Microsoft abandons Family Guy Windows 7 promo
updated 07:30 pm EDT, Mon October 26, 2009
MS backs out of sponsoring Family Guy
Microsoft in a sudden reversal today exited its sponsorship of a Family Guy episode due to air in just under two weeks. The company had originally signed on to tie Windows 7 to an uninterrupted half-hour episode of the show known as Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show that airs November 8th but now says the material it saw in an early cut is "not a fit with the Windows brand" and will leave any Windows 7 advertising to a 12-week Family Guy-related tour. It's believed the humor was considered too controversial for the software developer.
The animation is still due to show as scheduled but now has a different, unnamed sponsor.
Cancelling sponsorship is a potential blow to Microsoft, which to push Windows 7 has so far deliberately chased an unconventional strategy in marketing. While Family Guy would have been unusual as a full-show promotion, the Redmond, Washington company has gone so far as to launch a Windows 7 hamburger in Japan and make special deals for those living in towns with "seven" in the name.
A publicly available clip from the show is available below.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2006
Family Guy too controversial?
What the h*** were they thinking in the first place? Had they ever seen an episode before? Every episode is controversial!