Aside from getting consistent ratings, American Idol has also had consistent product placements. The renowned singing contest has deals with Vitamin Water and AT&T.

One of its first product placement partners is Coca-Cola. Typically, Coca-Cola branded glasses are situated at the judge’s desks. Whenever Simon Cowell quenches his thirst, the audience sees him drinking from the branded glass. Now, the soda manufacturer is raising the ante.

Coca-Cola now has a digital branded logo on screen for selected segments in the show.
 

Last year, the Apple brand dominated the product placement industry.

In the 44 films that topped the box office for at least one weekend, an Apple product placement was seen in at least 18 of them—that’s equivalent to more than 40 percent.

The statistic excludes several other Apple product placements in movies that did not top the box office.

Here’s a rundown of some of the product’s other movie appearances: Drag Me to Hell, Orphan, Hurt Locker, Its Complicated, Funny People, etc.

In addition to these movie appearances, Apple also had several placements on television, like on Jimmy Fallon and Regis and Kelly.
 

Real-time product placements can soon be generated through smartphone advertisements.

Booyah, a location-based gaming company, is teaming up with H&M to design a unique digital product placement campaign. Whenever consumers are near an H&M outlet, their Booyah game application will feature an H&M branded product. And if the consumer decides to show the featured product at the nearest store, he/she will get discount opportunities.

The deal will be beneficial to both companies. For Booyah, it will increase its consumers gaming experience. For H&M, it will give them accurately targeted product placements that can easily turn into instant sales.

If the formula works, other brands and advertisers are sure to follow similar product placement formats.
  
 

The Italian government has approved a decree that will allow product placement in local television. A move that will benefit Mediaset, a broadcaster associated with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The government also outlined some rules about product placement.

“Common rules are introduced for all services that broadcast images on any platform,” explained Claudio Scajola, Industry Minister. “European rules foreseeing more flexibility for advertising (are introduced), including product placement in TV programmes; (as well as) rules that strengthen safeguards for under-aged (viewers).”

Analysts say that product placement would be able to benefit Mediaset, because it is a top advertiser on television.