Local TV Station Uses 'Helicopter Marketing'
Perhaps introducing a new category of marketing, Nashville television station WSMV landed its news chopper on a Brentwood High School soccer field as a football game was being played on an adjacent field and handed out footballs with the station's logo affixed to them. One can only hope, for the sake of the football players and male fans, the cheerleader's skirts were deliciously blown up in the chopper's wind.
Comments
It's not entirely new. WBTV/Charlotte used to land their helicopter at midfield (*on* the football field) during pre-game at their designated "game of the week" in the late 80s (maybe early 90s—who can remember?). They would land, a couple of people would jump out and throw some mini footballs into the stands, and then the helicopter would leave.
The Charlotte stations still go all out covering the games in their coverage area. I don't think anyone lands on the field any more, but it's not unusual for one of the helicopters to spend some time over a game. I grew up in an area that gets coverage from both Charlotte and Greenville/Spartanburg, SC, so any of three helicopters could show up (plus reporters and cameras on the ground, trucks, etc.).
"For the sake of the football players and male fans" you hope the cheerleaders' skirts were blown up by the helicopter's wind? And that would be delicious? What about the sake of the cheerleaders, who do have feelings and who are still kids? It isn't as though all the fans at high school football games are students either, which I think makes that joke even more inappropriate. Adults shouldn't ogle kids.
Phoenix's Channel 3 - an independent that leads the ratings - used to have a Friday football game, where the chopper did go visit all the high schools. As for the branded footballs, I am not sure, but Gil Tyree (now in Atlanta) was sure loved by the high school kids, and he seemed to like to go out and do the community stuff.