Advertising: Product placement scandal hits German TV

TV soap stars in Germany are in trouble for being seen using a particular type of Internet service provider , eating a certain brand of yoghurt, and characters in a hospital series naming well-known pharmaceutical companies.

Product placement is illegal for Germany's public broadcasters. However, distinction lies between the use of objects or products are necessary and those that are not.

The Premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Juergen Ruettgers, has said that covert product placement undermined the credibility and objectivity of programming on public television.