In 20-plus years of writing this blog, I have never seen a Houston TV station appear in a national commercial campaign for a product, but KPRC is keeping it interesting for me.
That's right, KPRC 2 Houston is part of a Google Pixel and Gemini ad. In the ad, clearly labeled as sponsored, Channel 2 employees and news department journalists are interviewed about how they use their phones in their daily workflows.
I assume KPRC is still shooting video with ENG cameras and Pixels.
Shooting with mobile devices is nothing new in Houston, as FOX 26 Houston KRIV experimented with covering stories on iPads as far back as 2011.
What is new is AI as a tool, in which newsrooms across the country are struggling to integrate into their workflows. The commercial shows Gemini helping with headline ideas for Houston weather.
I interviewed a former Google employee last week for my real job and admitted to her that I am a Pixel fanboy, but even so, this commercial makes me uncomfortable.
Call me old school, but it is really odd to me that a TV station is promoting a product. I get it, television stations make money from commercials, but a TV station appearing in a commercial still gives me the ick.
But I also know that in these challenging times, TV station owners have to figure out how to keep the lights on by finding new ways to generate revenue. What do you think?
OK...KHOU, FOX 26, and ABC13...who is appearing in an iPhone or Samsung ad next?
