Hey, there’s good news and bad news on the pharmaceutical advertising front. Drug company Merck has a new plan for advertising – they will shift ads for new drugs from broadcast television onto online communities and cable networks. Because, they claim, this is a better way to market pharmaceuticals to new customers. So, rather than placing ads on various television channels, Merck will begin placing targeted ads on specific websites and other online communities. The company feels that by better targeting ads towards these communities they will have a better ROI than simply scattering ads across TV channels. "The new model has to change, because as a consumer we're sitting in front of our TV, and we're switching all the time," Peter Loescher, Merck's new second in command, said. Well Peter, let me put it this way. When I get annoying drug ads in the middle of a TV program, I either fast forward them, or go to the bathroom. And guess what? When I’m sat at my computer, basically, I do the same thing. Not because I want to avoid the ads. After all, it’s what I do for a living. No, I do it ‘cos virtually every single pharmaceutical ad I’ve ever seen insults my intelligence.
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