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A common misunderstanding is that television networks somehow make a profit from their audience. This has never been the case.
Advertisers are the clients of the networks. The networks job is to deliver as many eyes to the advertisers as possible. The networks profits are completely dependent on this. From the point of view of the networks their programing is attractive glitter to attract people to their advertising.
As TV audiences have eroded due to competing media such as DVDs, cable/satellite and Internet, it has become more difficult to justify the cost of producing major series. The commercial dollar will not support 40+ million dollar season's of Lost.
Product placement is a compromise to offset the costs of production.
Frankly, I have no problem with product placement. I don't think product placement alters commercial TV content in anyway. The history of the TV content has always been friendly to consumer culture and the ideology it evokes.
Those who want respite from this ideology go to alternative programing such as PBS. And these days have plenty of alternatives living on the Internet, DVD's. And for a more refreshing approach local live events, lectures, music, theater, and the like offer sympathetic alternative content.
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