesses and people lost time and money. This going to cost the company millions.
AaronK
02-01-2007, 07:07 AM
I would think that posting anything electronic on a bridge or tunnel would be a big no-no, especially today. Granted, the authorities may have "overdone" it, but I'd rather have that when my safety is at issue.
But, in Turner's defense, they need all the advertising they can get. Has anyone ever watched this show? I've had the "pleasure" and in all honesty, it was one of the most stupid cartoons I have ever seen, but then again, I think most of their original Adult Swim lineup falls under that category. The stuff that they bring out of archives (old classics) are much better.
Aaron, I'm sorry, but I don't find Turner's actions defensible.
They needlessly caused real fear. The proximity of one of the "devices" to a hospital complex, could have caused some patients so much anxiety as to lead to one or more to have a heart attack, for example. In fact, I'm kind of surprised it didn't happen.
When seeing how their "advertising campaign" was being identified as a terrorist bombing campaign, Turner should have immediately put a stop to it, instead of letting the charade get out of hand for hours. (Actually, I don't understand how Turner expected anyone to recognize they were looking at an advertising campaign.)
Turner should not only apologize (The half hearted one offered already is completely insufficient, in my opinion), but should offer to reimburse Boston and other cities for the millions spent to ensure the safety of the cities.
Phil Kent, CEO and chairman of Turner Broadcasting System Inc. said, "We apologize to the citizens of Boston that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger. As soon as we realized that an element of the campaign was being mistaken for something potentially dangerous, appropriate law enforcement officials were notified and through federal law enforcement channels, we identified the specific locations of the advertisements in all 10 cities in which they are posted. We also directed the third-party marketing firm who posted the advertisements to take them down immediately."
This sounds like an excuse, not an apology. Furthermore, I think that Boston is right in their accusation that Turner took far too long to notify anyone about the truth of what was going on. Turner's choices in this fiasco, without question, endangered lives.
I would think that posting anything electronic on a bridge or tunnel would be a big no-no, especially today. Granted, the authorities may have "overdone" it, but I'd rather have that when my safety is at issue.
But, in Turner's defense, they need all the advertising they can get. Has anyone ever watched this show? I've had the "pleasure" and in all honesty, it was one of the most stupid cartoons I have ever seen, but then again, I think most of their original Adult Swim lineup falls under that category. The stuff that they bring out of archives (old classics) are much better.
AaronK
02-01-2007, 01:07 PM
Ned, that is the only defense I'm giving Turner. I too agree that what they did was inexcusable.
AaronK
02-02-2007, 07:09 AM
It appears Turner is going to make good with Boston and pay restitution for the costs of this "hoax". Turner is accepting all responsibility for what happened. Their marketing firm may be a little nutty, but at least they are taking responsibility for what they caused.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/02/02/turner_broadcasting_accepts_blame_promises_restitu tion/
jfrenaye
02-02-2007, 10:14 AM
Ya know. Turner probably paid $250K for the campaign, toss in another million for the restitution. Grand total $1.25 MM
How much would it have cost to get that type of exposure by traditional means?
How many folks now are going to be watching--or at least checking out--this show? How many millions now know the name of the show. How much can he now get from advertisers on the show?
Brilliant. Trump has NOTHING on Ted!
Is that the kind of exposure they wanted. I wonder how many people are actually going to take the bait. It won't be me.
Ya know. Turner probably paid $250K for the campaign, toss in another million for the restitution. Grand total $1.25 MM
How much would it have cost to get that type of exposure by traditional means?
How many folks now are going to be watching--or at least checking out--this show? How many millions now know the name of the show. How much can he now get from advertisers on the show?
Brilliant. Trump has NOTHING on Ted!
Not me either - but then, I don't think we're the audience they are looking for either.
jfrenaye
02-03-2007, 09:06 AM
There is no such thing as bad publicity. The people (for the most part) that are going to be offended/pissed are going to be the minority in Boston and the other cities.
Turner made good. Albeit not as fast as one would have liked. But they pulled the signs down, apologized, and are reimbursing the city for out of pocket costs. They made a mistake and they will be fine.
It is much easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.
Look at the other people that made a whoops and came back out way ahead--Paris Hilton :), Tara Conner, Janet Jackson, Bill Clinton, Marion Barry, the list goes on and on....Did I mention Paris Hilton?
It is much easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.
One of my daughters was a strong believer in that statement!
Sometimes bad publicity and one's antics to get publicity does come back to hit you in the face.
Paris didn't loose her affiliation, and her endorsement fees from Club Paris for nothing. It was her bad publicity, and her stupidity of actions (like never showing up on time) which knocked her out.
AaronK
02-03-2007, 10:29 AM
Apparently, the marketing company is claiming that they acted as soon as they were aware it was an issue. What a nice way to CYA. The CEO of the company was unreachable, the firm was locked shut the day after, and the guys that were paid to put these things up claim they were told to keep their mouth's shut.
I can't wait to see what is going to happen next.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/02/03/marketer_says_it_acted_quickly_to_halt_scare/
Carchar
02-03-2007, 03:20 PM
Here is another take on the situation by the L.A. Times:
Carchar
02-03-2007, 03:21 PM
Here is another view on the situation by the L.A. Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-boston03feb03,0,2590749.story?track=tothtml
jfrenaye
02-03-2007, 03:36 PM
I will see if I can find it but there was a funny cartoon editorial in today's Post.
Paul Revere riding a horse yelling at the top of his lungs "Sponge Bob is coming. Sponge Bob is coming."
Carchar
02-04-2007, 01:26 PM
By John Frenaye:
I will see if I can find it but there was a funny cartoon editorial in today's Post.
Paul Revere riding a horse yelling at the top of his lungs "Sponge Bob is coming. Sponge Bob is coming."
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Illustration not needed. This is way funny as is!