Jan 31, 2007

Guerrilla Advertising Gone VERY, VERY Bad

Ruh-Roh. A guerrilla marketing campaign for the Cartoon Network in Boston turned out to be a Homeland Security violation, with bridges and tunnels shut down and 1 person arrested.

It's best to let the news story speak for itself

Check out the actual "devices" here


Boston devices a cartoon publicity ploy

By KEN MAGUIRE, Associated Press Writer

More than 10 blinking electronic devices planted at bridges and other spots in Boston threw a scare into the city Wednesday in what turned out to be a publicity campaign for a late-night cable cartoon. Most if not all of the devices depict a character giving the finger.

Boston police said Wednesday night that one person had been arrested, and authorities scheduled a news conference to provide details.

Highways, bridges and a section of the Charles River were shut down and bomb squads were sent in before authorities declared the devices were harmless.

"It's a hoax — and it's not funny," said Gov. Deval Patrick, who said he'll speak to the state's attorney general "about what recourse we may have."

Turner Broadcasting, a division of Time Warner Inc. and parent of Cartoon Network, said the devices were part of a promotion for the TV show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," a surreal series about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball.

Read the rest of the article here

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