October 8th, 2001
Catch Them When They're Attentive, Settled in Their Seats and Eating Popcorn -- at the Movies
By Karen J. Bannan
The New York Times
And for advertisers of all sizes, the promotions don’t stop at the movie screen. These days, at the ticket counter, at the concession stand, in the lobby, advertisers are hawking their products to a captive audience. The bombardment includes in-house radio complete with piped-in ads that follow patrons into the restroom and out into the parking lot.
And what do the ticket buyers think of this advertising? Gary Ruskin, executive director with Commercial Alert, a consumer advocacy group in Portland, Ore., says some moviegoers are feeling overwhelmed. The organization is asking lawmakers to adopt laws so theaters have to tell patrons exactly when a movie actually begins.