Campaign For A Commercial-Free Childhood is a national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups and concerned parents who counter the harmful effects of marketing to children through action, advocacy, education, research, and collaboration. We support the rights of children to grow up and the rights of parents to raise them without being undermined by rampant commercialism. CCFC is headquartered at the Judge Baker Children's Center in Boston. http://commercialfreechildhood.org Thu 08 May 2008 08:18:11 +0100 http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/showcould.htm A committee of parents and school officials that has monitored the experiment with Bus Radio -- a daily program of prerecorded music and ads piped into buses -- recommended Wednesday that the School Board pull the plug when classes end in June. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/marvelexpands.htm Comedy-action toon Super Hero Squad represents the company's first attempt at making content for the five- to eight-year-old set, and it's specifically designed to appeal to girls and parents as well. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/kidswebsites.htm A study released by Consumer Reports WebWatch and the Mediatech Foundation found that it is common for children as young as two and a half to go online, and that the most popular children's sites are "moderately" to "heavily" commercialised. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/billtargets.htm With “Grand Theft Auto IV” in the headlines, a bipartisan pair of House members has introduced a bill that would require videogame retailers to check identification in order to prevent minors from buying games intended for adults. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/dovesreal.htm In a May 12 profile in The New Yorker posted online, Pascal Dangin of New York's Box Studios is quoted as saying he extensively retouched photos used in the Campaign for Real Beauty. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/studyjust.htm According to the study, while 20 percent of under-17 kids were able to buy M-rated games in 2008, the number had been 42 percent in 2006 and between 60 percent and more than 80 percent in previous years' studies. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/mtvplans.htm MTV will be telling advertisers that these techniques — which are called “podbusting” because they break up commercial pods with content that is almost indistinguishable from the entertainment programming — have greatly enhanced viewer engagement with the commercials and their retention of the ads’ messages. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/whenwebtime.htm How can parents sort out the best options among these services? One trick is to think about how they make money. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/marketersfind.htm Lutz said surveys have found that sales spike when packaging featuring cartoon characters is first introduced, but then sales will decrease over time. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/energydrinks.htm Caffeine - A middle school warns parents that students are buzzed or crashing from as many as five cans a day http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/timewarnercable.htm The premium service, which launched in May 2006, recently signed an affiliation agreement with the New York-based cable operator, which has 13.3 million subscribers. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/kraftsingles.htm Kraft Singles is teaching kids and husbands how to make the sandwiches by offering in-store cooking demonstrations topped off with samples of the finished product. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/latestrage.htm It's getting harder to distinguish commercials from content. These days, an ad can be a vignette with a stand-up comic, a puppet-hosted interview or a behind-the-scenes look at an upcoming movie. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/brewers.htm Among all racial groups, youth exposure to alcohol ads on television jumped 48 percent from 2001 to 2005, according to the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/commercialscause.htm "Companies are targeting ever younger children and there is a bigger push to get even preschoolers online and engaged in social networking sites and virtual worlds," says Susan Linn. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/thehills.htm Pepsi has embraced just about every media extension MTV has offered, including the network's first Web foray in 1996 and, more recently, its dive into the virtual world, starting with the program Laguna Beach two years ago. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/interviewwith.htm We've ramped it up to a new era starting with the Shrek promotion last year. We have a couple of events a year we use to put our marker down. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/midlife.htm At middle age, the iconic blonde's previously untouchable status is being challenged by such youthful powerhouses as Bratz and Hannah Montana. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/economyrivals.htm Also on Burger King's side are alliances with some of the more hotly anticipated summer films: "Iron Man," "Incredible Hulk" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/marketerswhip.htm Lunchables Maxed Out. The Kraft lunch line aimed at tweens will feature images of Indiana Jones, as well as LaBeouf's Mutt Williams character, on 15 million packages. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/summermovies.htm More than 2,000 toys and 6,000 other merchandising tie-ins — from fast-food trinkets to life-size, limited-edition busts — are flooding stores to coincide with summer's biggest movies, including Iron Man, Speed Racer, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Dark Knight and The Incredible Hulk. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/drpepper.htm When "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" opens worldwide May 22, so will a lot of Dr Pepper cans in the States. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/wouldyou.htm The promotions team has enlisted PepsiCo's Sierra Mist, Subway, Swiss Army, Vespa, QVC and Anheuser-Busch to help the comedy win the box office war. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/criticscome.htm MADD has asked the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), which sets the ratings for video games, to change the rating from M for "Mature" to AO for "Adults Only." http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/toddlerscoming.htm There's a burgeoning market for techy gizmos for preschoolers. Even as the $22 billion toy industry saw its sales fall 2% last year, sales of electronics targeting kids grew 2% and topped $647 million at retail for the 12 months ended in February, reports NPD Group. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/forgetmiley.htm Staring down at the throngs of shoppers on Beijing's Xinjiekou Nandajie Avenue, a busy commercial thoroughfare about a mile west of the Forbidden City, was a white girl who looked all of 12, reclining in a matching bra-and-panties set adorned with Disney's signature mouse-ear design. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/brewersurged.htm The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest today urged Miller Brewing Co., Foster’s, and Diageo, the parent company of Guinness, to stop allowing logos for those beers to be used on tee shirts sold at Forever 21, a retailer popular with teenage girls. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/sleazyad.htm "It's really deplorable that they are using such sleazy tactics to attract young audiences and that they are targeting this particular ad campaign at teenagers," Henson contends. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/ukcracks.htm The rules make it an offense to blog, use brand ambassadors or seed viral ads while "falsely representing oneself as a consumer." They also apply to bloggers who fail to disclose they have accepted money to write about a product. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/warnermoves.htm The result is KidsWB.com, a premium ad-supported website that launched yesterday and targets kids six to 12 with a wide array of free entertainment offerings based on characters and properties from the Warner Bros. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/marssnackfoods.htm Indiana Jones themed packaging will appear on M and M's Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches, M and M's Ice Cream Cones and Snickers Ice Cream Bars. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/coalitionasks.htm The company said in a statement it is sensitive to the film's PG-13 rating with its promotion. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/childrenscereals.htm One of the best things you can do for your child's health is to ban children's breakfast cereal from your home, according to a new analysis of 161 different brands of these sugar-laden products. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/azoo.htm The Pampers Greek Theater? The Purina L.A. Zoo? Not likely. But under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s proposal to sell the naming rights for Los Angeles facilities, the possibility exists. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/attentiondeficit.htm One trick you will start seeing a lot more of: messages that, in and of themselves, provide a service. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/viacom.htm Beginning in May, Nickelodeon will run commercials featuring popular characters such as Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants promoting Kidsnax health bars. Kidsnax products include Real Fruit Bars, which contain 99.9 percent real fruit. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/groupproposes.htm An industry group has proposed new standards that would prohibit its members from using behavioral marketing practices to target children under the age of 13. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/brandsstart.htm The movie's domestic marketing partners include General Mills, Yokohama Tire Corp., McDonald's Corp., Nintendo, AutoTrader.com, esurance.com and Mattel, although the deals vary, a Warner spokeswoman told Advertising Age. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/groupasks.htm The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) is calling on Burger King to pull a toy giveaway based on the Paramount movie "Iron Man." http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/bkbrands.htm Burger King is extending into casual mobile games with the launch of “BK City,” a set of handset games that users can download for a monthly subscription fee of $2.99. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/pressreleases/thecase.htm In her new book, The Case for Make Believe, Dr. Linn argues that while play is crucial to human development and children are born with an innate capacity for make believe, the convergence of ubiquitous technology and unfettered commercialism actually prevents them from playing. In modern day America, nurturing creative play is not only countercultural—it threatens corporate profits. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/moretalk.htm "I was surprised because I thought it warranted some discussion and debate and to not even afford the opportunity for discussion shows a lack of interest in children's welfare," said Coun. Jordan. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/greencause.htm In April, Wal-Mart Stores, for example, will distribute over 1 million seed packs with secret green codes that can be used to play a SpongeBob Squarepants-themed environmentally oriented game. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/newcode.htm "We are struggling to find an ad that would be affected by their clause on the sexualisation of children," Elizabeth Handsley of Young Media Australia said, "and I think it's interesting to note that they are releasing the solution to the problem just as a Senate inquiry is looking into this area." http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/starcoms.htm The campaign introduces two new Eggo products, French Toast Waffles and Mini Muffin Tops, to the children's market in a series of rich-media banner ads made by the marketer's creative agency, Publicis' Leo Burnett. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/adgroupschallenge.htm Eleven trade groups, representing marketing, advertising, retail and banking industries, submitted comments on the FTC’s bid to enact guidelines on the collection and use of personal data on the Web. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/adsmake.htm More than 80% of people believe junk food advertising is making it difficult to feed children a healthy diet, according to research. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/movietieins.htm For Paramount, BK is a natural choice to deliver kids and families. A global campaign in 10,000 locations features a custom 30-second TV spot and children's toys, and a BK microsite for the movie will run from April 21 through May 11. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/marketersusing.htm Ms. Tisdale's new arrangement with Unilever reveals much about the oddly and increasingly intertwined futures of the personal-hygiene business, tween stars and the record industry, as well as the changing role that media-buying companies play in telling a brand's story. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/disneybrands.htm From the It Was Only a Matter of Time file, Disney Consumer Products has inked a deal with Stremicks Heritage Foods to produce a new milk beverage, Little Einstein Milk. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/testingthe.htm MTV created "It's a Mall World" for American Eagle Outfitters and helped Procter and Gamble Co.'s Herbal Essences connect with the "Video Music Awards." http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/popculture.htm "They're taking their brand names that consumers already know and trust, and licensing them into related but not competing product categories," says LIMA President Charles Riotto. "That creates a very nice revenue stream." http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/reportrips.htm Three music-video shows that air during daytime or early evening hours are heavily laced with sexual imagery, explicit language, violence and drug use, a television watchdog organization says in a report released yesterday. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/teachchildren.htm These promotional tools are little more than clever ways to brand our children and buy lifetime loyalty to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/besieged.htm CHANGES to the way companies can market to children - including a ban on the sexualisation of children in ads - were unveiled yesterday as the marketing industry faces a battle to preserve its system of self-regulation. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/disneykids.htm “It’s unethical – it’s more about the product than the music,” Virginia Langdon, 41, of Syracuse, N.Y., said. “It’s all merchandising, from hairbrushes to clothing lines. The music is kind of the second part of it.” http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/junkfoodadsfind.htm The analysis by Cancer Council NSW of 315 children's websites found that ads for soft drink, ice-cream, fast food and confectionery outnumbered those for healthy foods by two to one. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/frenchbill.htm If passed, it would take aim at any means of mass communication — including magazines and Web sites — that promote eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia with punishments of up to three years in prison and more than $70,000 in fines. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/teenspressured.htm Thirteen-year-olds drinking the equivalent of 10 cans of Coke at one sitting — are we OK with that? http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/bigretailers.htm Today, teens influence up to an estimated 90% of grocery and apparel purchases, according to studies by digital marketing agency Resource Interactive. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/teensname.htm "These preferences definitely show that investing in brands still matters," said Anastasia Goodstein, founder of Ypulse.com, San Francisco. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/isearthday.htm And while that message seems to contrast with the event's intent, the oxymoron seems to have been lost on marketers jumping on the Earth Day bandwagon in record numbers. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/spongebobisthe.htm Virtual worlds are the new battlegrounds for toy manufacturers, kids TV channels and software companies with an eye on the youth market. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/tradingkids.htm The bill would have banned all soda from vending machines and allowed only for the sale of granola bars, nuts and other nutritional snacks -- no more Snickers, Cheetos or Ding Dongs. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/cbsforms.htm CBS Television Distribution, the syndicated-programming arm of CBS Corp., is forming a special ad unit within its ranks that aims to spark discussions of product integration earlier in the program development process. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/forgossipgirl.htm Ads, online video promotions and outdoor billboards will feature Serena, Nate and other characters from the program locked in passionate embraces, with the text message "OMFG" superimposed on top. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/ftcurged.htm "These young consumers lack the capacity to make meaningful, informed decisions regarding the trade-off between privacy and online services," the groups stated in a 14-page letter to the FTC. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/skipin.htm Based on an Internet panel of 75,000 young people ages 5-17--as well as their parents--Scarborough says the new custom research service will allow its clients to gather a variety of data about the preferences, habits, and attitudes of the next generation of consumers. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/meetthe.htm The idea is to try to identify the companies best poised to grab the hearts and wallets of the coveted youth market, with its hunger for fashions and discretionary income. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/lawbarring.htm A Minnesota law that sought to prevent minors from buying or renting video games with mature content has been deemed by a federal appeals court to be an unconstitutional infringement of free speech rights. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/sixflags.htm Six Flags, a regional theme park company, has announced a multi-brand partnership with Kraft Foods highlighting selected brands including Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs, CornNuts and Lunchables Lunch Combinations. http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/overindulging.htm “We adults never experienced marketing to this extent,” she said. “It used to be, ‘Buy this because your life will be better.’ ” Now, marketing preys on self-esteem issues. “ ‘if you don’t have this, you won’t be OK. You won’t belong.’ It sows feelings of doubt and fear.” http://commercialfreechildhood.org/news/nickcreating.htm Tween marketers pitch the virtual worlds of Webkinz (owned by Toronto-based Ganz) and Club Penguin (bought by Disney last year) as safe destinations for kids. That's true as far as it goes, but these sites are still commercially conceived and motivated.