They were desperate.. They needed the money. They felt they had no choice but to go through with their plan. And as expected, it landed them in a Florida jail. The ads, that is.
The Charlotte County, FL. Sheriff’s Dept. decided to take advantage of their captive audience of inmates, and their visitors, by selling ad space on the video visitation monitors. It’s the first advertising of its kind in the country. Folks expect the plan to bring in $77,000 per year.
Advertisements will have a potential audience of over 55,000, non-custody, viewers annually. The ads will be a still-frame shot that will air for 2 minute intervals. The frame will repeat 24 hours per day; however, the prime viewing hours for the visitors will be from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Pricing for the ads are based on these prime viewing hours and will offer a minimum of seven showings.
The ad cost is 60¢ per two minute time frame for 365 days of advertisement, or a total cost for one looped ad will be $1,533 per year. Currently there are 50 available ad spaces available and ad spaces will be sold on a first come priority. Funds collected from this ad program are returned to the Inmate Welfare Fund. Press Release.
The first advertiser? …you guessed it, a criminal lawyer.
What’s next, ads on the heavy denim prisoner clothing?
Who knows, maybe the repetitive ads will help keep inmates from returning to jail.
h/t Wink
Technorati Tags: advertising, marketing
