Talk Show Product Deals Weariness

Photo: The Talk

Have you noticed? Product deals have become a major feature of morning and afternoon talk shows. Called "Steals and Deals [NBC], MorningSave [CBS], or "View Your Deal [ABC]," lately it seems every talk show has a daily segment devoted to so-called bargains. But, why are all the talk shows hyping products? 

Product placements provide a steady income stream by driving product sales. Retailers benefit by reaching a wider audience, and television networks rely heavily on advertising revenue to pay for the production of their shows, which is why we are subjected to TV commercials.

Photo: GMA

Nowadays television hosts including news readers, meteorologists, and medical doctors regularly join product promotors in the demonstrations of 5 or 6 products claimed to be offered at a discount during the show.

If viewers buy the featured products the talk shows get commissions (a cut of each sale) or affiliate sales revenue for driving viewers to buy the products.

Yet, I have to confess, I'm getting tired of them. It's beginning to feel like the home shopping network is taking over talk shows and I'm seeing infomercials disguised as program segments. The featured products are fairly random from skincare to cooking or exercise equipment and clothing. Usually, we're given 24 hours to go to a specially set up website for the network (which tracks the sales) to grab a deal.

Photo: The Today Show

Although I understand the appeal of some of the products, I've never taken the bait because I'm not an impulse buyer. I can see getting caught up in the enthusiasm of the promoters who are hawking discounts, but I wonder how many viewers have buyer's remorse after receiving their goods? The prices seem reasonable enough, but if consumers wait a beat, would they still need or want the merchandise in the 1st place? 

Let's discuss further:

Are television audiences bombarded by sales pitches coming into their living rooms spending more than they should?

And lastly, is the line between journalists and promotors on GMA, CBS Mornings, and The Today Show getting blurred?

What are your thoughts?

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