http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17351-2004Aug19.html
"We supplied all of the high-def equipment NBC is using for the games," Stringer said. "Then it turned out that NBC was unable to sell any ads on their HDTV channel. So somebody thought it would be a nice way of saying 'thank you' to Sony to drop in Sony commercials during some of the breaks. Unfortunately they didn't notify us and ended up using just that one spot. Our guys didn't know about it, but of course we're very embarrassed."
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Rick Clancy, senior vice president of Sony Electronics Inc., said from San Diego, where that branch of the company is headquartered, that Sony is red-faced about the pesky error and that "we had no idea" one single Sony spot would air over and over again. "NBC actually extended us a courtesy," Clancy said. "We just didn't know that meant the same spot would be the only one on the air and be constantly repeated. We had no idea we'd be the only company with a commercial on their HDTV channel."
"We supplied all of the high-def equipment NBC is using for the games," Stringer said. "Then it turned out that NBC was unable to sell any ads on their HDTV channel. So somebody thought it would be a nice way of saying 'thank you' to Sony to drop in Sony commercials during some of the breaks. Unfortunately they didn't notify us and ended up using just that one spot. Our guys didn't know about it, but of course we're very embarrassed."
...
Rick Clancy, senior vice president of Sony Electronics Inc., said from San Diego, where that branch of the company is headquartered, that Sony is red-faced about the pesky error and that "we had no idea" one single Sony spot would air over and over again. "NBC actually extended us a courtesy," Clancy said. "We just didn't know that meant the same spot would be the only one on the air and be constantly repeated. We had no idea we'd be the only company with a commercial on their HDTV channel."