Why?

So I just read this on Autoblog and I want to know who thought this up and why they thought it would be a good idea:

Autoblog said: As consumers find new ways to avoid commercials and advertisements, companies are constantly trying to find new ways of marketing to them. Other than radio commercials, it's hard to think of a way for ads to show up in our cars, but Reuters is reporting that General Motors is considering selling ads show inside its in-car infotainment systems. In the article, GM CEO Dan Akerson talked about the possibility of in-car ads with the example being a "brought to you by Alltstate" message showing up on the infotainment screen. Of course, this doesn't even begin to factor in what sort of ads we'll start seeing in GM cars once it launches its widespread 4G LTE Internet access for most vehicles starting with the 2015 model year.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/11/would-you-allow-advertisements-on-your-infotainment-system-w-p/

Now this isn't a bash GM thread. If they wouldn't have thought of it first, it would be another company in due time.

We have enough distractions in our life, why do we need another? We have enough advertising in our lives, why do we need more?

WHY?

Manufacturers should use caution and avoid giving us reasons to hate their cars.

I'm floored that, in the Information Age we live in, "put ads on it" is still the cornerstone of so many business ventures. Sometimes this makes perfect sense, such as the ads in GRM/CM, because they're very relevant to the target audience, and a great product gets produced as a result of that ad revenue. But when the ads are irrelevant, as they are most of the time? Can't we think of something more productive?

Unless they are providing the car to me for free, they can keep their damn ads.

how soon till it is like Youtube.. go to start your car and you have to watch a 30 second ad before the starter engages? Or if it can tell you are sitting still at a light, a commercial starts to play?

I imagine the backlash might be great

JeffHarbert wrote: I'm floored that, in the Information Age we live in, "put ads on it" is still the cornerstone of so many business ventures. Sometimes this makes perfect sense, such as the ads in GRM/CM, because they're very relevant to the target audience, and a great product gets produced as a result of that ad revenue. But when the ads are irrelevant, as they are most of the time? Can't we think of something more productive?

If it didn't work, people wouldn't spend money on it...

In reply to JeffHarbert:

I would guess that the car's info-tainment system will "learn" what you like and ads will be targeted towards you. Much like FB and Google ads. Not saying I like it, but I can see it happening and getting shoved in among your iPod play list or navigation info. I'd also guess they'll be audio ads with maybe the occasional video ad when the car isn't moving. I'd also bet that like many other "free" apps there would be an ad-free option - for a monthly fee.

Allstate is already buying ads on the feed for the radio. If you have one of those radios that shows you what's playing then you are seeing an Allstate ad on many of the radio stations out there.

I finally turned my feed off and complained to the radio stations because 5 out of the 6 stations I listen to have that instead of info on the song playing.

Maroon92 wrote: If it didn't work, people wouldn't spend money on it...

I 100% disagree. The older I get, the more apparent it becomes truly 95% of the world has no idea WTF they are doing. Some advertising simply does not work, but it is useful to businesses in various ways besides simply "getting brand exposure".

In this day and age, if people want something, they go onto the googles, search for what they need, look for reviews of said product/service/company and go from there. 20 years ago when that wasn't available, randomly blurting ads across various "fixed" mediums (such as radio and TV) made sense. Nowadays? No.

If they can make a buck off it... They'll do it.

It will be an ad free option just like a free iphone app.

Although if 4gLTE is the service it must be Verizon. Now I know I won't be buying a new GM.

ever (I loathe Verizon)

Akerson is a tool, this is more proof.

Just more brainwashing to produce a consumer culture. No thanks. I cancelled my cable 15 years ago for the same reason – TV is nothing but ads with a bit of programming between.

Lesley wrote: Just more brainwashing to produce a consumer culture. No thanks. I cancelled my cable 15 years ago for the same reason – TV is nothing but ads with a bit of programming between.

Ha! We did the same thing about 2 years ago. I am not paying for you to give me commercials

I only keep cable for the weather channel and internet

mad_machine wrote: how soon till it is like Youtube.. go to start your car and you have to watch a 30 second ad before the starter engages?

AdBlock.

Or if it can tell you are sitting still at a light, a commercial starts to play? I imagine the backlash might be great

One of my friends had a GPS that would do that after three weeks of use. Every time he'd stop, ads for nearby businesses would pop up and he'd have to manually end them.

The ads did work, though. He bought a different GPS.

Flight Service wrote:

Lesley wrote: Just more brainwashing to produce a consumer culture. No thanks. I cancelled my cable 15 years ago for the same reason – TV is nothing but ads with a bit of programming between.

Ha! We did the same thing about 2 years ago. I am not paying for you to give me commercials

Yeah, same here. We use Hulu and other free online services to get our TV entertainment, but usually it is just background noise while we're doing something else. Dropped cable and went to DSL to completely cut the cord with those folks. Hook a HTPC up to the bigscreen and enjoy :)

turboswede wrote: Yeah, same here. We use Hulu and other free online services to get our TV entertainment, but usually it is just background noise while we're doing something else. Dropped cable and went to DSL to completely cut the cord with those folks. Hook a HTPC up to the bigscreen and enjoy :)

We use Roku

Flight Service wrote:

turboswede wrote: Yeah, same here. We use Hulu and other free online services to get our TV entertainment, but usually it is just background noise while we're doing something else. Dropped cable and went to DSL to completely cut the cord with those folks. Hook a HTPC up to the bigscreen and enjoy :)

We use Roku

Yeah, I've heard good things about their products, but I'm a GRM'er so I like to roll my own from stuff laying around/found/stolen/bartered, etc. :)

infotainment

Chevy: We build idiocracy.

turboswede wrote:

Flight Service wrote:

turboswede wrote: Yeah, same here. We use Hulu and other free online services to get our TV entertainment, but usually it is just background noise while we're doing something else. Dropped cable and went to DSL to completely cut the cord with those folks. Hook a HTPC up to the bigscreen and enjoy :)

We use Roku

Yeah, I've heard good things about their products, but I'm a GRM'er so I like to roll my own from stuff laying around/found/stolen/bartered, etc. :)

The private channels are very GRMy. Find just about anything or program your own. Roku is OpenSource on the channel side

Flight Service wrote:

turboswede wrote: Yeah, same here. We use Hulu and other free online services to get our TV entertainment, but usually it is just background noise while we're doing something else. Dropped cable and went to DSL to completely cut the cord with those folks. Hook a HTPC up to the bigscreen and enjoy :)

We use Roku

cut the chord from cable about five years ago.....spent a few years without internet, but I'm now doing the same as you, but using the sony streaming box

turboswede wrote:

Flight Service wrote:

turboswede wrote: Yeah, same here. We use Hulu and other free online services to get our TV entertainment, but usually it is just background noise while we're doing something else. Dropped cable and went to DSL to completely cut the cord with those folks. Hook a HTPC up to the bigscreen and enjoy :)

We use Roku

Yeah, I've heard good things about their products, but I'm a GRM'er so I like to roll my own from stuff laying around/found/stolen/bartered, etc. :)

Roku + Plex = great.

I used to be a big fan of Boxee, but it is not really usable anymore. All their resources go to the Boxee Box.

XBMC just isn't a good enough replacement.

Flight Service wrote: Although if 4gLTE is the service it must be Verizon. Now I know I won't be buying a new GM. ever (I loathe Verizon)

Why must it be Verizon? All 4 carriers are running LTE now (well, TMO is just starting to turn it on)