The big boys at Big Brother have just started another round of the U.S. version. But they've considered giving up on the show often hailed as "most boring on TV."
CBS could make a lot of money with the show, though. If only the network followed a few principles of Advertising 101.
Sponsors
It works for Survivor. We all know what a huge hit that's been for CBS.
The current houseguests seem to be drinking a lot of beer. Budweiser has been a sponsor of Survivor. The ad rates for Survivor tripled after the first installment of the reality series. So if Budweiser wants their product featured on a live 24/7 video stream as well as the three days of the week the show airs, then Big Brother 3 would be the ideal marketplace.
Target's also a Survivor sponsor. We've all seen the houseguests cuddling up together in the beds. Target could easily be an ideal candidate for sponsorship. The company's logo is highly recognizable and could be placed all over the sheets and blankets. If Wal-Mart wanted to be a sponsor, the smiley face logo could be used.
Each broadcast would feature a spot stating: "Big Brother is brought to you by Wal-Mart. We're rolling back prices every day. And Budweiser. This Bud's for you."
Just as Big Brother does with AOL but with more marketing potential for advertisers.
The point is, while advertisers would love to buy a banner to place in the Big Brother house, viewers would be completely turned off. Kind of like when the houseguests post their own signs for those back home.
They Gotta Eat!
Continuing further on the idea of sponsors, consider this concept. Why not hook up a computer with only one link outside the house - and that would be to an online grocer. Houseguests wouldn't be able to do anything else on this computer except to log on to get the groceries they've been awarded for the week.
Stop Scribbling
How many times have you seen a movie with stars drinking Coca-Coca while eating their Donuts Donuts?
And how many times have you seen the houseguests eating dinner with soda bottles that have the brand name scribbled out or ripped off of the product?
Pepsi/Coca-Cola should get in on this deal! One could become a sponsor and possibly buy ad time. Anything to get that black marker off their brand name.
Featuring the product on the show, being used by real people who aren't telling the viewing public what they should or should not drink - what will make them cooler, smarter and even more popular - is the best kind of advertising you can get.
They've Got to Get to L.A. Somehow
Previously, you've seen family and friends of the houseguests appear on the live Big Brother shows. You know they're not paying their own airfare. What a great opportunity for Big Brother to generate additional revenue and for the airline industry to take a step back to financial recovery:
"Family and friends of the Big Brother houseguests fly American Airlines. Over 1,700 daily flights to 140 cities throughout the United States, Canada, The Bahamas and the Caribbean. American Airlines. Something special in the air."
Where They Gonna Sleep
Those family members and friends have to sleep somewhere when they get to L.A. So why not have an exclusive deal with a large hotel chain?
"While visiting the Big Brother show, family and friends of the houseguests stay at the Hilton. With over 1,800 Hilton locations worldwide, It Happens at the Hilton."
Big Brother's Bottom Line
CBS's advertising resources for Big Brother aren't tapped by any means. If they want to stick with this show, with its huge following of die-hard fans, then there's still plenty of money to be made, which, of course, is the name of the game.
