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Over the years there has been a great deal of talk about convergence. Lately we have seen more discussion about information being downloaded via a personal computer then transmitted to your television. The Apple TV is a perfect example of this. Of course this type of product is really meant for the streaming of video content from services such as iTunes and YouTube.

There has also been a recent emergence of widgets. Being developed as both applications to be installed in Microsoft Windows and Apple’s OS X and as web based applications that can be embedded in websites such as blogs. This is an area that doesn’t currently have an equivelant on the broadcast/cable TV side. That is now changing with Sony, Samsung and Sharp releasing HDTV’s with development kits to allow for independent companies to create their own widgets. Imagine the future advertising implications. ESPN could create a special NFL widget that could be displayed during live games. This feature could allow fans to watch their current programming while seeing real-time updates of other games. Along with that, advertising could also be embeded. This would not only be as service completely separate from the broadcast and cable providers but create an entirely new advertising channel.

Over the last week I have seen Phil Collin’s song “In the air tonight” used in two separate ads. The first was for ABC’s new show Carpoolers and the second was an ad for Cadbury’s new chocolate bar. Both are great uses for the legendary song.

While you may not like McDonald’s current ad campaign, you have to admit their advertising has come a long way. Through the years there have been a great number of Ronald McDonald updates. None of them however, have been as creepy as Ronald the first.

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