Barack Obama is shelling out $5 million to appear in advertisements throughout the duration of the Beijing Olympics.
The China games are an opportune moment to bask in the media limelight, and as of August 8, 2008, Senator Obama will join brands like McDonald's and Anheuser-Busch with multi-million dollar exposure on NBC Universal's Olympics coverage.
No American presidential candidate has done something like this since Republican Sen. Bob Dole in 1996.
NBC will feature 3,600 hours of Olympics coverage, but there's no word on how much time Obama's $5 million will buy him.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Political Advertising
- Politicians using major events for advertising purposes opens up opportunities for future political campaigns to utilize different events and forms of media for advertisement.
- Brand Sponsorship
- The involvement of prominent politicians in the world of sports allows for innovative sponsorship opportunities with brands that want to associate with the politician's message and values.
- Event Marketing
- Major events like the Olympics present a unique opportunity for individuals and organizations to promote their message to a global audience, leading to innovative ways for businesses and brands to participate in event marketing.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Politics
- Political campaigns can leverage major events like the Olympics as a means to disseminate their message to a wider audience through different forms of media and branding opportunities.
- Sports
- The intersection of sports and politics opens up opportunities for athletes, sports teams/leagues, and brands to communicate their values and participate in event marketing.
- Advertising
- The use of major events for advertising purposes highlights the importance of innovative advertising strategies and the placement of ads in compelling moments to reach a wider audience.
