Watch out for HP products on the TV

I GAVE UP TV a few years ago, but I couldn't figure out why until I got the following odd "memo" from a source. I hear that the fall TV season is upon us, or will be soon, so I felt compelled to bring you the following INQUIRER Guide to HP Product Placement on the Fall US TV Schedule, or IGHPPPFUSTVS.

We hope this will help you plan your viewing habits for the foreseeable future, and help you finally 'make a connection' with HP. I know I am looking forward to seeing the NC4000 in Desperate Housewives, I can't get enough of whatever it is that show is about. µ

Showcasing Technologies
HP making connections with consumers through TV product placements
Posted September 10, 2004

The HP Compaq Tablet PC TC1100 can be seen on TV shows such as Eve, Las Vegas, Clubhouse, CSI: Miami; The O.C. and 24.

Eighteen U.S. network and cable television shows, ranging from dramas to reality shows, will feature HP products throughout their fall 2004 and spring 2005 seasons. The latest HP notebook PCs, handhelds, tablets, digital cameras, printers and projectors are among the products in the spotlight.

"Making a connection with consumers through television and film helps HP showcase the relevance of HP technologies and solutions in everyday situations," said Amanda Selby, manager, Consumer Entertainment Marketing and Sponsorships. "Research shows that consumers are more apt to consider a brand that they have seen on TV or in films, so we try to highlight HP products in some the most popular shows on TV."

HP selects television programs based on their prominence, exclusivity, network relationships and alliances, demographics and programming types, Selby noted.

Look for the HP Pavilion zd7000 notebook PC on CSI: New York, The Contender; The Complex: Malibu and Medical Investigation.

"We encourage the television production teams to use a variety of HP products - with an emphasis on digital photography, digital entertainment and mobility. That matches well with HP's consumer business initiatives," Selby added. "We focus on building relationships at the studios that give us the opportunity to showcase new HP technologies that might help with their specific TV show. An example would be putting iPAQ Pocket PCs in the hands of police officers or crime scene investigators."

New TV product placements include:

NBC
The Apprentice 2 (premiered September 9) - Media Center PCs; digital projectors; iPAQ 4300 series; zt3000 notebook PCs; flat panel monitors; TC1100 Tablet PCs; Photosmart r707 digital cameras and 245 printers; Deskjet printers; ScanJet 4670 scanners Medical Investigation (premiered September 9) - zd7000, nx7000 and nc4000 notebook PCs; flat panel monitors; Photosmart 945 digital cameras

Las Vegas (premieres September 13) - iPAQ 5000 series; nx7000, zd7000 and zt3000 notebook PCs; flat panel monitors; TC1100 Tablet PCs; Photosmart r707 digital cameras and 245 printers; Deskjet printers The Firm (premieres November 1) - Photosmart R707 digital cameras; zv5000 series notebook PCs; flat panel monitors; Color LaserJet printers; D540 and xw4100 desktops; xp8020 digital projector; xb31 mobile digital projector; iPAQ 4300 series; OfficeJet 5510 printers The Contender (premieres in November) - zd7000 notebook PCs

CBS
CSI: Miami (premiered September 6) - Photosmart 945 and r707 digital cameras; iPAQ 5000 series; Scanjet scanners; TC1100 Tablet PCs; Media Center notebook PCs Center of the Universe (premieres September 22) - Photosmart 945 digital cameras and docks Clubhouse (premieres September 28) - Photosmart r707 digital cameras; TC1100 Tablet PCs CSI: New York (premieres September 22) - Photosmart 945 and r707 digital cameras; iPAQ 5000 series; Scanjet scanners; TC1100 Tablet PCs; zd7000, zt3000 and nc4000 notebook PCs; all-in-one printers.

FOX
The Complex: Malibu (premiered September 10) - zd7000 notebook PCs The O.C. (premieres November 4) - Media Center PCs; Photosmart r707 and 945 digital cameras; flat panel monitors; TC1100 Tablet PCs; iPAQ 4000 series; zd7000, zt3000 and zv5000 notebook PCs; HP calculators 24 (premieres January 2005) - iPAQ 1900 and 5000 series; zd7000, zt3000, nc4000, nx7000 and Rugged Notebook PCs; flat panel monitors; TC1100 Tablet PCs; Photosmart R707 digital cameras; Deskjet and Photosmart printers

ABC
Desperate Housewives (premieres October 3) - nx7000 and nc4000 notebook PCs

HBO
Entourage (currently airing on Sundays) - nx7000 and nc4000 notebook PCs; Photosmart 945 digital cameras; flat panel monitors; Photosmart printers

Bravo
Project Greenlight (premieres February 22) - Photosmart 945 and r707 digital cameras and 245 printers; zt3000, zv5000 and zd7000 Media Center notebook PCs; flat panel monitors; LaserJet printers; D530 desktop PCs; vp6121 digital projector

UPN
One on One (premiered August 30) - flat panel monitors; d530 workstations; nx9010 notebook PCs Eve (premieres September 21) - TC1100 Tablet PCs; nc4000 notebook PCs

WB
Smallville (premieres September 22) - iPAQ 5500 series; nx7000 notebooks

HP also evaluates feature film placements. Recent films with HP products include "Collateral," "Bourne Supremacy," "Terminal" and "Princess Diaries 2." According to Selby, the films are selected based on the technology integration within the scripts, co-promotional opportunities in retail as well as HP's relationships with partners such as DreamWorks and Disney.