KFC Will Kentucky-Fry Your Children

Published on Thursday, April 12, 2007, by Christy Harrison / Edit Post

KFC? Market unhealthy foods to children? Never! Sure, it just began running a TV ad campaign that plays a high-pitched, mosquitolike sound that people over 20 generally can’t hear because of age-related hearing loss (teenagers apparently use the noise as a cell phone ringtone to get away with receiving calls and text messages in class). And sure, viewers who can pinpoint the sound’s start during the ad are eligible to enter to win a KFC coupon good for a whole $10 (the only way to enter is, surprise, on the Internet, many kids’ second home). But as a New York ABC-affiliate evening news program reports:

Laurie Schalow a spokesperson for the chicken chain told Eyewitness News, ‘KFC is using the ring tone in our commercial as a way to get the attention of young mothers and fathers. We found many people well into their 30’s could hear the tone.’

OK, but how many thirtysomethings with impeccably preserved hearing are that desperate for a bucket of wings? Let’s call a spade a spade, Colonel Sanders.

ALLFood Media
POST A COMMENT |5 Comments

COMMENT

  • They got you to write about it, didn't they? So the media will trip all over themselves to publicize this because of the supposedly shocking nature of the campaign. And an otherwise completely forgettable advertisement goes viral. Seems to me the shock is simply that you fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. And you got me to watch the ad.

  • Hmmm I also don't seem to get the problem here. Is the KFC coupon event open for numerous applications? Many events are limited to one apply per person. It's rather interesting that KFC has found way to such fascinating technics of advertising.

  • Kids don't pay for their meals and could care less about a $10 coupon, so the ads clearly intend to attract the attention of the adult viewer.
    Ask a kid where they want to go for lunch and McDonalds usually pops out of their mouth. Cheese pizza is another favorite among children.

  • I'm not sure I see the problem here. KFC wants to get people to stick around and watch their TV spot instead of fast forwarding or running to the fridge or bathroom, so they came up with a novel way of keeping the viewers' attention. If the kids are already watching the TV when the spot airs, KFC isn't "diverting them from education." They were already watching the TV! Don't blame KFC for bad...+READ

    I'm not sure I see the problem here. KFC wants to get people to stick around and watch their TV spot instead of fast forwarding or running to the fridge or bathroom, so they came up with a novel way of keeping the viewers' attention. If the kids are already watching the TV when the spot airs, KFC isn't "diverting them from education." They were already watching the TV! Don't blame KFC for bad parenting. Parents need to take a little responsibility for their kids' actions.-COLLAPSE

  • Wow, talk about scraping the bottom of the bucket. Great they have found a way to market to kids and divert them from education.