Microsoft's Surface Pro stunt fails as CNN election commentators stick to iPads

Posted:
in iPad edited November 2014
News commentators covering U.S. elections for CNN were given Surface Pro tablets by Microsoft, but continued using iPads on air, covering up the supplied Surface with papers or even the iPad itself.

Surface


Even the good people at CNN who have Microsoft surface tablets in their face hide iPad ... - http://t.co/Sz6CpzLrEg pic.twitter.com/7Bam8uyI2G

-- Melbourneer (@_Melbourneer_)


Microsoft teamed up with CNN during the election coverage, advertising Bing and paying for placement of Microsoft hardware, including a "Magic Wall" and prominent placement of several Surface Pro hybrid laptops systems.

CNN panelists all have Microsoft Surface tablets. Just saw one of them pull out an iPad that had been in hiding. #productplacementfail

-- Ryan Cooley (@ryancooley)


While each panelist had a Surface propped up in front of them, multiple users were called out on Twitter for using an iPad anyway, including "using Microsoft Surface tablets as iPad stand."

CNN commentators using Microsoft @surface tablets as iPad stand. Facepalm. pic.twitter.com/BPxWTf2zhI

-- Adam (@adamUCF)


Just over one month ago, Microsoft similarly paid $400 million for Surface Pro product placement on NFL sidelines, funding the exchange of the playbook iPads many teams were using with the company's own hardware.

While Microsoft contractually banned iPads from appearing on camera, commentators referred to the devices as both "iPads" and "iPad-like devices."

Bose similarly paid for exclusive product placement in the NFL, seeking to ban any official appearance of Apple's Beats headphones, while inadvertently giving Beats free publicity as athletes including San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick continued to appear on camera in interviews while wearing Beats.

Samsung also attempted to ban any use of products bearing Apple logos among Olympic athletes after it paid big for product placement, and has repeatedly awarded celebrities with Samsung products, paid for cheaply phony viral videos, very elaborate promotions and prominent product placements that have frequently failed to work out well.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 95
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    Yep, this story is slowly making the rounds. Talk about a backfire.

    “It’s good to be the King.” -Mel Brooks
  • Reply 2 of 95
    I have no issue with people using Surface Pros because Microsoft paid for sponsorship. Perhaps the ruse could have been hidden better, but it's OK to love your iPad.
  • Reply 3 of 95
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member

    I didn't catch that since I don't watch CNN, but that's hilarious.:D

     

    I particularly liked the bit about using the Surface as an iPad stand!<img class=" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" /> 

     

    But, but, but, I thought that iPads were just toys! <img class=" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />

     

    Why wouldn't the commentators want to use the innovative and brand new, revolutionary input device called the mouse with the Surface? Or why wouldn't they want to use the almost twice as heavy Surface as a tablet? How baffling is that?:wow:

     

    Who would ever choose the insanely powerful and insanely light iPad that has tons of great productivity apps available?:err: 

  • Reply 4 of 95
    dreyfus2dreyfus2 Posts: 1,072member
    Careful with the axe Eugene... at least they have proven that the Surface CAN be used for something. For MS that is quite a leap, and I see a huge aftermarket kickstand business in their future.
  • Reply 5 of 95
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton View Post



    I have no issue with people using Surface Pros because Microsoft paid for sponsorship. 

     

    I do.

     

    There was this TV show that I was following some time ago called Under The Dome. After a while, the ridiculously obvious product placements of Microsoft devices popping up all over that show made it unwatchable and totally unrealistic. I think that they even have a new season of that show, but I don't really give a crap, because I'm done with it.

  • Reply 6 of 95
    xusiaxusia Posts: 15member
    "Someone familiar with CNN's operations told Mashable, however, that anchors aren't actually forced to use any type of equipment and the Surface tablets weren't part of a product placement deal. Instead, the Surface tablets were there to give anchors a view of the channel's ongoing coverage."
  • Reply 7 of 95
    dreyfus2dreyfus2 Posts: 1,072member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

     

     

    I do.

     

    There was this TV show that I was following some time ago ...


     

    Get the point, but to be fair... I also see tons of Apple devices in movies and TV shows.

  • Reply 8 of 95
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by dreyfus2 View Post

     

     

    Get the point, but to be fair... I also see tons of Apple devices in movies and TV shows.




    That is true, but it's realistic, because tons of people do actually use Apple devices. Are those paid placements by Apple? I'm asking, because I'm not sure. I don't know how much paid product placement Apple does.

     

    It is totally unrealistic to have a whole town where the population only uses Microsoft phones and tablets.

  • Reply 9 of 95
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

     



    Are those paid placements by Apple? I'm asking, because I'm not sure. I don't know how much paid product placement Apple does.




    My guess would be yes

  • Reply 10 of 95
    sockrolidsockrolid Posts: 2,789member
    This would never have happened if Ballmer were still alive.
    /s
  • Reply 11 of 95
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Lord Amhran View Post

     



    My guess would be yes




    Perhaps. I've never actually seen any data on that or any article talking about that.

     

    I'm pretty sure about one thing though. I sometimes see Apple devices on TV and there's a piece of tape over the Apple logo. I guess that those aren't paid.:)

  • Reply 12 of 95
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

     



    Perhaps. I've never actually seen any data on that or any article talking about that.

     

    I'm pretty sure about one thing though. I sometimes see Apple devices on TV and there's a piece of tape over the Apple logo. I guess that those aren't paid.:)




    Then again Apple doesn't need to do much in the way of begging for product placement like Microsoft does...

  • Reply 13 of 95
    Ah Microsoft, still trying to pay for cool.
  • Reply 14 of 95
    rraburrabu Posts: 264member

    Maybe these people have their personal stuff on their iPads that they already owned? Even if I were given a super new device temporarily, I'd probably also keep using the one that has all my stuff on it and that I'm familiar with; at least for my personal stuff. 

  • Reply 15 of 95
    Sur-face-palm.
  • Reply 16 of 95

    APPLE Does Not Pay For Product Placement..but they'll give you all you need!

    http://www.minyanville.com/sectors/technology/articles/Has-Apple-Fallen-Out-of-Favor/2/8/2013/id/47976

     

    http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-product-placements-in-tv-and-movies-2012-8?op=1

     

    these are basically the same article. Interesting though. 

  • Reply 17 of 95
    poochpooch Posts: 768member
    apple ][ wrote: »
    I do.

    There was this TV show that I was following some time ago called Under The Dome. After a while, the ridiculously obvious product placements of Microsoft devices popping up all over that show made it unwatchable and totally unrealistic. I think that they even have a new season of that show, but I don't really give a crap, because I'm done with it.

    it didn't take the microsnot product placements to make under the dome a horrible show ... it did that all on its own.
  • Reply 18 of 95
    Finally the iPad gets a Kickstand!
  • Reply 19 of 95
    relicrelic Posts: 4,735member
    rrabu wrote: »
    Maybe these people have their personal stuff on their iPads that they already owned? Even if I were given a super new device temporarily, I'd probably also keep using the one that has all my stuff on it and that I'm familiar with; at least for my personal stuff. 

    Completely agree, I also would have a hard time using a device that I just received for important work, especially if I was on TV. The problem still lays with Microsoft though, if they wanted people using their products they should have offered proper training.
  • Reply 20 of 95
    rob55rob55 Posts: 1,291member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

     

     

    I do.

     

    There was this TV show that I was following some time ago called Under The Dome. After a while, the ridiculously obvious product placements of Microsoft devices popping up all over that show made it unwatchable and totally unrealistic. I think that they even have a new season of that show, but I don't really give a crap, because I'm done with it.


     

    It's such a shame too, because I really enjoyed the book (on my iPad).

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