How's this for product placement? Cisco IP mentioned on "24"

I missed Monday night's episode of "24." But from what I read on The Motley Fool site today, I wish I hadn't.

Rich (perfect name for a financial writer) Smith, a freelancer for the investment-advice site, reports that the episode featured a mention of IP telephones, and "a brief flash of Cisco's logo. Cisco, of course, makes IP phones and systems for business and home use.

Wait, here's more: after those references, the next commercial break featured a commercial featuring Cisco's IP telephony expertise.

Smith thinks this product placement was partially attributable to the "TiVo effect" - an acknowledgement of the service that lets viewers fast-forward through the commercials.

So, to put it another way, if the viewers are not going to watch your commercials, place your product(s) in the program itself.

Doesn't bother me... helps get the word out.

Do IP product placements within episodes bother you? Sound off in a TalkBack.