One of the great reasons that networks love the advertiser-generated or advertainment model is because most of the time the entire production cost of the show will be or agree to buy huge blocks of advertising on other shows in exchange for the time. Of course there are times when the advertisers will plug the show in their print and TV ads as well, which can give a big ratings surge for the network. And lastly the network people can sell other ads against the program. It's a good deal for everybody.
Of course all of this isn't as simple as it sounds as their is risk involved with building shows around products or brands. For one thing the show must be legitimately entertaining to the viewers, they still must get eyeballs to make it worth their while. If the networks don't feel it's good enough, they simply don't pick it up. It doesn't matter if it's a big advertiser or not.
Not only must the show be well done, but it must also fit in with the demographic and theme of the particular channel they are pitching it to. There also must be integrity in the marketing claims that are made. In other words, just because the show is produced is no guarantee that it will be played.
So advertisers must keep this in mind as they prepare their offerings and make sure that they get it balanced right. If they push things too hard, there will be a uprising from the viewers, as it will smell of the old ways of doing things.
Oddly enough going the other way too much can be detrimental also if there is an attempt to appear overly unaffiliated, people can feel like they are being conned. When that right place is hit though, you could just find that people are fast-forwarding their DVRs, just to get back to the advertisement, ah, I mean show.
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