Affiliate Marketing Blog by James Little

I’ve managed to somehow miss The Apprentice before and only managed to see it for the first time towards the end of the last season. The final stages were enjoyable and with that being the case I decided to sit down and watch the first episode of the new series that started on BBC1 this evening.

Apologies as I know there are a number of fans of the show that read this blog, but what a big disappointment it was tonight. I had to turn the show off 15 minutes early. Ignoring the fact that the men were arguing and acting like little kids from start of the first task, the thing that really, really good to me was the bloody arrogance of some of them… to quote one of the blokes, who’s name I have already forgotten:

“Oh, I’ve never failed at anything, I see getting a B in one of my GCSE’s as a fail”

Tthis was one of the tamer comments, I’ve already had to remove all memory of some of the other ones from my mind before I started to get too frustrated.

Fair play mate - you’ve done well, you’ve managed to get on TV, but try not to act like a complete tit and destroy my viewing pleasure by acting like an arrogant toff.

Rant over. Hope other people enjoyed the show more than me!

The new Sony Bunny Play-doh ad has just come out. It’s marvelous.

So here’s the link to the Sony site so you can have a look at one of the best ads this year. But why is it not on YouTube yet? Sources close to the makers suggest that YouTube is not the best channel to launch the ad on (their website is in HDTV apparently) so don’t expect to see it appearing until it’s aired on TV for the first time.

Speaking of which… This is a great opportunity for affiliates (be it paid or natural) to promote the Sony Bravio. It’s been in the guardian, the news is going all over the web and it will be viewed by thousands by the time we wake up in the morning.

But no-one is bidding on the term “bunnies ad” or even “bravia play doh ad” which has already generated organic traffic for my companies blog after a post a few hours ago.

Should clever affiliates be tapping in on this? Maybe…

But ignoring all that - go and take another look at the sony bunnies ad. Hop, Hop, Hop

I often wonder why the marketing and technology teams behind UK TV stations seem to be so bad.  Channel 4 become the first UK TV station to launch a system that lets you watch the latest TV episodes online (although the BBC have been testing a similar service for the past 4 years).  The site uses DRM and charges you for each program that you download and watch (DRM means that it only works for about a week of course).

No wonder TV Torrents are so popular.

Then look at NBC on the other side of the pond.  I’m a bit fan of Heroes (have been for a number of months).  Their website and marketing over there is amazing.  There are forums (and good ones at that), there are character blogs, you can watch the whole show online (for free of course).  Sounds good eh?  Not finished yet;  there is an online novel (a new comic book is put online after every episode) and there is even is a Wiki for gods sake!

I am utterly flabbergasted with the features that NBC have pilled into the site.

It’s not a one off either.   Ugly Betty is another show that’s come over from the US.  Channel 4’s site for it is basic and has little to offer.  Then there is ABC in the US.  Features galore. A Shop, Podcasts, Dedicated Websites for characters, Spin off online only TV shows; they even have a competition for people to design a dress to be features in the show!

So why on earth is the UK so behind the times?  It’s 2007 and we can’t even watch our TV shows online!

Answers on a postcard please (or comment).

It’s happened a few times, reading through forums on the net somewhere I come across the details of a TV show that’s running in the US (which always seems to have the good shows before us) downloaded a few episodes and become addicted to it. I end up having a marathon session and feel tired for the rest of the next day.

It happened with 24, it happened with Lost, it happened with Prison break and now it’s happened with Heroes.

Billed as €œan epic drama that chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities€ it’s a bit like a darker TV version of X-Men.

You can see the trailer for the series via YouTube below - I would definitely give it a go.

Watch the Full Episodes (legally)