Turkish economy minister criticizes blurring out of brands on TV

ANKARA

Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekçi said brand names should be used in movies to promote Turkish goods.

Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekçi has denounced the blurring out of brand names and products in movies and television programs in the latest Cabinet meeting, slamming the practice “for being incompatible with economic realities.”

“Let them [brand signs] enter the scene, let them be used and support those movies as an economic value. Don’t we want to support these movies and such works?” Zeybekçi was quoted as saying by Anadolu Agency.

The minister said Turkey “has the objective to set consumer behaviors in the cultural region in which it is located” and that such practices would contribute to that aim by raising popularity of Turkish goods.

“We have to put these in those movies to ramp up popularity of the Turkish goods in countries where these Turkishmovies or series are shown,” he said.

Product placement ‘not illegitimate’

Giving some examples like covering car brands or putting “funny” airport names on planes, he criticized efforts to conceal any sign that may become an advertisement for the brand.

When asked about criticisms over product placements, Zeybekçi said, “There is nothing illegitimate about this practice,” taking the United States as a model.

He said there were good examples of product or political sign placements in the U.S. that were aimed at mobilizing patriotic loyalty as well as encouraging people to shop.