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I have to respect any consumer products company that is innovative in its marketing. First McDonald's knocks over Starbucks (SBUX - $14.54) with competing coffee. Now they trick the Meridith corporation into accepting innovative product placement no self respecting journalist would take. According to the New York Times, KVVU News in Las Vegas is accepting product placement during newscasts. While I can't blame McDonalds (MCD - $58.37) in this case for working hard and clever, I have to shed a tear for American journalism. KVVU is owned by the Merideth Corporation (MDP - $27.51). I do not own it and am not very interested in buying it. Bad judgement may have something to do with why MDP trades at a low P/E of 8 and McDonalds clever marketing put over on naive journalist may be why it has a higher P/E of nearly 16.  Of Starbucks, McDonalds and Merideth, I'd rather buy McDonalds.


Disclosure: I own Starbucks. I do not own Merideth Corporation or McDonalds.