How large is my bill!!!

BBC reports that the EU cap for downloading data doesn’t come into effect until the 1st July.

The consumers’ association Which? is warning that people going abroad with smartphones can still face huge bills if they connect to the internet.

By 1 July, new rules will come into force in the European Union which will cap bills for downloading data.

But, until then, people travelling in Europe could face unlimited bills.

There is something quite annoying in a single market like the EU that in some ways the EU is treated as one market, however in other ways (as in with phones) that the single market is ignored and you have these national markets that do not transcend international barriers.

Product Placement

With companies reducing their marketing budgets; combine that with the growth of PVRs and use of Sky+ that allow viewers to fast forward through the adverts, commerical television has had it tough with advertising revenues.

BBC reports that product placement, which is allowed in the USA and was banned in the UK, will now be legal in commercial UK television programmes.

Product placement is to be allowed on British TV shows, in a move due to be announced next week.

Independent broadcasters will be allowed to take payments for displaying commercial products during shows.

The change is intended to bring in extra funds for commercial broadcasters. Experts believe it could raise up to £100m a year.

This though won’t impact on the BBC who would still be banned,

There are currently strict rules against product placement and this ban would remain in place on BBC shows.

Of course advertisers and broadcasters may want to take note of many complaints about excessive product placement in US television, shows and many films.

Quantum of Solace recevied many complaints about its product placement as it had a lot of placements, however it can be a big earner with a reputed £50million coming from product placement in the film.

At the end of the day, we already see a lot of television with product placement (think of any sport broadcast) and will this make a big difference to the viewer? Probably not. Will it raise revenues for the TV companies? Probably yes.

Photo source.

Would you drink milk from a bag?.

BBC reports on milk in plastic bags.

One of the UK’s leading supermarkets has begun stocking milk in plastic bags – but how easy are they to use?

Rory Cellan-Jones road tests a bag of milk to find out if it is likely to replace the traditional doorstep pint.

Watch the video.

This product does show how supermarkets are responding to consumer pressure and reducing packaging as part of new product development.