Deep Pockets, Big Spender (2/2/99)
SceneLink
 

After watching them spend over $3 million on a single sixty-second commercial during the Super Bowl-- their first Big Game ad in fourteen years-- few people would doubt that Apple's being a little more "casual" about its advertising expenditures these days. But have you wondered just how much more Apple is spending on ads these days? According to Insanely Great Mac, Apple spent almost $62 million on television, magazine, and outdoor advertising campaigns during the third quarter. That's up 71.8 percent from the same quarter in the previous year, and it makes Apple the fifth biggest spender among computer companies when it comes to shelling out cash for advertising. Sounds like a marked improvement to us.

On the other hand, when it comes to commercials, Apple seems to have far less media saturation than other companies in the top five. Take Microsoft, for example: sure, they spent more than twice as much as Apple on advertising during the quarter, but we get the sense that we must have seen Microsoft commercials at least five times as often as we saw Apple ones. And you can't sit through a single TV commercial break without seeing an IBM commercial these days; sure, they spent a whopping $208 million, but the proportions still seem a little out of whack. Perhaps IBM and Microsoft funnel most of their funds into television advertising, whereas Apple spreads their money out more into magazine ads and billboards?

Whatever the reason, we find it a little frustrating. Apple's finally got a lot of great commercials, but they aren't the easiest ones to catch on the tube. Consider this: Gateway spent about the same amount on advertising as Apple did in Q3. We know we see Gateway commercials a lot more often than we see Apple commercials. So what's up with that?

 
SceneLink (1313)
And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors
 

Mash-ups and original music by AtAT's former Intern and Goddess-in-Training

Prim M at YouTube
 

The above scene was taken from the 2/2/99 episode:

February 2, 1999: Apple plans to lay off factory workers on three continents, as iMac production gets handed over to a Korean firm with a mediocre reputation and ongoing labor problems. Meanwhile, Apple's increased its advertising budget, yet we still seem to see fewer Apple commercials than we should, and "Redmond Justice" heats up for Sweeps Month with a little tampering of evidence...

Other scenes from that episode:

  • 1312: Pink Slips & Gold Stars (2/2/99)   It seems like those rumored Cork, Ireland layoffs are official-- Apple PR rep Rhona Hamilton has commented on the situation and confirms that there will be layoffs, but states that the situation isn't as dire as many predicted...

  • 1314: Sweeps Month Scandal (2/2/99)   Ah, February-- one of those glorious months known to TV lovers everywhere as Sweeps Month, when the airwaves are thick with extra doses of sex, violence, scandal, and all things wicked and ratings-building...

Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast...

Vote Early, Vote Often!
Why did you tune in to this '90s relic of a soap opera?
Nostalgia is the next best thing to feeling alive
My name is Rip Van Winkle and I just woke up; what did I miss?
I'm trying to pretend the last 20 years never happened
I mean, if it worked for Friends, why not?
I came here looking for a receptacle in which to place the cremated remains of my deceased Java applets (think about it)

(1287 votes)

Like K-pop, but only know the popular stuff? Expand your horizons! Prim M recommends underrated K-pop tunes based on YOUR taste!

Prim M's Playlist

DISCLAIMER: AtAT was not a news site any more than Inside Edition was a "real" news show. We made Dawson's Creek look like 60 Minutes. We engaged in rampant guesswork, wild speculation, and pure fabrication for the entertainment of our viewers. Sure, everything here was "inspired by actual events," but so was Amityville II: The Possession. So lighten up.

Site best viewed with a sense of humor. AtAT is not responsible for lost or stolen articles. Keep hands inside car at all times. The drinking of beverages while watching AtAT is strongly discouraged; AtAT is not responsible for damage, discomfort, or staining caused by spit-takes or "nosers."

Everything you see here that isn't attributed to other parties is copyright ©,1997-2024 J. Miller and may not be reproduced or rebroadcast without his explicit consent (or possibly the express written consent of Major League Baseball, but we doubt it).