NFL and Erectile Disfunction?!?!

You would think advertising male sex drugs during NFL football games would be perfect product placement...and it is. So, why is the NFL deciding to pull all the commercials for these drugs and refusing to run them again? After three years of providing ad placement, the main reason for this change is because they are not going to tolerate the racy and sexy advertisements for drugs that are suppose to help someone with erectile disfunction.

Drugs such as Viagara, Levitra and Cialis are ones that are advertised for men with ED. The NFL decided to cut them due to the dramatic change in the ads. They believe that it is not acceptable to change the position of these drugs from a serious health issue to a drug to spice up people's sex lives. These advertisements have become quite controversial and the NFL doesn't want to be involved. Many people have thought that the NFL has succombed to the pressure and religious rights of many conservatives. According to Rich Tomaselli, AdAge's resident expert of the pharmaceutical industry and the sports industry, that is not the case. The NFL truly does not agree with where these drugs are going with their campaigns. They are going to stop sponsoring the ED drugs during there games but they will not cut ties with other pharmaceuticals such as allergy and hair loss pills.

To lose an advertising spot during NFL programming is a huge loss for companies that target the male category, but it may not necessarily do much damage to the product's success. Almost all men who use the product will continue to use the product whether it is advertised during the football games or not. There will just be a shift from TV advertisements to more banner and click ads online. People would have to search a little more for the ads but it is not a life and death situation.

I would have to agree with the NFL. They have a right to do what they feel is right and if they think that the advertisements for these drugs have become to racey then that is their opinion. I also agree that the ads for ED drugs have become to racey. I think these companies have lost sight of what their product is for and what they are accomplishing for the consumer. Yes, it will increase their sex lives but it doesn't mean that as soon as they use these drugs they become complete sexaholics. To keep an erection for 4 hours is not a healthy aspect and yet that is what the main point of advertising is. The NFL is also paying closer attention to their other viewers who aren't interested in seeing such commercials, whether those viewers be women, men, or children. They are not advertisements that everyone wants to see. The men that want this drug will still be able to find the advertisements with ease and it will still be out of view for people who aren't interested. Well see if Viagara, Levitra and Cialis change their commercial strategy to get back into the NFL programming.

To watch the podcast:
http://adage.com/shared/includes/spotwin.html?vid=ar-01162006.asf&type=nws