Duna TV may find itself in hot water following accusations that it went overboard with product placement in its “Diplomatavadász” (“Diplomat Hunter”) comedy series, index.hu reports. While brand name products are allowed to be shown in television programs, their promotion is banned by the National Radio and Television Board (ORTT). In the series, the characters always drive Audis and Volkswagens that originate from Porsche Hungária Kft, and always eat at the Symbol restaurant. The owners of these companies revealed that they do have agreements with Duna TV, but declined to mention specifics, citing non-disclosure practices.
Duna TV has claimed that inclusion of brand name products in their show falls within the bounds set up by the ORTT in 1996 and 1997, but index.hu said the prominence they receive throws this into question. When the portal contacted the ORTT, they said they had not received complaints yet, and the National Media and Communications Authority said it did not fall under their jurisdiction yet.
As the article noted, many consider Hungary’s ban on product placement unnecessary, as films and television series imported from abroad are filled with them, and these are not considered to be in violation of the ORTT’s standards. Furthermore, as index.hu pointed out, if Duna TV is receiving money for placing products in their programs, it is estimated to be in the range of tens of millions of forints, thus proving a steady stream of revenue for the state-owned television station, so in all honesty, we can’t really blame them, unless they go all iPad on us.