The Last Week Tonight host digs into local news stations’ misleading sponsored content shows, successfully placing an absurd ‘wellness’ product

John Oliver places fake sponsored content on to local news: ‘Far too easy’

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2021-05-24 23:30:03

The Last Week Tonight host digs into local news stations’ misleading sponsored content shows, successfully placing an absurd ‘wellness’ product on several stations

J ohn Oliver traced the fine, evermore corrupted line between local news and sponsored content on Last Week Tonight, going as far as successfully placing (on HBO’s dime) a bogus “sexual wellness blanket” on several local stations across the country.

So-called “brandigation placement”, in which product representatives pay stations to conduct padded interviews about consumer products, are widespread practice on local stations. Though the spots contain disclaimers – often buried or flashed onscreen for seconds – the bits’ chumminess with local anchors often add a sheen of legitimacy to products while still skirting FCC rules.

“A lot of times, stations are doing just enough to stay the right side of the FCC, but that does not mean that they’re not doing massive harm to their credibility,” Oliver explained. “Because even when a sponsorship is ‘properly disclosed’, I’d argue there are certain businesses local stations should not be selling themselves out for, especially when it comes to medicine.

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